Charlton's Vice-Chairman Paul Elliott CBE MBE has been recognised on this year's Football Black List.
The Football Black List was founded in 2008 by Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds. The widely respected initiative highlights leaders of African and Caribbean heritage working and volunteering across all areas of football.
According to the Black Footballers Partnership, 43% of players in the Premier League and 34% of footballers in the EFL are black. Despite this huge contribution on the pitch, the black community is under-represented in many other areas of the game. The Football Black List is designed to highlight black people who are leading the way and inspiring the next generation, while also paying tribute to players using their profile positively through the work they do away from the pitch.
A panel of experts drawn from the football industry and the black community independently vote on nominations made by the general public to determine who makes the list.
The panel included representation from the Premier League, Football Association, EFL, League Managers Association, Professional Footballers’ Association, PGMOL, Kick It Out, FARE, BCOMS and black community leaders.
The Voice Newspaper is the exclusive home of the Football Black List, creating an opportunity to celebrate individuals whilst also encouraging conversation on how best to address the under-representation of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds off the pitch.
Crucially, the list also helps to shine a light on those working in the community and at the grassroots level of the game, who often go uncelebrated.
The list recognises people across eight categories:
- Administration
- Coaching and nanagement
- Commercial
- Community and grassroots
- LGBTQI+
- Media
- Players
- Practitioners
The Ugo Ehiogu ‘Ones to Watch’ category - which identifies talented young people in the industry - features incredible leaders who are already making their mark in the industry.
Leon Mann MBE, Co-Founder of the Football Black List, said: "The Football Black List once again serves as a reminder of the incredible impact black communities are making in football.
"It is also vital that while we celebrate the exceptional people on the list we recognise the ongoing underrepresentation of black people away from playing - in the boardrooms, dugouts and leadership teams across the game. We must take this challenge on with urgency.
"The Football Black List is an example of a successful initiative that brings the black community and football industry together. We firmly believe greater collaboration across the game will lead to an acceleration of progress in addressing the ongoing challenges football needs to address. It is encouraging to see more of this happening."
Fellow Co-Founder of the initiative Rodney Hinds added: "The Football Black List has been endorsed by the black community and that provides a great sense of pride. The growing number of industry supporters is significant and appreciated too. Quite rightly, the Football Black List is about those doing great work within the game, so congratulations to all the awardees. They are inspiring future generations.
"It’s now been 15 years since the start of the Football Black List and that is a massive achievement for all those that have backed the initiative. Myself and Leon are very grateful."
All those on the list will receive awards at the Football Black List celebration event, supported by the Premier League, to be held at Arsenal Football Club on Thursday, April 24th.
The full Football Black List 2024 can be seen below:
Players:
Raheem Sterling MBE - Arsenal and England
Tyrone Mings - Aston Villa and England
Lauren James - Chelsea Women and England
Kasha Petit - QPR Women
Richarlison - Tottenham Hotspur and Brazil
Coaching and management:
Nuno Espirito Santo - Head Coach, Nottingham Forest
Darren Moore - Manager, Port Vale
Carly Williams - Coach, Arsenal Women U21
Renée Hector - Head Coach, Watford Women
Ashley Cole - Assistant Head Coach, England U21
Practitioners:
Maria Tavares - First Team Player Wellbeing and Support Coordinator, Manchester United
Darren Smith - Associate Dean and FA Course Tutor, UCFB
Melissa Forde - Head Chef, Wolves
Joel Mannix - Chairman, BAM Ref
André Thomas - Programme Co-ordinator, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation
Administration:
Lola Ogunbote - Executive Director and Head of Women’s Football, Burnley
Fleur Robinson - CEO, Burton Albion
Mark Esiri - Board member, Football Association
Pamela Lubowa - COO, FARE Network
Paul Elliott CBE MBE - Vice-Chair, Charlton Athletic
Commercial:
Liam Bowes - Managing Director, OYS Sports Management
Zeycan Rochelle Yildrim - Chief Marketing Officer, Samsunspor
Gemma Gallais - Senior Director of Global Communications, EA Sports
Sola Kasali - Football Partnerships Lead, EA Sports
Connor Malcolm - Founder, Dreamfruit
Community and grassroots:
Betty Mayaya - Coach, Black Footy Babes
Karla Parker - General Manager and Secretary, Haringey Borough Women
Chid Onokwai - Founder, Chidfit Community and Grassroots
Marcia Lewis - Founder, No1 Fan Club
Tara Tewarie - Head of Programmes, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation
Media:
Mayowa Quadri - Head of Brand, VERSUS
Darren Lewis - President, Sports Journalists Association
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk - Pundit and Co-Commentator, Sky Sports
Kate Scott - Presenter, CBS Sports
Femi Oridota - Floor Manager, Sky Sports
LGBTQI+ award:
Jahmal Howlett-Mundle - Footballer, Sevenoaks Town
Ugo Ehiogu Ones to Watch:
Kelechi Okorie - Social Media Editor, UEFA
Nakeira Rori Westmaas - Presenter and Reporter, Freelance
Paul Gialo - Head of Academy Recruitment, Stevenage Borough
Mina Ibrahim - Content Creator and Reporter, Freelance
Helena Scotland - Footballer, England Women’s Futsal Team
