The Premier League is a proud supporter of the Football Black List which celebrates people of African and Caribbean heritage working in the game.
The annual Football Black List Awards were founded by sports journalists Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds and showcase influential Black people in British football, shining a light on those inspiring the next generation to consider a role in football.
A diverse game
The initiative also provides an opportunity to reflect on the diversity of the football industry, discuss the underrepresentation of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds – and, most importantly, how to address this issue.
Black players have made a significant impact to the history of the Premier League and diversity on the pitch has played such a pivotal role in making the Premier League what it is now.
As the League takes another opportunity to promote No Room For Racism, the Premier League and its clubs work with fans, the FA, EFL, PFA, Kick It Out and the police to fight against discrimination on and off the pitch, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion across all areas of football.
At the latest awards event in south London last month, Mann said, “The Football Black List just keeps growing and growing and you can see the numbers in the room are just really swelling and it's reflecting the huge interest and support there is for this movement.
“The collaboration with the Premier League is absolutely huge. It is a huge, huge league, recognised globally and this enables us to be able to get the message around Black excellence out to a much wider audience.”
Hinds added, “The support we're getting from the community, the support we're getting from the wider community, the support we're getting from the game itself is improving.
“Premier League have got to have a massive shoutout because while we were having this event, the Premier League's introduction and support has just taken it to another level."
Attendees at the award ceremony in Battersea included former Watford player Troy Deeney (below) and former Leicester City captain Wes Morgan.
Deeney said: “The Premier League are a wonderful organisation in regards to what they're trying to do and help in terms of understanding their position of power that they influence a lot of people.
“So, them being behind it and now all that's done is given the [Football] Black List the credibility they always had, which is giving credibility to the mainstream.”
Nicole Farley was a recipient of an award at the event as the first female coach at West Ham United, thanks in part to help from the Premier League's Coach Inclusion Diversity Scheme.
“It feels fantastic," Farley said. "I mean just the vibe when you come into the building and the aura and to be around such an elite greatness, it's an honour.”
The 2023 Football Black List awardees
Administration
Eartha Pond - Founder, ESP Foundation Charity
Abiola Ijasanmi - Chief Operating Officer, Confederation Of African Football
Tony Burnett - Chief Executive, Kick It Out
Malcolm Kpedekpo - Director, Scottish FA
Matthew Ryder KC - Senior Barrister, Matrix Chambers
Coaching And Management
Hope Powell CBE - Technical Director, Birmingham City
Liam Rosenior - Head Coach, Hull City
Vincent Kompany - Manager, Burnley
Nicole Farley - Coach, West Ham
Darren Moore - Manager, Port Vale FC
Commercial
Christina Taylor - Founder, Aim Sky High Talent
Kemi Benjamin - Senior Brand Director, Nike
Roscoe Bowman - Founder, Squad Sports
Ini Umotong - Player Management Executive – Women’s Football Adidas
Kenny Annan-Jonathan - Creative Director, Crystal Palace
Community & Grassroots
Cordell Lake-Benjamin - Targeted Intervention Youth Worker At The Palace For Life Foundation
Andrew Ducille - Operations Manager, Bcoms
Billie Graham - Women And Girls Football Development Co-Ordinator, Arsenal In The Community
Richard Taiwo - Esol Teacher And Coach
Solomon Paul - Groundsman, Highfield Rangers FC
Cyrille Regis Award
Sam Allison - Referee, Premier League
Akil Howson - Assistant Referee, Premier League
Keith Alexander Award
Kerry Davis - First Black Woman To Play For England
LGBT+
Caz Simone - Huddersfield Town Women
Media
Helen Campbell - Multi Camera Director, SCC Media
Miles Addy - Founder, The Content Club
Kevin Ramsey - Director Of Studios, Sky
Ade Oladipo - Presenter, DAZN Boxing, Talksport
Seb Hutchinson - Commentator, Sky Sports
Ones To Watch
Keah Forino-Joseph - Equality, Diversity And Inclusion Officer, The FA
Josh Booth-Sawyerr - Senior Account Manager, Ten Toes
Olivia Portas - Assistant Producer – BBC Sport
Khadidia Timera - Judge, FIFA Dispute Resolute Chamber
William Bitibri - Founder, Down The Wings
Players – Off The Pitch
Nikita Parris - Manchester United
Jess Carter - Chelsea
Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool
Jeremie Frimpong - Bayer Leverkusen
Lyle Foster - Burnley
Practitioners
Ifeanyi Odogwu - Sports Law, Premier League Judicial Panel
Anika Leslie-Walker - Chair, Manchester FA Inclusion Advisory Board
Marcus Gayle - Club Ambassador, Brentford
Fern Whelan - EDI Women’s Football Executive, PFA
Kerry Downes - CEO, Luton Town FC Community Trust