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England stars Trent Alexander Arnold and Jess Carter feature on the Football Black List

February 29, 2024

England stars Trent Alexander Arnold and Jess Carter feature on the Football Black List – an initiative shining a light on the most influential Black people in British football.

The Football Black List, founded in 2008 by sports journalists Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds, highlights trailblazers working across all areas of the game from the Black community.

A panel of experts drawn from the football industry and the Black community independently vote on nominations made by the public to determine who makes the list.

The panel included representation from the Premier League, The Football Association, League Managers Association, Professional Footballers Association, English Football League, PGMOL and Kick It Out.

The Voice Newspaper is the exclusive home of the Football Black List, creating an opportunity to celebrate individuals whilst also encouraging conversation on how best to address the under-representation of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds off the pitch.

Crucially, the list also helps to shine a light on those working in the community and at grassroots level of the game, who often go uncelebrated.

The list recognises people across eight categories:

  • Administration
  • Coaching & Management
  • Commercial
  • Community
  • Players
  • LGBTQ+
  • Media
  • Practitioners

The Ugo Ehiogu ‘Ones to Watch category – which identifies talented, young people in the industry under 30 years of age – shall also be released alongside the main list.

This year, the Keith Alexander Award will be given to someone who has shown outstanding contribution to the game and the black community. Previously, this award has been accepted by three-time Premier League winner Yaya Toure.

We are delighted to announce that next month the Football Black List celebration will return to London.

Leon Mann MBE, co-founder of the Football Black List, said:

“The Football Black List this year once again serves as a reminder of the positive contribution those of African and Caribbean heritage are making to the game both on and off the pitch. However, we still face significant issues of underrepresentation that require urgent attention.

“On the pitch in the Premier League 43% of the players are Black, according to the Black Footballers Partnership. But there is an ongoing lack of diversity across all other areas of football – from the Boardroom to the Dugouts. Therefore it is vital we shine a light on the role models leading the way for the next generation to follow into the sport to help address this.”

Fellow co-founder of the initiative, Rodney Hinds, added:

“The Football Black List has been endorsed by the Black community and that provides a great sense of pride. The growing number of industry supporters is significant and appreciated too. Quite rightly, the Football Black List is about those doing great work within the game, so congratulations to all the awardees. They are inspiring future generations.

“It’s now been 15 years since the start of the Football Black List and that is a massive achievement for all those that have backed the initiative. Myself and Leon are grateful.”

Please find the full Football Black List 2023 below:

Players – Off The Pitch

Nikita Parris – Manchester United

Jess Carter – Chelsea

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool

Jeremie Frimpong – Bayer Leverkusen

Lyle Foster – Burnley

Coaching and Management

Hope Powell – Technical Director, Birmingham City

Liam Rosenior – Head Coach, Hull City

Vincent Kompany – Manager, Burnley

Nicole Farley – Coach, West Ham

Darren Moore – Manager, Port Vale FC

Media

Helen Campbell – Multi-Camera Director, SCC Media

Miles Addy – Founder, The Content Club

Kevin Ramsey – Director of Studios, Sky

Ade Oladipo – Presenter, DAZN Boxing, talkSPORT

Seb Hutchinson – Commentator, Sky Sports

Commercial

Christina Taylor – Founder, Aim Sky High Talent

Kemi Benjamin – Senior Brand Director, Nike

Roscoe Bowman – Founder, Squad Sports

Ini Umotong – Player Management Executive – Women’s Football Adidas

Kenny Annan -Jonathan – Creative Director, Crystal Palace

Administration

Eartha Pond – Founder, ESP Foundation Charity

Abiola Ijasanmi – Chief Operating Officer, Confederation of African Football

Tony Burnett – Chief Executive, Kick It Out

Malcolm Kpedekpo – Director, Scottish FA

Matthew Ryder KC – Senior Barrister, Matrix Chambers

Community and Grassroots

Cordell Lake-Benjamin – Targeted Intervention Youth Worker at the Palace for Life Foundation

Andrew Ducille – Operations Manager, BCOMS

Billie Graham – Women and Girls Football Development Co-ordinator, Arsenal in the Community

Richard Taiwo – ESOL Teacher and Coach

Solomon Paul – Groundsman, Highfield Rangers FC

Practitioners

Ifeanyi Odogwu – Sports Law, Premier League Judicial Panel

Anika Leslie-Walker – Chair, Manchester FA Inclusion Advisory Board

Marcus Gayle – Club Ambassador, Brentford

Fern Whelan – EDI Women’s Football Executive, PFA

Kerry Downes – CEO, Luton Town FC Community Trust

LGBTQI+ AWARD

Caz Simone – Huddersfield Town Women

Ugo Ehiogu – Ones To Watch

Keah Forino-Joseph – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, The FA

Josh Booth-Sawyerr – Senior Account Manager, Ten Toes

Olivia Portas – Assistant Producer – BBC Sport

Khadidia Timera – Judge, FIFA Dispute Resolute Chamber

William Bitibri – Founder, Down The Wings

Cyrille Regis Award

Sam Allison – Referee, Premier League

Akil Howson – Assistant Referee, Premier League

The Football Black List Celebration will take place on 21st March 2024.

 

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