November 2017

Jeremi Duru (middle) speaks at SPTT event in London.

One of the key men behind the National Football League’s Rooney Rule is in London this week – and I am excited. 

Jeremi Duru will address people gathered at the Sports People’s Think Tank report launch, in association with FARE and Loughborough University, into the numbers of BAME coaches in elite level football.

The Rooney Rule is an NFL policy that requires their 32 teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs. It was brought in to address the low numbers of black coaches in the league as a proactive measure.

Given there were only two black coaches out of 32 in the NFL when the rule was introduced in 2003 and today there are seven, with a high of nine in 2011, you would have to conclude that the measure has worked.

Today in English football we have just four black managers across 92 professional clubs, despite the fact that one in three players are black. To get to the point, we are crying out for something to help change this.

For many, including myself, the event with Duru will present a rare and unique opportunity to explore whether a Rooney Rule equivalent could work outside of the NFL, with a genuine expert on the forward thinking measure.

Of course, the English Football League (EFL) have already taken a leap of faith with the application of their own recruitment code. Last year, the EFL made it mandatory at academy level for their 72 clubs to interview at least one BAME candidate for vacant roles, where coaches with the required qualifications had applied. And the good news is, that while it is still relatively early in the process, the initial stats demonstrate some positivity as out of 76 openings 11 went to BAME coaches.

The challenge for the EFL now is to make the measure mandatory at first team level. This also applies to the Premier League, at academy and first team level, who have so far taken alternative approaches to addressing under-representation in coaching and management.

I have been involved the discussion on the lack of black coaches and managers for some time now and have to give credit to the EFL for at least giving a version of the Rooney Rule a go.

I will be listening keenly to Duru when he speaks and hope the entire football family will have their ears and minds open too.

This column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 08: Ugo Ehiogu award at The Black Football List Celebration on November 8, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images for Premier League)

Ugo Ehiogu was remembered at the Football Black List Celebration on November 8. Footballers, managers, senior administrators and those working in the community came together to pay tribute to the former soccer star.

Supported by the Premier League, the unique gathering celebrated the contributions of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds – a group that is under-represented away from
the pitch.

In March the Football Black List presented Ehiogu with a One to Watch award – it was his last public appearance before tragically passing away just a few weeks later.

To pay special tribute to the former Aston Villa and England defender, the One to Watch category was named after him. His family were present on the night to hand out the awards.

While more than 25 per cent of professional players in the UK are black, there are just four managers across the 92 clubs, and no chairpersons or chief executives. The worrying lack of representation is common in all areas of the sport. To help address this the Football Black List shines a light on those who are inspiring the next generation to consider other roles in the game.

Award categories included coaching and management, administration, media, commercial, community and practitioners. There were special awards – named in honour of the late Keith Alexander – given to outstanding individuals for their work in football.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 08: Richard Scudamore, Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds at The Black Football List Celebration on November 8, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images for Premier League) 

Leon Mann, co-founder of the Football Black List, said: “Ugo is sorely missed by so many and we felt it was appropriate to name an award category after him to ensure that he remains with us at each and every Football Black List Celebration.

“The initiative is gaining more and more support each year and we are delighted the Premier League are once again supporting the celebration. We all want to see more diversity across all areas of the game – to be more representative of society and the game we all love. The Football Black List can play a role in helping the industry achieve this.”

Premier League executive chairman, Richard Scudamore, added: “Ugo made a significant contribution to the Premier League. He was an outstanding footballer for Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and other clubs and more recently a highly regarded academy coach at Tottenham Hotspur. Ugo was a great person who used his profile to support charities and inspire positive change in the sport and beyond.”

It was great to join The Voice of Sport editor, Rodney Hinds, Nuffin’ Long’s Michael Facey, and sports broadcasters and writer, Joel Campbell to discuss The Football Black List this week. 

You can have a watch here…

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 28: attends the Football Black List 2016 at Village Underground on March 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Premier League)

A well respected former footballer – who I admire greatly – challenged me with a very valid question earlier this year. In a very direct, but polite, email he asked: “What exactly are we celebrating at the Football Black List?”

It was a good point. The black community has no chief executive or chairperson across 92 professional clubs – and a measly four managers (Chris Hughton, Keith Curle, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Nuno Espirito Santo). All of this sits very uncomfortably against the huge achievements of the community on the field – where one in three professional players are black.

The situation in the football media is just as bad with mass under representation of the black community across written journalism, and only a tiny sprinkling of opportunities in broadcasting for those who haven’t played the game at the highest level. Don’t believe me? Have a look at who is covering the weekend fixtures – away from The Voice Newspaper coverage – and you’ll struggle to find much black representation.

But it is because of this depressing situation that I believe the Football Black List is needed more than ever – as it is the context of the celebration that makes it far more meaningful than a back-patting awards night.

The evening holds up those flying the flag – underlining that achieving, against all the odds, is possible. It’s a message that is vital if we want the next generation of diverse communities to push forward to change the demographic of the industry and it’s leadership. The principle is simple – see success, be success.

It is also key that if we are going to instil a belief that there is a way into the football industry, that there is also an acceptance of the historic inequality of opportunity and it is addressed with action to remedy an ugly past.

There have been some innovative solutions attempted in recent years. In coaching and management the English Football League have introduced a positive action recruitment code across their 72 clubs’ academies – it is also voluntary at first team level. Those in the know report encouraging signs… So should every club be adopting this as a mandatory measure for all coaching appointments? And why stop there – maybe it should be applied across all positions in the football industry? From the boardrooms to the dug outs and media tribunes.

And the great thing about the Football Black List celebration is while it brings people together to recognise and applaud achievements, the initiative also creates a space for important conversations, reflection and learnings to take place.

So I hope the initiative and event can help focus minds. After the disastrous handling of the Eniola Aluko case – clearly this is paramount. The recent inclusion of Arsenal women’s Danielle Carter and the PFA’s Iffy Anoura on The FA council suggest a move in the right direction. Something we should celebrate – while charting out how we can continue to progress.

The Football Black List celebration – on 8 November – is supported by the Premier League.

This column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper.