Leon Mann

Jermain Defoe School Library
 by Leon Mann

Footballers Deserve Credit For Giving Back

Bad news sells. And if you believe what you read in the tabloids, you’re unlikely to have much love for our Premier League football stars.

So the beef I’d like to carve up in this column is about how rare it is to see positive coverage of the things players get up to away from the pitch.

Now this isn’t to say footballers are hard done by, but more balanced coverage of these guys would give us a greater understanding of them, as people, and more importantly, help to inspire the next generation to do positive things with their lives.

Whether you like it or not, footballers are today’s role models. Many young people look up to them.

This summer I was fortunate enough to get to know Jermain Defoe a lot better. I was filming with him and his family in St Lucia for an ITV Sport Life Story that will be aired later this year.

The guy is doing some great things on the island. Helping vulnerable young people who desperately need support. He’s doing this through a foundation he has recently launched, having been moved by the aftermath of the devastating hurricane Thomas in 2010.

I got to know a different Jermain to that often portrayed in the press and I’m really excited about sharing this with you in the ITV documentary.

While I was on the island I met up with Reading’s Jason Roberts. He was in town to attend an important conference on developing sport in the Caribbean.

His Jason Roberts Foundation has been working wonders in Grenada and also here in the UK for a whole heap of time. Surely there are interesting and important stories here that should be given greater prominence?

Others who have been busy giving back this summer include Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge in Jamaica, Chelsea’s Michael Essien in Ghana, Spurs’ Emmanuel Adebayor in Togo and Benoit Assou Ekotto in Cameroon.

As Jermain Defoe opened a library in a Primary School in St Lucia I immediately thought, ‘Can I help a school in Jamaica?’.

So I’ve taken inspiration from the guys, often dubbed rich spoilt brats, and hope this column may encourage others to do so too. Not forgetting the decision makers at national newspapers and broadcasters…

– This column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper (www.voice-online.co.uk)

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Jermain Defoe and Leon ITV Sports Life Story's
 by Leon Mann

Sizing up St Lucia

One of the big projects I’ve been working on this summer took me to the Caribbean island of St Lucia.

I had won a pitch to do an ITV Sport Life Story on Tottenham Hotspur and England striker, Jermain Defoe.

The documentary offered me a fantastic opportunity to get my teeth into a long form project, and about a player who has had an interesting life both on and off the pitch.

As it meant jetting out to the Caribbean, it was also a bit of a dreamy gig. But when I got the email from ITV confirming it had come through I experienced two very strong emotions.

The first was the buzz of winning a pitch. It’s almost like scoring a goal. A punch the air kinda moment. I was off to spend time in my favourite part of the world, doing what I love most – interviewing.

But then the panic set in. You see my mother’s side of the family are Jamaican. So the prospect of going all the way to the Caribbean and not visiting Jamaica felt so, so wrong.

However, within an hour of stepping out of St Lucia’s Hewanorra airport, those conflicting feelings left me.

Why? Well, St Lucia is so different to Jamaica. I immediately felt like I was getting something my mother’s island could not offer me. Therefore I was justified in taking a break from my second home.

The most striking thing was obvious, but important. It was the size. St Lucia felt very, very small and I liked that.

Arriving into Kingston, Jamaica, as a kid on family holidays was always a magical feeling. The hustle of the airport, buzz of the streets as you peered out from the car window, the music systems blaring out the latest reggae… St Lucia had none of that. It was quiet, calm, tranquil…

The drive from Castries to Soufriere (one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been) is simply stunning. You wind up, down and around a mountainous topography with incredible views emerging at every corner. Then when you think it can’t get much better the Pitons show up.

And if you fancy a lively night out to see some local culture you gotta hit an event called “The Jump Up”. It’s held every Friday night in Gros Islet.

I couldn’t finish without mentioning the language. St Lucian’s speak English, just like Jamaican’s, but they also have an equivalent patois called Creole. It’s French based and I found it impossible to understand. It’s one of the elements that makes St Lucia so distinctive and is symbolic of the fascinating history of the island.

TIPS OF PLACES TO STAY

Cap Maison (www.capmaison.com) just north of the country’s capital – Castries, is on another level. A boutique hotel that is home to one of the most chilled vibes I’ve ever experienced.

