Football's Black List revealed

An annual list which recognises and celebrates the contribution of the Black community across all levels of football has been announced.

A number of prominent current and former professionals are included on the fourth edition of the Black List as are those unsung heroes who work tirelessly in their communities, using the power of the beautiful game to promote positivity and progression.

Founded by journalist Leon Mann and Voice sports editor Rodney Hinds in 2008, the initiative has fast become an indicator of the British African Caribbean community’s progress in the game.

This year's Black List Awards will take place at the offices of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games & Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) in Canary Wharf on October 26.

The categories at the awards will be media, commercial, administration, community and coaching/management. There will also be awards for off-the-pitch, grassroots and the Keith Alexander award.

Speaking about the significance of the Black List, Mann said,

“The Black List Awards is very special as it brings different parts of the black community together. You can expect to see a number of new names on the list that people aren’t quite familiar with, but will be very impressed with their achievements.”

The Black List comes at a very appropriate time, not only providing role models and figures of inspiration, but also highlighting the great contribution of the Black community.

But one point, which Mann emphasises is that despite nearly one in four professional footballers coming from the BME community, there is a lack of visibility in other areas of the game, not least in the dugout, where there are only two Black managers, Chris Powell and Chris Hughton, in the pro game.

Mann added,

“It is not right that our community can have more than 25 per cent of players on the pitch but not have the same representation in other areas, in particular administration."

The debate hit the front of the agenda last month with talks of Britain's football authorities adopting the Rooney Rule, which is a code of conduct initiated by the NFL in America which ensures that there is always at least one black and ethnic minority candidate on the interview panel for head coach positions in the NFL.

The Rooney Rule is named after Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who persuaded other NFL clubs to expand their interviewing process in 2003, offering at least a chance for black candidates to present their credentials.

To mark the launch of Kick It Out’s One Game, One Community weeks of action campaign, a panel of special guests, including Daily Mirror football writer Darren Lewis, former Arsenal footballer Paul Davis as well as Dr Colin King of the Black and Asians Coaches Association, will debate the pros and cons of introducing the Rooney Rule into English football, and what the game can do more widely to increase the number of black managers at professional level.

The event takes place Thursday 13th October at 6pm at Lankaster Lecture Theatre (University College London), Medawar Building, Malet Place (off Torrington Place), London WC1.

For more information about the event or to register, contact Danny Lynch of Kick It Out on 020 7253 0162 or email danny@kickitout.org

To view the names on this year's Black List, click here

Picture: Aaron Mokoena, DJ Spoony and Danny Wallace