Sky Blues stars help launch competition

Friday 6 Feb 2015
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Coventry City stars Reda Johnson and James Maddison helped launch an innovative competition led by the club with Kick It Out allowing fans to design the cover for their match programme ‘Play Up Sky Blues’ for their ‘Season of Action’ fixture against MK Dons on 28 February.

The ‘Season of Action’ is a season-long drive which provides a greater opportunity for Kick It Out to display the work it undertakes throughout the year to promote equality and inclusion across all levels of the game.

Kick It Out visited Barrs Hill School in Coventry where Rishi Jain, the organisation’s Football League Clubs Development Officer, delivered an interactive presentation on equality, inclusion, and diversity to an audience of 30 young people ranging from 13-16 years old.

Rishi said: “These sessions are really useful, and you can really see their value when we have a responsive group that is willing to interact and challenge what is being said.

“To have high-profile players from Coventry attend shows that inclusion is something that is important both on and off the pitch.

“We’re really pleased to be working with the club on a creative competition that can include the entire city.”

Afterwards, the players helped launch the competition where fans can see their artwork featured on the front of the programme cover for their clash with MK Dons. The young people from Barrs Hill all made an attempt at designing a cover.

The rules of the competition are that they must promote the Sky Blues, contain the Kick It Out logo, and be based around the theme of inclusion. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Wednesday 18 February and a template can be downloaded by clicking here.

Both Johnson and Maddison got involved, helping the young people with their designs, as well as answering intelligent questions from the audience, and competing against each other in a speed-drawing competition.

James said: “It wasn’t too long ago since I was a pupil at school, and I looked up to footballers, so I can relate to the young people here today.”

Reda added: “Racism is a really big issue. I have been abused in the past, so this sort of event is crucial. Football is a big part of society.

“When it has happened to me, I turned to the abusers and smiled as I don’t think that’s the reaction they were expecting.”

Johnson is currently the Professional Footballers’ Association ‘Player in the Community’ award, and Dennis Leman, PFA Community Liaison Executive, commented: “Footballers are role models and that’s a big reason why Reda received the award last year.

“Community involvement is essential for both the football industry and the club, and for 28 years now, football has been involved with the community as a whole in education, health, and social inclusion.

“We’ve had close links with Kick It Out for many years, and we’re big supporters of the organisation.”

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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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