The Landings (www.thelandingsstlucia.com) is located on the popular Rodney Bay. Surrounded by yachts and with a stunning private beach, it’s no surprise the hotel is favourite spot for Premier League footballers to holiday.

Windjammer (www.windjammer-landing.com) has plenty of activities for families, friendly staff and a great beach.

In the south of St Lucia the Coconut Bay resort (www.coconutbayresort.co.uk) is a more affordable option. This place is on the lively side and perfect for those who like to throw themselves into the non-stop activities an all-inclusive serves up.

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 by Leon Mann

Bela-where?? My Belarusian Adventure

One of the best things about being a journalist is that the job can take you to some mad interesting places.

I recently got a call to see if I’d be up for some reporting in Belarus at the European Amateur Boxing Championships. So I jumped at the chance.

In preparation, like all good journalists, I googled “Belarus” + “Minsk”, read that it was previously part of the Soviet Union and had the world’s largest population of Bison, then hopped on a half full 40-seater jet. (I spent my proper research time, reading up on the boxing!).

What I found when I got to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, was a very clean country who were ferociously proud to be hosting a major sports championship.

Our fixer on the trip was a real character. The perfect guide, as he was remarkably proud of his country and fancied himself as a bit of a historian. He took great pleasure in showing us around the beautiful city, taking us to eat with the locals and relaying stories of his time in the Soviet army.

Often when working in, or visiting, countries where there aren’t many black people (I saw two – away from the boxing venue) I get a bit anxious about the issues I may face. It’s an instinctive thing based on previous experiences. Sadly, it’s been pretty commonplace in my life to face distinctly different treatment to that I expect when I’ve been in certain parts of the world. But I had no such problems in Minsk.

In fact, my time there was so hassle free I only reflected on this issue when I got home to the UK. That isn’t to say that those issues don’t exist for the local ethnic minority populations. As a realist, who has worked extensively with ethnic minority communities across Europe, I know the power of the pound can protect you from all sorts… (Or in this case – Belarusian ruble)

Having had an interesting time in Belarus, I asked myself whether I would go back again?

In all honesty, I’m not sure I would – unless it was for work. But this is only because Minsk is pretty small, so I got to see most of it and sample the local culture.

I certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone from taking a butchers. It’s a beautiful place with a fascinating history and some very friendly people. I just hope it doesn’t turn into a stag do destination. It has all the characteristics for this to happen. Cheap (ish) beer and a high ratio of women to men.

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 by Leon Mann

Football’s Black List – A Catalyst For Conversation

Football’s Black List has landed and judging by the comments on my twitter timeline, it has made an impact.

I thought it best to use my column to address some of the issues raised, and where better to start than with The Daily Mirror’s story.

On the face of it the paper asked a good question. How could the panel leave out Ashley Cole, given he had become the first black player to win 100 caps for England? The answer is pretty simple. The initiative is about what members of our community are doing OFF the pitch.

I hope this answers the Chelsea fans that suspected I was an Arsenal supporter and had an anti-Ashley agenda!

On a serious note, having spent time with the England left back in New York a couple of seasons ago, I can assure anyone reading this that there is no agenda here. Google ‘Ashley + Cole + Leon + Mann’ if you don’t believe me. And who knows? If the panel agree, it may well be fitting to celebrate his remarkable achievement ON the pitch at the awards evening later in the year.

While the majority of responses to the list were very positive, a large number of people asked if it would it be racist to have a White List? Suggesting the Black List is a negative thing because they feel it encourages segregation.

To answer this best, here is my three-step rationale for any list that hopes to help football become more diverse.

1) Is the group or community you wish to celebrate under represented in the areas you are highlighting? If yes, proceed.

2) Would the list, celebrating role models from that group or community, help to encourage others to strive for jobs, in an attempt to address under representation? If yes, proceed.

3) Would an awards evening only celebrate the contributions of one group or community, to the success of the under represented group? If no, (the Black List has awarded non-African Caribbean people regularly) I strongly believe you have an initiative that can help to make a difference.

– The Leon Mann column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper

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 by Leon Mann

The Toughest Black List Ever!

Football’s Black List is soon to be exclusively published in The Voice of Sport’s pages and boy do we need it!

It has been a turbulent 18 months or so for the black community in football, arguably the worst since bananas were routinely thrown at our players.

