The Voice Newspaper

February 28, 2015February 28, 2015 by Leon Mann

Diversity Guide Must Be Catalyst For Change In Sports Media

FINDING SOLUTIONS: Leon Mann, BCOMS founder, opens The D Word conference in 2014

There comes a point when things need to be said to be able to move on. For the Black Collective Of Media in Sport (BCOMS), a network of sports journalists from African and Caribbean backgrounds, that moment has arrived.

First the facts.

In 2014, not one national newspaper sent a black sports writer to the World Cup. While in TV land, across all of the major sporting events in the summer just one black presenter and one editor were involved. Speaking more broadly – the mainstream press have never had a black sports columnist, who hasn’t played sports at the highest level, and away from specialist newspapers such as The Voice and The Morning Star, there has never been a black sports editor in charge of the back pages.

What makes all of the above a bigger deal is the fact that our community is incredibly well represented on the pitch, track and in the ring. It is estimated that 30% of professional footballers are black, while there is also high levels of representation in sports including athletics and boxing.

BCOMS response was to hold a national conference looking for solutions to address a disturbing lack of diversity across the sports media. More than 150 delegates attended.

The day was a success and thanks to funding from FARE, European football’s anti-discrimination network, BCOMS were able to use the contributions from the day to develop a good practice guide to help the industry deliver greater diversity.

The response to the guide has been overwhelmingly positive so far. But my hope is that the guide is not filed away under ‘things to do’ or left with a red flag next to it in an inbox. The sports media must move with urgency to reflect our nation and the interest and participation our community has in sport.

Football’s Problem

A black man is racially abused and prevented from getting on Paris Metro by Chelsea fans

Football brings people together. We hear it all the time. I proudly say it on TV a lot – when reporting on the games good causes. But with the good, can also come the bad.

Football brought racist thugs together with a black man on the Paris Metro, who was subsequently abused. Therefore, for me, those running the sport must take responsibility for what happened and double their efforts to ensure that the customers coming to deposit money in football’s pockets behave themselves.

– This column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper

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December 24, 2014February 28, 2015 by Leon Mann

A Step In The Right Direction? Black Community Progress In Sport In 2014

So what does the bigger picture look like for the black community in the sports industry at the end of 2014?

Well – our sports stars continue to excel. Lewis Hamilton, was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year after a magnificent championship – where he won the F1 title for the second time. Other notable achievements include Yaya Toure pretty much single handedly winning Manchester City the Premier League, Daniel Sturridge shining for Liverpool and England, and Raheem Sterling impressing for club and country, too. In the women’s game Eni Aluko absolutely smashed it for England scoring 13 in ten World Cup qualifiers.

Away from football, Margret Alphonsi deserves a special shout out for playing a key role in England women’s Rugby World Cup victory. James Dasaolu, Mo Farah, Tiffany Porter, Jodie Williams and Asha Phillip are just a few names from the athletics world who enjoyed 2014. Morgan Lake was in fabulous form at the World Juniors. Meanwhile in boxing, Anthony Joshua is fast becoming a super star.

The bigger picture on the pitch, track and in the ring, is our community is still punching way above it’s weight. The black community makes up 3% of the UK according to the last census – add in the 2% of mixed race people (the census separates, not me) – making our collective achievements even more remarkable.

But the regulars who read my column will know I am just as interested, maybe even more so, in what is happening away from the action. Where decision makers shape the sport we consume and participate in – historically, often without our input or consent.

I was involved in the launch of the Sports People’s Think Tank (SPTT) this year – together with former Premier League stars; Jason Roberts MBE, Michael Johnson and Darren Moore. Our first report into the lack of black managers and coaches made major waves. We found that only 19 positions of the top 552 coaching jobs in football were held by BAME coaches. An incredible stat given up to 30% of professional players in England are black.

This research was hugely significant. It moved the conversation beyond whether there is a problem. Statistics in black and white are very hard to argue with. Now the focus of debate and discussion is how to address this stark underrepresentation. Progress.

Sporting Equals also revealed some alarming stats this year. Their report focused on the boardrooms across all sports. They found only 14 BAME people across 449 boardroom positions. Just think about that for a moment. 14 out of 449 decision makers.

Ahead of this research, earlier in the year, I was part of a group of former footballers who had graduated from a corporate governance course aimed at getting BAME people onto boards. The course, delivered by Professor Karl George MBE, is now working with a second cohort and has placed a number of graduates on boards already. Once again – progress.

