Kick It Out and Premier League teams show how #EqualityInspires

Thursday 15 Oct 2015
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Kick It Out and the Premier League’s inaugural Academy awareness weekend proved a success with Academy players, coaches and parents being made aware of the issues around discrimination and the promotion of inclusion.

The weekend marked the launch of the joint education initiative for the players, their families and coaching staff. All of these participants will undertake equality and inclusion training, delivered by Kick It Out, as the organisation seeks to reach not only players as they progress through their career, but also their biggest influences away from the football club. Kick It Out and the Premier League have committed to deliver the training to a number of age ranges in every club before the end of the 2015/16 season.

Teams across the Premier League Academy Programme posed for joint team photos in front of specially designed advertising boards with the hashtag #EqualityInspires. This was further supported by a promotional equality video that delivered key messages from important figures within the game.

Several clubs marked the weekend with special activities, whilst referees and coaches wore the iconic Kick It Out t-shirts, including the likes of Thierry Henry and former Kick It Out employee Earl Barrett now at Stoke City. Troy Townsend, Kick It Out’s Education and Development Manager, delivered a workshop to parents and guardians ahead of the Tottenham Hotspur and Watford fixtures. Whilst, Liverpool FC’s U18 game versus Stoke City was shown live on the club’s TV Channel.

Kick It Out and Premier League staff were joined by a number of Kick It Out education ambassadors including Marcus Gayle, Manisha Tailor, Francis Duku and Kevin George, as Kick It Out embarked on one of its largest coordinated events in its 20+ year history.

This programme will also be supported by the release of an app exclusively for young players, to report incidents of discrimination in confidence. Building on the success of Kick It Out’s reporting app, this tailored version will include videos and news from the Premier League and its managers, as well as a unique ID number which will allow young players to report any aspect of discrimination in confidence.

Roisin Wood, Kick It Out’s Director said: “Kick It Out works closely with professional clubs, but while our awareness among professional players is high, it is vitally important that we make an impression on young players who may go on to be the professional footballers of tomorrow.

“It’s also important to remind them that in today’s day and age what they do off the pitch is almost as important as what they do on the pitch and our educational work helps with that understanding. It also reminds them that whoever they may represent throughout their career, Kick It Out will be available for them should they ever need us.”

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"We have a responsibility as players to give something back and I’m really thankful to be part of this organisation because we can do a lot of good."
Jack Butland, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“A big part of my involvement with Kick It Out stems from my strong admiration for the organisation’s commitment to fairness and equality.”
Clive Tyldesley, football commentator
“It was Kick It Out that convinced the people in football that change was possible.”
Greg Dyke, former FA chairman
“I wanted to thank the campaigners at Kick It Out for their work. I know first-hand how Kick It Out can help.”
Yaya Toure, Manchester City midfielder
“It is important for me in my role as a Kick It Out ‘Next 20’ ambassador to teach young people how to handle discrimination and treat people with respect.”
Romelu Lukaku, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“It is a massive honour for me to be an ambassador for such a great organisation. I think they do great work on and off the field.”
Toni Duggan, 'Next 20' Ambassador
"It really helped me to see that other professional sports people were acknowledging their sexuality. I read about John Amaechi, Gareth Thomas and Tom Daley. They weren't footballers but the fact that they went public gave me the feeling that I was not alone."
Thomas Hitzlsperger, former Aston Villa midfielder
"There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are very proud of the fact that I am a professional footballer."
Sadio Mané, Liverpool winger
“I think it’s important to share success stories and realise that there are women operating in the game. If it’s something you want to do, you can do it.”
Ffion Eade, Hampshire FA referee
"I've had loads of negative comments from men, especially growing up. It's just boring and old. Times have changed, and they continue to change. Women play football, and they're good at it, and have been for a number of years.”
Kelly Smith, England Women's record goalscorer
"Despite the progress, stereotypes still exist in football and until that is broken down it will be extremely difficult for a woman to manage a top level men's team."
Rachel Yankey, former Arsenal Ladies forward
"There’s no hiding that there is sexism in sport. We have a lack of women right across all levels of management, playing and coaching. It shows the closed nature of sport in general and this includes the media. It’s an indictment of sport as a whole."
Rimla Akhtar, Kick It Out trustee and Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation
“I’m proud to be a supporter of Kick It Out and particularly the work they are doing to combat antisemitism within football.”
Joe Jacobson, Wycombe Wanderers midfielder
"With Kick It Out leading the way football is standing up and fighting against those who preach hatred and intolerance and we at Chelsea are proud to support their work."
Bruce Buck, Chelsea Football Club Chairman

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