Nominations now open for the Football Black List 2018

Monday 26 Mar 2018
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The Football Black List, an annual celebration of African and Caribbean achievement in British football, is now accepting nominations for this year’s list.

A key aim of the initiative is to highlight role models – working across a wide range of positions in football – to young people, to educate and encourage them to think about how they can get involved in the sport beyond the field of play.

The initiative, which is backed by Kick It Out, the Premier League, The FA, Professional Footballers Association, League Managers Association, BCOMS and FARE, provides an opportunity to reflect on how diverse the football industry is, discuss the under representation of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds, and how to address this issue.

Leon Mann, co-founder of the Football Black List, is calling now for nominations: “To create the most inclusive and genuinely representative list we need nominations that are reflective of the outstanding individuals across the game. We won’t know everyone out there – particularly at community and grassroots level. So please do not be shy!”

The categories on the Football Black List include administration, community and grassroots, players (for off-field work), media, practitioners, coaching and management, commercial and Ugo Ehiogu’s Ones To Watch (under 30 and excellent).

The deadline for nominations is Friday 27 April and they can be emailed to info@footballblacklist.com with a name, contact details and information on the nominee’s contribution to the game (maximum 200 words). Details can also be provided through online links such as YouTube, SoundCloud or other links.

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Clive Tyldesley, football commentator
“It was Kick It Out that convinced the people in football that change was possible.”
Greg Dyke, former FA chairman
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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.”
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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."
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"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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