And our sports stars are finding their voices. Forget the birthday cake nonsense in the summer, just weeks before that Yaya Toure told the world that African’s were not treated fairly and this needed addressing. The Ivorian also spoke out about racism in football, highlighting online abuse on twitter and before that suggesting that black players may have to boycott World Cup’s in the future if racism is not dealt with sufficiently.

In America, sports stars across the continent continue to use their profile to take a stand. In the NBA, former Clippers owner made a racist remark – so players including Lebron James, spoke loudly against him. Later in the year, Lebron and his teammates wore t-shirts with the slogan, “I can’t breathe”, in support of the family of Eric Garner, who died on 17 July after a police officer placed him in a chokehold when he was being arrested on suspicion of selling loose untaxed cigarettes.

In conclusion, while our community is massively underrepresented in the corridors of power in sport – the fight is being fought. No longer are we solely talking about abuse on the pitch, we are now recognizing the institutional exclusion off it… and it’s significance. Leaders are emerging. Many of them are current and former sports people using their profile to raise concerns affecting all black people.

It is easy, and often very tempting, to be cynical about how much progress our communities are actually making when problems of racism and exclusion are so rife. However, I hope we can reflect on what has been achieved in 2014 – and see it for what it is… a step in the right direction.

Things move to the next level in 2015.

– This column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper – the UK’s leading black community paper.

October 8, 2014October 16, 2014 by Leon Mann

No Excuse For Not Speaking Out

LM at interview shoot w: Hitzlsperger[1]

Interviewing Thomas Hitzlsperger for FARE film

A common criticism of the modern day footballer, and indeed sportsperson, is they are afraid to say what they really think. However, in recent weeks we have seen this challenged.

The most obvious example is Rio Ferdinand, while promoting his new autobiography #2sides. He has certainly not been shy to express his views on pretty much everything – racism, England managers, David Moyes… Forget #2sides, Rio goes in #2footed! And rightly so on a number of issues.

And recently I experienced similar passion while making a film on racism and discrimination in football for European equality network – FARE. I was tasked with capturing the views and ideas of Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, Arsenal Ladies defender, Casey Stoney and former German international, Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Yaya Toure was very strong on challenging racism

I know Yaya fairly well, and he is very strong on the fight against racism. In our interview he held nothing back. He believes a lot more needs to be done by the authorities and clubs. Sat in front of me, he detailed what it was like to be the only black person in a stadium where monkey chanting was clearly audible. His said European clubs have a duty to protect the footballers they invite to play for them.

Casey Stoney was just as strong. She recalled growing up in a time when girls had no pathway to playing football – at any level! No role models and no support. Now she is a professional footballer but is still calling for greater equality.

The brilliant Casey Stoney spoke passionately about equality in the film

Thomas Hitzlsperger had recently come out as gay – one of the very few footballers to have made this decision. He was incredibly confident and articulate in his view that the football industry needs to work harder to create an environment people can be themselves, regardless of sexual orientation.

The final part of the film was shot in Romania with the Roma community, who face terrible discrimination. A short cab ride through one of the most challenging neighbourhoods I have seen in Europe, underlined why we need sportspeople to speak out.

Very few people are prepared to listed to children living in poverty – but the masses may help, or change their views, when sportspeople with profile voice their opinions. Agents, advisors and even press officers can sometimes discourage this – claiming it interferes with their focus on performing. But it’s about time sportspeople followed Yaya, Casey and Thomas’s lead.

To say nothing, is to accept.

You can watch the FARE film on YouTube via – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tdr1qpb9Bo

Post-filming picture with super friendly members of the Roma community in Bucharest. Great people!

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September 19, 2014 by Leon Mann

Making My Debut In The Champions League

Interviewing Arsene Wenger for ITV Sport

It all started with a friendly and ended in the Champions League. To say it’s been a challenging and incredibly rewarding few weeks is probably an understatement.

I was recently asked by ITV Sport to do some pre and post match interviews for them. First up, I had the task of doing new Tottenham boss, Mauricio Pochettino’s very first “as live” TV interview in English, at Spurs friendly against Schalke at White Hart Lane. As a North Londoner, the gig was perfect. Just a 15 minute journey to work.

It was a real honour to receive the call, as I have grown up admiring the work of ITV top dogs Gabriel Clarke and Ned Boulting. Both are exceptional interviewers – so I knew the audience would have high expectations. Trust me, I did not sleep much the night before.

