Ameobi helps Newcastle Academy players learn how to tackle discrimination

Shola Ameobi visited the Newcastle United Academy last month to support a club-led No Room For Racism workshop, which was delivered to provide young players with the tools required to tackle discrimination.

The Magpies legend, who was recently named as Newcastle's No Room For Racism Icon, engaged the next generation by sharing insight into his career through a question-and-answer session with the Academy’s Under-16s squad, building on an educational lesson delivered by the club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team.

Aligning with Black History Month - which has the theme of reclaiming narratives by focusing on sharing stories of Black history and culture - Ameobi took the chance to discuss his journey in football and challenges with discrimination, before sharing advice with young players.

The workshop was hosted within the Newcastle United Academy’s newly opened Ameobi Classroom, one of several areas of the academy facility which honours graduates that have gone on to make substantial contributions to the club, both on and off the pitch. 

Alongside making 397 appearances for the Magpies, Ameobi continues to enhance the club’s community work as a Trustee of the Newcastle United Foundation. The former Nigeria international is also part of the Premier League Black Participants’ Advisory Group, which played a key role in shaping the No Room For Racism Action Plan.

“I’ve been in this game for 30 years now, and you can see the evolution that has taken place in society," Ameobi said. "A lot of that is down to education: talking about key topics and ensuring that we don’t shy away from the difficult conversations.

“I think it’s essential that we open dialogue with academy players early in their careers. It was valuable to have the opportunity to discuss what discrimination means, the effects it has and how we can mitigate those through the way that we relate to each other.

“A lot of people in this region love football, so it’s crucial that we use excitement for the game to teach: that’s a big part of what the Newcastle United Foundation does.

"We must continue to create safe spaces for individuals from different religions and ethnic groups, while providing equal opportunities for them to be who they want to be. That’s really important to us as a football club and as a Foundation - I’m proud to play a small part in it.”