Paul Ince the MK Dons manager
“The Black List”, published in The Voice today, highlights the 30 most influential black people in football. Supported by the Football Association, the Professional Footballers Association and Kick It Out, the list goes beyond simply recognising the achievements of black footballers on the pitch. Instead it highlights the black community’s contribution to the game away from the thick of the action – in the boardrooms, dugouts, press boxes and at the grassroots level, where the real power is found.
More about and the list itself after the jump….
The list celebrates what black people have achieved in these areas and is also designed to provoke thought about under-representation in the administration of a game in which black players have made a significant contribution for many years.
Six of the 10 most expensive transfers this year have involved black footballers, with Robinho top of the list, after his £32.5m move to Manchester City.
More than 30% of all professional footballers are black, according to the Kick It Out campaign, and five members of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Premier League team of the year last season were black.
It doesn’t stop there. In the past 10 England matches Fabio Capello has fielded an average of five black players in his starting line up. It is more than fair to say that the black community is making a huge impact on the field.
However, the statistics on participation away from the pitch reveal startling deficiencies. Sheffield United’s Jason Rockett is the only black chief executive, and Millwall’s Heather Rabbatts is the only black executive chairperson in the professional game. In the dugout John Barnes (Tranmere), Paul Ince (MK Dons) and Keith Alexander (Macclesfield) are the only black managers in 92 league clubs. Elsewhere Lord Ouseley is the first and only black member of the FA Council.
The media plays a key role in the game, yet there is more under-representation in the sport-writing industry, with the list naming only three black journalists in prominent positions at the major national dailies, and one producer on national radio..
There are numerous reasons for the disparity between representation on the playing and non-playing side of the game, with lack of opportunity and encouragement, as well as stereotyping, only three areas that spring to mind.
It would be easy to say discrimination is the sole reason for this situation, but I often ask myself whether the black community is blameless. Clearly there has been a hunger and drive to play the game professionally, surely that same determination should be applied to becoming a chief executive or top journalist.
But just as it was when the black community were making mass breakthroughs on the pitch as players in the 1970s-80s, it is hard to become part of a game that hasn’t traditionally embraced people from different communities. Pioneering black players on the pitch overcame these barriers and opened doors for the stars of today. Their struggle hugely benefited football in this country – and I believe that a more representative football industry will make our game more dynamic and even more powerful.
The Black List is cause for both celebration and – just as importantly – reflection.
Management
Paul Ince, manager, MK Dons
John Barnes, manager, Tranmere Rovers
Keith Alexander, manager, Macclesfield Town
Noel Blake, FA national coach
Chris Hughton, caretaker manager, Newcastle United
Hope Powell, manager, England women’s team
Lyndon Lynch, manager, England disability teams
Administration
Jason Rockett, chief executive, Sheffield United
Heather Rabbatts, executive chairperson, Millwall
Bobby Barnes, deputy chief executive, Professional Footballers Association
Chris Powell, chairman, PFA
Simone Pound, head of equality, PFA
Ronal Crawford, IP lawyer, Arsenal Football Club
Baroness Amos, board member, England World Cup bid
Media
Darren Lewis, Daily Mirror
Rob Smith, 5 Live Sportsweek
Clive Petty, The Times
Joel Campbell, The Voice
Community
Dr Colin King, Martin Shaw King Trust
Lincoln Moses, Continental Stars
Alex Williams, director of community affairs, Manchester City
Campaigners
Lord Herman Ouseley, chairman of Kick It Out and FA councillor
Paul Elliott, campaigner
Garth Crooks, broadcaster and campaigner
David James, footballer and campaigner
Paul Canoville, campaigner
Robbie Earle, broadcaster and FA advisor
Commercial
Andy Ansah, football choreographer
Rio Ferdinand, footballer and entrepreneur
Chris Nathaniel, football adviser
source and shouts out to Paul in the UK for the heads up!