Match day came around and the gig went pretty smoothly. Pochettino spoke well, I was prepared and a good result for the home team made post match fairly straight-forward.

I made the 15 minute journey home itching to have another go. And when I checked my email inbox the next day, that opportunity was staring back at me – but this time in the Champions League.

Without much time to think, I found myself on a plane to Istanbul to cover Besiktas v Arsenal in a Champions League qualifier. This was no friendly.

I did not sleep for two nights – wrestling with nerves and anxiety. I read absolutely everything about both sides – twice. Then before I knew it Arsene Wenger was stood in front of me, and I had fulfilled the brief of delivering a concise 1 minute pre match interview, before an eventful draw gave me plenty to ask about after the final whistle. Job done.

My hat trick of gigs was completed at Celtic for their qualifier against Maribor. I slept like a baby before this one, but the nerves were still eating me up.

A few years ago I was afraid of failure. I seriously would have turned these opportunities down – opting for a quiet life. Then I reached a point where that was no longer an option. This column, making films, and interviewing on BBC and ITV all come with risk attached. Not everyone will dig you. But I feel we should grab the opportunities those before us never had – and enjoy them!

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July 17, 2014July 17, 2014 by Leon Mann

Making history with Lawn Bowls Jamaica

I have been called many things in my life – good and bad – and now you can add international lawn bowls player to that list!

Alongside former British and Commonwealth champion boxer Junior Witter, I joined Andrew Newell, a seasonedbowls player, and Mervyn Edwards, a veteran on the circuit, to form Jamaica’s first ever lawn bowls team!

We made our debut at Kelvingrove, the gorgeous venue that will host lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games. As we threw our woods down the rink, the world’s greatest bowls players looked on with interest and enthusiasm. The sport has never seen a more colourful collective – and we could prove to be far more than an entertaining side show.

Despite Junior and I being complete novices, we could play a key role in lawn bowls moving to the next level. The sport needs four more countries to join the global set up to be able to apply to become part of an Olympic Games – which would be the pinnacle for all those involved. So if we, as lawn bowls Jamaica, manage to gain an official status as a recognized national team, then that leaves the sport just three short.

And there is a precedent of “new” countries joining the formal international set up fairly swiftly. As we slugged it out with a GB crown bowls side and Scottish Presidents team, Pakistan’s Commonwealth lawn bowls players cheered us on. They are very familiar with Kelvingrove, as three of the four players are from Glasgow! Having successfully completed their paperwork they will compete at the Commonwealth Games in the green of Pakistan.

In between thrashings, we took on our Glaswegian Pakistani friends and were only narrowly beaten! And for me it was at this point that this project transformed from a bit of giggle to a genuine opportunity to participate at the Commonwealth Games in 2018. If a group of guys from Glasgow with Pakistani roots could do it, why can’t we?

Watch this space people.

HANGING OUT WITH JAMAICA’S SUNSHINE GIRLS!

I recently had the pleasure of filming with Netball Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls in Kingston. The feature will air within BBC Sport’s coverage of the Commonwealth Games.

I have covered the island’s athletics stars extensively over the years, and it was a real treat to learn more bout a team of humble young women who are desperate to win gold in Glasgow.

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June 19, 2014July 17, 2014 by Leon Mann

Jamaica, Lawn Bowls and Loyalties

This month I will realise a dream. I will pull on a Jamaican jersey at an international tournament. The sport? Lawn bowls.

Yep, you read it correctly. I will be playing lawn bowls for Jamaica at a test event for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

It all came about when Jamaica’s best lawn bowls player, Andrew Newell, reached out to me on twitter. He wanted to raise awareness about the sport and make it accessible for all communities. But the big plan was to see a Jamaican lawn bowls team at the next Commonwealth Games in Queensland, Australia.

It’s a wildly ambitious target, but I loved the idea. So did former WBC, European, British, and Commonwealth light welterweight champion, Junior Witter! He’s also signed up for the first ever team.

I cannot wait to get out on the green and represent Jamaica, and where better to prepare than the back “home”. Yes, I’m back on the island this week filming for BBC Sport. Keep an eye on the BBC’s Commonwealth Games coverage to see these features.

I’m also looking forward to exploring how modern day Jamaica feels about the Commonwealth. Does it mean anything anymore?

This question, and England football manager, Roy Hodgson’s recent demand that all his players sing the national anthem got me thinking about identity, and question if people understand how it has evolved.

