Leading the Way Conference

Paul Elliott called for greater representation within English football’s administration field on Monday (21 March) at a conference focusing on increasing diversity in the game.

Led by Kick It Out, football’s equality and inclusion campaign, the inaugural Leading the Way conference gave people looking to gain employment in the football industry the chance to gather information and advice from well-respected figureheads at the TUC Congress House in London.

Former Chelsea and Celtic defender Elliott said: “We are all here today because of our common love of football. We are all here today because we all want to make a difference. If we can couple your passion with the requisite tools, there is no reason why you can’t be up here on the top table in years to come. We want to make sustainable and long-lasting change.”

Keynote speaker Trevor Phillips OBE, chair of the EHRC, supported Elliott’s message, calling for adjustments in the system: “How many leaders come from diverse backgrounds? I am talking about all areas of the game here. It is vital we make progress. We need to end discrimination in football, yet we are fully aware it is a battle that won’t just end tomorrow.”

Simone Pound, Head of Equality at the Professional Footballers’ Association, and Peter Tatchell, an LGBT campaigner and human rights activist, delivered rousing speeches covering the topics of women in football and the lack of LGBT representation. Tatchell said: “Evidently, there are problems that run throughout the game. Yet, a lot of players and fans are becoming more supportive and receptive to different communities.”

Participants came from all four corners of the country to take part in a series of workshops, including a motivational and empowerment seminar with Jamie Edwards, previously an NBA professional basketball player who is now one of Europe’s leading peak performance coaches, before sitting down for one-to-one mentoring sessions.

Tangible routes into coaching and management, media, refereeing, administration and community development were all covered, with experts such as ex-Arsenal midfielder, Paul Davis, former West Bromwich Albion defender and PFA Deputy Chief Executive, Brendon Batson, Daily Mirror man, Darren Lewis and football agent, Pete Smith, representative of Rio Ferdinand.

During the afternoon, former Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton took time out from his busy schedule to sit down and talk to a large group of the participants. Giving his backing to the event, Hughton praised the commitment of the mentees.

He said: “Anyone willing to travel from as far away as Yorkshire and the North East are clearly committed to bettering themselves and gaining employment in the game. This event is vital to making these kids dreams a reality and I am delighted to be here showing my support.”

David Feindouno, a participant from Plymouth, praised the stature of the mentors at the conference: “The list of mentors is magnificent. I have had the chance to meet and gather ideas from some really important people within the industry. It has allowed me to build an excellent set of contacts too. I feel fortunate to have been part of this project.”

Columbian student Julian Salas, who travelled all the way from Liverpool, said: “This has been a truly inspirational day. It has given me the chance to speak to some of the leading figures in the field I am looking to get into. I have spoken to a lot of the other mentees, and they feel exactly the same – the event has been a resounding success.”

The day culminated in a ‘Question Time’ style panel discussion, bringing together a host of key names from across the game including Paul Canoville, Chelsea’s first black player, AFC Wimbledon chairman, Ivor Hellor, the Guardian and Observer journalist, Anna Kessel, Level Playing Field chair, Joyce Cook and Barnet defender, Anwar Uddin, one of only a handful of British Asians playing in the Football League.

Concluding the conference, Cook insisted that pathways are available for under-represented communities to get into the game: “People believe there to be this big chasm when it comes to getting involved in the game. There isn’t. These types of events allow us to make people aware that there are opportunities out there.”

To find out more about the Leading the Way initiative, call Kick It Out on 0207 684 4884 or email earl@kickitout.org.

You can see images from the Leading the Way conference by clicking here.

You can read a copy of the Leading the Way conference programme by clicking here.