Ugo Ehiogu Remembered At Football Black List Celebration
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.”