It is appropriate that Tottenham Hotspur were at the forefront of staging this year's Academy Awareness Weekend organised by the Premier League and Kick It Out. Not only do the north London club have one of the best records in turning young talents into first-team regulars, they are also one of the most culturally diverse areas of the country.
With Kick It Out official Troy Townsend, father of Spurs academy product Andros, staging workshops throughout the weekend, Spurs are proud to help to unite players from so many different nationalities and backgrounds under football's umbrella.
"As a club, we're in a very diverse area," Dean Rastrick, the head of academy operations at Spurs, said. "Having players and families from a wide array of backgrounds, nationalities, races, we try to raise awareness of all the players, fans and staff here to ensure there's a strong and positive culture here for the players to be involved in.
"Look at the demographics of the players within the club and I would imagine it's one of the wider ranges of diversity in the country. That's something we have to be aware of.
"We do a lot of work with our young players. Troy worked with the youth team on equality, understanding differences, different religions, races et cetera, and that was very successful."
The young players at Spurs, and other clubs, have varied religious backgrounds and Rastrick is conscious all his staff must appreciate and respect this.
"When we take the boys abroad for tournaments all over the world, we might have five or six different religions on board," Rastrick said. "When you're looking at the boys all getting on together, the cultural differences - with regard to religion, diet, ceremonies, rituals - are something we have to adapt to.
"That's something the boys here will talk to each other about, which is very positive. They see each other as young players, not necessarily as colours of skin, ethnic background or country of origin; they just see team-mates, footballers.
"That's somewhere where the industry is making huge strides, certainly from when I was playing 20 years ago. It's a different place now, and a far more positive place.
"I was talking to Mitchell Thomas, who was a pro at Luton Town when I started out, and how difficult it was for him then as a black player. As young players, they all see each other as equals now, all trying to forge a career in football, and are seen primarily for their talents in football."
Rastrick acknowledges that with Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Andros Townsend and others graduating from the academy into the first team, there is a strong bond between the two at Spurs and this helps with shared attitudes.
"The way the staff of the first team and of the academy interact is very positive for the club," he said. "Our staff is very reflective of the demographic of our catchment area; incredibly diverse.
"That helps raise awareness to understand and tolerate differences because the backgrounds and origins of the staff are very similar to those of the players. The way we can work together reinforces the messages for the young players."
Peter Lansley (@PeteLansley), a freelance football reporter for the Sunday Times and the Guardian, is a Level 2/Youth Module 3 coach working with Derby County Community Trust.