As a kid I supported England at football and the West Indies in Cricket. When neither were involved I’d adopt Ireland as my team, because of my Irish grandmother. I used to get all sorts of stick for doing this from mates, who saw me as unpatriotic to the country of my birth.

But my feelings now are as strong as they were in the playground – why should I divide any so-called loyalties? It is entirely possible to feel a connection with many different countries and cultures.

However, I still struggle with anthems. The British one in particular. Coming from a family of Jamaican and Irish heritage, that may be unsurprising. I just feel some of the themes involved remind me of past we should never forget, but equally feel uncomfortable blindly celebrating. Google the subject. It makes for fascinating reading.

Yet despite the anthem, I’ll still be cheering on England – but with a Jamaican jersey on, while stood on a bowling green.

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May 15, 2014July 17, 2014 by Leon Mann

Football’s Black List 2014

Football’s Black List, an initiative highlighting the most influential individuals from the black community in the game, has today been revealed in The Voice Newspaper.

The list includes Heather Rabbatts CBE, the first BAME person to sit on The FA Board; Jason Roberts MBE, the recently retired footballer playing a key role in the media and through corporate governance initiative – Sport On Board; and Stephen Lyle – programme editor of BBC Sport’s Match Of The Day 2.

Current players including Liverpool’s Kolo Toure, who sits on the Professional Footballers’ Association management committee, and Arsenal and England star, Rachel Yankey OBE, who runs her own successful football academy, also make the list.

Founded by myself and Rodney Hinds, the initiative seeks to shine a light on the achievements of the black community in football – but away from the pitch. The Black List also provides a moment to reflect on how diverse the football’s industry is and discuss the under representation of people from African Caribbean backgrounds.

Sports reporter Jess Creighton, former Birmingham and Jamaican international footballer, Michael Johnson joined Mann and Hinds on the judging panel who decided the final list.

This is the sixth Black List and there are plans to hold an awards evening later in the year.

Football’s Black List:

MEDIA

Stephen Lyle, Editor – MOTD2
Stan Collymore, Broadcaster – TalkSport
Samantha Johnson, Presenter – The Sun Online
Natasha Henry, Sports writer – The Voice Newspaper
Adrian Kajumba, Football Writer – Daily Star

ADMINISTRATION

Michael Emenalo, Technical Director – Chelsea FC
Patrick Vieira, Football Development Executive – Manchester City FC
Heather Rabbatts CBE, Chair of FA Inclusion Advisory Board – The FA
Bobby Barnes, Deputy Chief Executive – PFA
Lord Ouseley, Chairman – Kick It Out

MANAGEMENT/COACHING

Chris Ramsey, First team coach – Tottenham Hotspur FC
Les Ferdinand MBE, First team coach – Tottenham Hotspur FC
Chris Powell, Former Charlton Athletic Manager
Jason Euell, Senior Development Coach – Charlton Athletic FC
Chris Hughton, Former Norwich City Manager

COMMERCIAL

Ray James, Senior Sales Manager – Manchester City FC
Aidy Ward, Football Advisor
Francis Nkwain, Football Advisor
Andy Ansah, Sports Choreographer
Karl George MBE, Corporate Governance Practitioner

COMMUNITY

Les Fevrier, for his community work in Hackney
Troy Townsend, Mentoring Manager – Kick It Out
Trevor Hutton, AFC Wembley
Jason Roberts, Chief Executive – Jason Roberts Foundation
Shaun Campbell, Founder – Arthur Wharton Foundation

PLAYERS

Yaya Toure, Manchester City FC – for speaking out about lack of recognition for African players
Kolo Toure, Liverpool FC – PFA Management Committee member
Rachel Yankey OBE, Arsenal and England – runs successful Rachel Yankey Academy
Jermain Defoe, Toronto FC – for his work with the Jermain Defoe Foundation
Lianne Sanderson, Boston Breakers and England – founder of the JoLi Academy

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May 14, 2014July 17, 2014 by Leon Mann

Why We Still Need Football’s Black List

It’s the end of the season, so time for Football’s Black List to be revealed.

The list highlights those who the black community sees as its most influential and powerful in the game. It is divided into the following sections – coaching and management, community and grassroots, commercial, administration, media and players contributions off the pitch (charity work, sitting on boards etc).

It is a democratic voting system that decides the final list. The judges this year were myself and Rodney Hinds – as founders, sports reporter Jess Creighton, and former footballer Michael Johnson. The judges all submitted their lists separately.

