The Football Black List 2023 awards ceremony took place last month at Battersea Arts Centre.
Founded by Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds in 2008, the ceremony celebrates the achievements of black individuals working in football.
The event aims to highlight the lack of black representation off the football pitch such as in decision making roles.
Football Black list co-founder Rodney Hinds said: “To see the Black football fraternity and allies in the room was heartening.
“The Football Black List is actively plays a positive role and is here to stay”.
According to The Black List, 43% of professional players in the Premier League are black, and in the English Football League, 34% are from black communities.
In the women’s game representation on the pitch is significantly lower but the issues of under-representation off the pitch are similar to the men’s game.
At the celebration event, Tony Burnett, CEO of Kick It Out, a charity aimed at rooting out discrimination in football said: “Anywhere off the pitch, black people don’t get opportunities they deserve.
“There is massive underrepresentation when it comes to board rooms and decision making.
“I am regularly in rooms where I am the only black person.”
Kick It Out received a 65% rise in reported incidents of discriminatory behaviour during the 2022-23 season.
The organisation said it received a record-high 1,007 reports from grassroots level, the professional game and across social media.
According to Burnett, events like these are important for saying we have brilliant people in our community that do great work, so let’s recognise that, thank them for their service and give them motivation to carry on
Burnett, events like the Black List are important for motivating the people that do great work in the community
Burnett said: “We want to see black people celebrated for what they do.”
“This is not only about saying we deserve to be in all spaces in football, but also saying that we belong in these spaces.
“It’s good to be among my people and not feel like the other, I get a huge uplift when I’m in a room of people like myself.”
Jason Lee, an ex-professional footballer, now working for the PFA, said that it was difficult to endure the hostile environment of being a black player in the 90s.
Lee said: “You get told by white coaches and managers, if you’re going to survive in the game, you’re going to have to deal with discrimination and racism”.
He also highlighted a bias in the media around black players that needs to be dispelled.
Lee said: ”Black players are always perceived to have pace and power, but we are resilient and can be leaders, captains and managers”.
As a solution, Lee proposed the creation of a document tackling unconscious bias in media”.
The Football Black List therefore acts as a reminder as to how far the game has come but also represents how much more progress needs to be made.
The first black premier league referee in 15 years Sam Alison said events like the Black List mean so much to him.
He said: “It is amazing to see so many people who you can relate to and see similarities, people you can inspire and people who have inspired you.
“The visual difference and nuance regarding experiences and empathising about the game that we love, it just feels me with so much passion and pride to be able to be in a similar surrounding with everyone here”.
In the future Alison describes how it’s not about his success, but it is all about creating the pathway for others to come beside him.
Alison said: “In the future, I desire for black people to flourish and spread our wings.”
Moving forward co-founder Leon Mann has hopes for the Black List being more than just a list of names.
Mann said: “The incredible support from the football industry and Black communities has helped establish the initiative and see it make a really positive impact”.
This year’s celebration event was sold out with awards handed to numerous individuals spread over 11 categories.