The blows just kept coming – thick and fast – from incidents of racist abuse on the pitch, to personal issues between former players being leaked to cause damage and division.

But while some have taken their opportunity to stick the boot in during this period, our community has actually become stronger. New voices have emerged to speak out about racism in football and self-organisation across all levels of the sport has stepped up.

That is why this year’s Black List isn’t just about the most recognised or powerful black people in football, but also those who the community feels it should pay tribute to for how they represented them in troubled times.

The list will be smaller too. Five names will be selected for the following categories – Administration, Community, Commercial, Players, Management and Coaching, and Media.

For greater transparency, the list of 30 will be compiled with the help of a panel of football experts.

As founders of the list, myself and Voice of Sport editor, Rodney Hinds will chair a group including Reading striker, Jason Roberts MBE, Chelsea and England Womens, Eniola Aluko, academic and community activist, Dr Colin King, diversity expert, Michelle Moore, Football Against Racism in Europe director, Piara Powar and football advisor, Francis Nkwain.

Trust me, this has been THE HARDEST list I have been involved in putting together.

When we first launched the Black List in 2008 it wrote itself in many ways. The candidates seemed fairly obvious. But now, so many leaders and talented individuals have risen up in their respective fields.

For further transparency – you can see there is a theme developing here – we have also taken the step of asking the public to decide who picks up the prizes when the 30 come together for the Black List Awards.

The list is very much there for the community, so we strongly believe it is only right that you chose who you would like to reward.

– The Leon Mann column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper

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 by Leon Mann

The Black List 2013

SHOW ME a Black List everyone agrees with and I’ll show you a liar.

This statement pretty much sums up just how difficult it was for the panel to pull together the 30 names of our community’s most powerful, respected and influential people in football for the 2013 Black List.

Much of the discussion and debate was about how those with power had used their positions over the last 18 months. Had we heard from our leaders when our community needed them the most? How did they represent the community when they did use their influence? The feelings amongst the panel varied.
But after some searching debates we can now reveal who made the cut.

The list highlights those at all levels of the game, from people working at the heart of our communities to the administrators sitting at football’s top table and shaping the future of the sport.

As those who are familiar with the Black List will know, the initiative is not a tool to thank our footballers for what they have achieved on the field. Instead, it is to recognise contributions off the pitch, acknowledge the different experiences and struggles in finding power and influence in the game, and also encourage young people in our community to become involved in all areas of football.

While we proudly celebrate the Black List, we should never forget that it is about far more than 30 names. It is designed to inspire future generations and bring the community together to review where we are and how we get to a much better place.

– CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL BLACK LIST 2013 – http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/football-black-list-2013

– This editorial comment first appeared in The Voice Newspaper

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 by Leon Mann

My 2013 wish list

If you granted me three wishes, this is what I would like to see in the next 12 months.

2012 had everything. Drama, highs, lows and moments that united us in a way little else could.

But I would like to see this momentum used in 2013 to address some real issues our sports’ face.

1. Sports decision makers reflect the society it serves!

When you look at the UK’s sportspeople, it’s not hard to find black people and communities well represented.

In football more than 25% of players are black, while in athletics the community offers an even greater number of professionals. Yet, when you look at who is running those sports, we see very few (if any) black decision makers at the top table.

This is not only depressing, but it is depriving our sports of much needed expertise, knowledge and understanding.

A more diverse leadership in sport will result in greater levels of performance. Take a look across the pond at the USA if you need the proof.

2. Sports bodies become more accountable

In the time I have been involved in sport, I have lost count of the number of reports and (insert random number here) point plans.

The reason for this is a lack of accountability.

Where there are targets, surely there must be an outside regulatory body ensuring the sport is hitting these markers. Without this I see no point to these plans.

3. Sportspeople form dynamic partnerships

Knowledge is power, and there is so much of it across the community.

I would love to see Premier League footballers going to speak to NBA players to share ideas, collaborate and create exciting partnerships.

Sport is global. Our sports stars need to think big. I want to see them inspire the next generation with what they do off the field of play too.

Some may look at these wishes and suggest they will never happen.

I totally get that view, but if we stop asking important questions, we accept the current situation.

This cannot be an option. The opportunity for us to master “the game” away from the fields, pitches and tracks is long overdue.

