Football Black List aiming to inspire next generation

Inspirational figures from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds were celebrated last week at the 2019 Football Black List awards night. 

The event aims to inspire the next generation with success stories from within the game, and 35 people from all parts of the sport were nominated for the 2019 Football Black List, which is supported by the Premier League.

Among them were Raheem Sterling, who not only starred for Manchester City in the Premier League and for England but has spoken out against racism in football. 

The achievements of Chelsea Women's player Anita Asante, who works on community projects with the club's foundation, were also recognised, as well as those of Sarah Ebanja, the chief executive of the Tottenham Hotspur FC Foundation. 

"Premier League football, Tottenham Hotspur, it's all really known for what it does on the pitch, but really what it wants to do is make sure that it's just doing just as well off the pitch," Ebanja said.

The Black List was founded by Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds in 2008.

"It's incredible that the awards have been going for so long and have grown every year, largely thanks to the help of the Premier League and their support, which has been incredible for spreading the message around black excellence across football here in England," Mann said. 

Bill Bush, the Premier League's Director of Policy, is proud of the Black List's push for more diversity in the game, and says the League is striving to contribute to further progress.

"A black contribution on or off the pitch deserves to be celebrated and we want to be part of that," Bush said.

"The second thing the Black List does is challenge. It says quite nicely but quite firmly there is a lot more still to be done and we are so up for it.

"This is not just one night in November, this is about a year-round attitude that we want to have, informed by Black List, pushed by Black List organisers to do a lot better."

The 2019 Black List also features the Premier League's Club Support Manager, David Rainford, who provides guidance for academies and is committed to developing young players as well-rounded individuals off the pitch.

Also in this series

Part 1: Howson honoured to be inspiring BAME referees