Lord Ouseley, 63, who founded anti-racism in football organisation Kick It Out, will sit on Council as the chairman of new FA advisory committee, the Race Equality Advisory Group.

The REAG committee, which also features Robbie Earle, will advise the FA Council on race equality issues and boosting football participation within black and ethnic minority communities across the country.

Lord Ouseley, who features on the list of 100 Great Black Britons, commented: “My appointment to FA Council is a part of The Football Association’s ongoing modernisation and it will hopefully be seen as a positive thing that will open the door for others to get involved.

“It’s been a big year of change for The FA. I’ve obviously known the Chairman, Lord Triesman, for a long time and he’s viewed as a breath of fresh air for the organisation.”

Lord Ouseley, who was Chief Executive for the Commission of Racial Equality from 1993-2000, believes that Soho Square is moving in the right direction with its range of equality projects: “The FA has certainly changed over the last decade and there’s a lot of good work going on such as black and ethnic minority supporters getting involved as England fans.

“The FA have done brilliantly in removing the air of ‘nastiness’ that used to be associated with the fan base a few years ago and that’s a big positive as it opens it all up to more people who want to get involved.

“Black and Asian supporters want to be seen as England fans. When we qualify for major tournaments then you’ll see that visibility. They’ll wear the shirts and fly the flags from their cars and it’s great to see.”

Lord Ouseley believes that Paul Ince’s appointment at Blackburn Rovers will prove to be an inspiration for black players and coaches who want to follow in his footsteps.

“We know that these positions are highly competitive and it’s difficult to break through. The jobs are not on the open market and quite often, when a manager is sacked, the chairman will know who he wants as a replacement and that normally conforms to the stereotype of a traditional white manager.

“Paul has made it to the top in a relatively short period of time though so we’ve got to hope that he’s a success and can stay there.

“If he can show stickability then that will show others that they’ve got a chance as well. It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white - All anyone is looking for is a fair environment that shows other aspiring coaches that they’ve got an opportunity to progress in the future.”

Lord Ouseley is also hopeful that Asian footballers will also be able to make an impact on the domestic game in the near future but is aware of the issues they face: “We know that Asian kids enjoy playing football but they face a lot of pressure.

“They’ve traditionally been steered towards cricket in the past and they’ve been successful as well with the likes of Bopara and Mahmood breaking into the England squad.

“But the Asian community has also wanted youngsters to achieve professional qualifications and become doctors, chemists or solicitors.

"They’re viewed as proper careers while football isn’t so that’s the battle we face.”