The FA’s Lord Herman Ouseley, Brendon Batson and Noel Blake were all honoured at The Black List Awards at the House of Lords on 24 September.
Compiled by black newspaper, The Voice, with the support of football’s equality and inclusion campaign, Kick It Out, The Black List features the 30 most influential figures of African or African-Caribbean heritage in English football today.
The list combines former England stars such as like John Barnes and Paul Ince with influential individuals in the Football League such as Millwall Executive Chairman, Heather Rabbatts, and Sheffield United Chief Executive, Jason Rockett.
Held in the Attlee Rooms, the event was also attended by The FA’s Chairman, Lord Triesman, and featured Hope Powell in the top 30 names.
Having been honoured at the event, Lord Herman Ouseley, Chairman of both Kick It Out and The FA’s Race Equality Advisory Group commented: “Anyone who questions or doubts the impact made to our national game by the black community should take even the most cursory of glances at The Black List.
“It provides a compelling illustration of trendsetters and inspirational people working across the full spectrum of football.
“This event gives us the opportunity to highlight the contribution made to the game by each of the 30 entrants on the Black List, whilst celebrating the collective input to the game by not just by black players but administrators, coaches and journalists.”
Brendon Batson, who was the first black player to wear an Arsenal shirt before making his name with the likes of Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham at WBA, added: “It was a real privilege to be in such exalted company on Wednesday night at The Black List celebration to recognise the contributions made by so many individuals in combating racism within the game of football.
“I was deeply honoured to be among the recipients to receive an award but the evening was about the collective efforts of everyone involved in anti-racism campaigns in the struggle to make our society more tolerant and considerate."
The Black List event comes ahead of Kick It Out’s annual ‘One Game, One Community’ weeks of action next month which will see over 1000 activities taking place across professional football through to grassroots, education and community sectors.
The events will aim to address social exclusion as well as celebrating diversity through football.
The Black List
- Hope Powell - England Women’s Head Coach
- Lord John Taylor - Patron, Aston Villa FC
- Jason Rockett – Chief Executive, Sheffield Utd FC
- Alex Williams – Manchester City Football in the Community
- Darren Lewis – Daily Mirror
- Uriah Rennie – Referee
- Noel Blake – England Youth Coach
- Paul Elliott – Anti Racism Ambassador
- Garth Crooks – Football Consultant
- Lord Herman Ouseley – Kick It Out and The FA
- Chris Ramsay – Tottenham Hotspur Academy Director
- Tony Whelan – Manchester Utd Assistant Academy Director
- Hepburn Harrison-Graham – BBC Radio Sport Editor
- Rio Ferdinand – England footballer
- Rodney Hinds – Sport and Features Editor, The Voice
- Chris Kamara – Football Pundit
- Robbie Earle – Football Analyst
- Sky Andrew – Football Agent
- Tony Finnigan – Football Advisor and Mentor
- Heather Rabbatts – Executive Deputy Chairman, Millwall FC
- John Barnes – Jamaica Head Coach
- Les Ferdinand – Former England footballer
- Ian Wright – Former England footballer, TV presenter
- Bobby Barnes – Assistant Chief Executive at PFA
- Brendon Batson – The FA, Sports Consultant
- Chris Powell – PFA Chairman
- Paul Ince – Manager of Blackburn Rovers
- Chris Nathaniel – Football Agent
- Andy Ansah – Football Choreographer
- Keith Alexander – Manager of Macclesfield Town