#RYG17 mentees reflect on insightful day

Wednesday 26 Apr 2017
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Photo Credit – Andy O’Farrell (RPS)

By Charlie MacKinnon

Kick It Out’s Raise Your Game event returned for its seventh year on Monday 24 April, taking place at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, and the day proved to be a fantastic experience for over 300 mentees attending the event.

Raise Your Game provides mentees with the opportunity to speak to a range of experienced mentors across the day, alongside media and careers workshops and panel discussions from people throughout the sporting industry.

David Moat, a student at UCFB, spoke to Kick It Out at the end of the afternoon, and hopes for similar events to take place in the future.

“Kick It Out is a great organisation and diversity in sport needs to be improved. It’s just a great event which I’ve really enjoyed” he said.

“It’s been such a great experience as a student being able to meet people who are already in the industry and get an insight into their day-to-day lives.

“Being able to make connections and set-up potential work experiences, it’s something you can’t really get elsewhere.”

Another mentee at the event, BUCS student Adnan Mohamed, described Raise Your Game as an ‘eye-opening’ experience.

“Today’s event has been great, I’ve met a lot of new people and I’ve got to network. The mentoring throughout the day has allowed us to get the expertise from people that have been in the game for 20-30 years, I think it’s been brilliant” he said.

“I’m a coach and have been coaching for five years. I’ve been to some of the FA coaching events at St George’s Park, but it doesn’t compare to this.

“This is what we need – being able to have a 10-15-minute chat with the mentors. To talk to someone that you want to follow in the footsteps of, it’s fantastic”.

Harry Corton, a sports journalism student at University of Arts London, described the ability to speak to people with experience as essential to improving chances of a successful career in the industry.

“It was really eye opening to see the range of jobs within football. The networking opportunities the event provided were invaluable.”

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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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