I personally found it very difficult to come up with my own list. And, as with all the judges, not everyone we put forward individually made the final list. There are so many deserving people from the community – but I hope, in time, everyone feels rightly recognized.

Every year there are those who suggest the list is divisive as it only celebrates black achievement. So let me explain… The minority experience in many walks of life is different to what many others face. In football it is particularly hard. The lack of diversity across the football industry – away from the pitch – reflects this reality.

One day there may be no need to recognize a minority struggle – but today there most certainly is. If you are struggling to understand this, then it may be because you find it hard to connect with being a minority. If you are a minority who would prefer not to talk about struggles – then I will not judge you – but I ask that in turn you leave others to address these issues in their own way too.

We have had non-black people celebrated at the Black List Awards in the past and will continue to do so. All contributions to the struggles the black community face in football are hugely appreciated.

However, the Black List is designed to celebrate talented people from the black community, make them more visible and, in the process, inspire others to join the industry and help address huge under representation.

The very concept of a Black List can be uncomfortable, but I won’t apologise for that – the alternative is we all sit back, shake our heads about a problem and do nothing for fear of a difficult conversation. Instead I’d prefer we get real, understand diversity is not a threat and show some serious commitment to achieving genuine equality across football.

— Football’s Black List will be revealed in The Voice Newspaper on 15th May 2014 —

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November 28, 2013 by Leon Mann

Women Finally Getting Recognition In Sport

I’ve found myself getting genuinely excited about sport these last few weeks – but not because of the World Cup qualifiers, Ashes series or Rugby League World Cup.

I’m excited because I’m finally seeing women’s sport and women in sport gain some ridiculously overdue recognition.

Now don’t get me wrong, there is a long, long way to go but when Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was named the IAAF female athlete of the year, the interview that followed made me sit up. Shelly was asked about an incredible year that saw her win three gold medals at the World Champs in Moscow, but to my amazement Usain Bolt – who picked up male athlete of the year – was asked about the pocket rocket too!

I’ve interviewed Fraser-Pryce on a number of occasions in Jamaica, and she has a remarkable story to tell. She is also a great talker. So I’ve always wondered why we have seen such little coverage of her? Google her and check the achievements, then tell me she shouldn’t be one of the globes biggest sporting names. Maybe the penny is beginning to drop.

Away from athletics, I saw a great documentary as part of ITV Sports Life Story series about Nicola Adams MBE. It celebrated her journey to winning a historic gold medal – the first for any female boxer – at the London Olympics. Adams is another sportswoman I’ve got to know over the years. I’m pleased the boxer’s story sat prominently in such a high profile series.

Away from my media role, as a sports consultant, I witnessed the Professional Footballers Association vote the England women’s captain, Casey Stoney, onto it’s management committee, at the union’s AGM. In doing so she became the first female player to take up such a position. Highly significant.

Meanwhile, Kick It Out recently held a mentoring conference specifically aimed at helping and encouraging women to find work in football, and the Women In Football network continues to go from strength to strength. Check both organisations out.

In short – this column can be summarised as follows… It’s been a struggle, and will no doubt continue to be, but women are taking their rightful places in sport and I am all up for that.

– This column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper

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November 7, 2013 by Leon Mann

Exotic Destinations And Amateur Boxing’s Evolution

One of the perks of being a sports journalist is I get to travel to some awesome places, but I had never considered the prospect of going to the land of ‘Borat!’. However, the World Amateur Boxing Championships were in Kazakhstan, so as the ringside reporter for BBC TV – I was sent there.

The country was really interesting – home to more than 130 ethnicities (talk about diverse!). And the people were welcoming and hospitable. The boxing wasn’t bad either as GB boxing came away with two bronze medals – after Andrew Selby and Anthony Fowler both made it to the last four in their weight divisions.

The home nation took it to another level though, winning four golds, two silvers and two bronze medals. They really are a boxing super power.

In my column a few weeks back I touched on the fact that there would be no head guards at the championships. Well, the change certainly caused a stir. A number of top boxers were eliminated in the early rounds because of cuts, and other top fighters complained about having to fight five bouts in 10 days without protection.

Of course the chorus of displeasure came from those who did not medal, but despite AIBA, the world boxing governing body, telling me that the number of cuts was not hugely significant, I can see a serious debate coming about whether to bring the head guards back. Watch this space…

– This column first appeared in The Voice Newspaper

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