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 by Leon Mann

Thank Twitter for football’s fight against racism

In years to come, Jason Roberts, Rio Ferdinand and others’ refusal to wear Kick It Out t-shirts will be seen as a seminal moment for anti-racism campaigning in football.

We will look back and say: that was the moment that made the football authorities step up its efforts to challenge racism, indeed all forms of discrimination.

Well, that’s what the community hopes anyway…

It is incredible to think that a simple protest by players, unhappy – not necessarily with Kick It Out – but the game’s rulers inability to address inequality and racist abuse sufficiently has catapulted the issue to the top of the agenda (or near enough).

Why didn’t they do this ages ago? Some will say.

If it was a case of self –organising, the community should send a thank you note to Twitter. While they aren’t exactly the best at policing racism themselves, the social media tool has provided a space that has helped players network like never before.

While it may seem far-fetched to some, Twitter has generated a strong network of players – both black and white – who communicate regularly. It’s the Yellow Pages of football, and while they may not always reply to the likes of me and you… they certainly get back to those from their own profession.

Without a doubt the Anton Ferdinand v Terry and Evra v Suarez incidents were huge factors in much – maybe all – of the unhappiness that lead to the protest. But how did the YouTube link of the former England captain using racially abusive language find its way into the media? And in the Suarez race abuse incident strong and regular comments surrounding the case on Twitter kept the issue live in our consciousness, as well as in the press.

One footballer said to me a few weeks ago, ‘On twitter there is nowhere to hide’. He’s right. Your timeline of comments now represents your personality, perspective and importantly, your politics. Players are now watching each other’s views and gaining confidence that they are not alone in their beliefs.

As the debates rage on about whether a black footballers’ association would work, whether the Kick It Out campaign needs to modernise, or if the football authorities are genuinely committed to the fight against racism, you can be sure of one thing. That the hundreds of footballers networking on twitter will not let these issues be swept under the mouse mat.

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 by Leon Mann

Forget your badge, remember the issues

What a summer 2012 served up for sports fans!

The remarkable climax to the Premier League season, Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France victory, the Ryder Cup team and Andy Murray’s success stateside and the phenomenal London Olympics and Paralympics – made it an unrivalled period.

But I fear despite all these highs, the blows the black community – actually, scrap that, ALL communities – have been dealt over the last 12 months have left many of us feeling winded and detached from the sport we consume the most. Football.

We have had to become accustomed to seeing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and QPR’s Anton Ferdinand routinely booed and abused by rival supporters for daring to stand up against racism.

Meanwhile campaigners such as Lord Ouseley, from Kick It Out, have been sent hundreds of abusive emails for suggesting all is not right in our game.

But perhaps most worryingly, tribal loyalties in football seem to have clouded the judgement of fans, as well as some former and current players amongst others.

What are the black community supposed to make of all this? Is your club badge more important than challenging racism?

The response to this situation from our communities is essential. Shared experience and anger unite like little else and in recent months the will from some seriously powerful voices to stand together is gathering momentum.

This is why the two major football awards evenings – organised by black communities, for black communities – are coming together.

The Black List awards and Best of Africa celebration will hold a humungous celebratory event at the end of the season to show solidarity with those who have had to fight racism on and off the pitch, while making the big noise our achievements deserve.

If British expats can get together in countless countries around the globe to celebrate their culture as minorities – why can’t we?

But I’ve wasted enough energy on those against us. Both The Black List awards and Best of Africa have always rightly celebrated those from other communities who have contributed to our successes too. We will always do this. Because we believe in equality – regardless of our respective club badge.

This column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper

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 by Leon Mann

To blog or not to blog… that is the question

I thought long and hard about whether to add a blogging section to this website.

Lots of questions entered my mind.

Does anyone really care what I think about stuff? Will this space become a ranting area? With social media seemingly taking over the world does anyone even blog anymore?

Hmmm. Lots of questions, a whole world of answers.

But as you can see, I thought; ‘why not!’

I enjoy expressing myself in lots of ways. So this space will allow me to type out what’s on my mind, share my views on things that may sit outside of my day-to-day work life and generally just engage with others out there. Yes – maybe you.

You’ll be able to tell how it’s working by tracking the dates of my blog posts.

If you find yourself feeling sorry for this lonely set of words – it’s probably not going too well… But I’m hopeful.

Any blog suggestions? Give me a shout at the contact page.

Bless up!

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