THE FOOTBALL BLACK LIST breaks new ground this week when it stages its first regional event.
Hosted at Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa, the celebration evening on Wednesday, May 25 will recognise the achievements of the black football community in the West Midlands and coincides with the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.
The event, supported by The Football Association, will be hosted by broadcaster Samantha Johnson who recently presented the prestigious FIFA World Cup 2022 draw in Doha.
Alongside the awards ceremony, the evening will witness a panel discussion featuring Lungi Macebo, the chief operating officer at Birmingham City, former Aston Villa player Ian Taylor, Lincoln Moses, the manager of Continental FC and Renee Gottshalk, women’s intervention coach at the Aston Villa Foundation.
Football Black List co-founder, Leon Mann, said: “We are delighted to be coming together with the FA to deliver the Football Black List celebration in Birmingham and to celebrate excellence in the West Midlands.
“There are so many incredible people who have contributed and continue to contribute to the amazing things that are happening in football in this part of the country, so we cannot wait to celebrate them at this event.
“A big thanks to FA CEO Mark Bullingham for supporting the idea of having Football Black List celebrations across the country in this way.
“We will also be doing out national celebration in association with the Premier League. This new addition to our offering really will help to celebrate more people and shine a light on more incredible role models and vitally inspire and engage the next generation of young black talent, with so many different areas and positions within the game that they can aspire to work within and are being welcomed to work within.
“Lastly, thank you to the Birmingham County FA, to our brilliant local community partners, including the excellent Lincoln Moses MBE, who have helped to guide and support us in delivering what will be a fantastic event.”
Co-founder, Rodney Hinds, added: “The event in Birmingham is historic and gives the Football Black List added value. Birmingham in particular and the West Midlands in general, is a hotbed of talent both on and off the field and to be able to recognise individuals is fantastic.”
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Is it too much to have expected the Football “Black” List to have used the proceeds of the Birmingham jolly to help restore Birmingham’s Muhammed Ali Centre?
Co-founder, Mr Rodney Hinds of the Football “Black” List, which is supported by the Football Association, with its self-gratifying pomp and photo-opt, is the equivalent of the most wealthy African-heritage sports men, enjoying an exclusive “jolly” in Port-au Prince, Haiti; whilst ignoring the political; social and crushing desperate poverty of the people of Haiti.
England’s African, and African-Caribbean heritage leading people, uniquely believe the best response to England’s African, and African-Caribbean-heritage people’s skin-colour discrimination and continuing public and corporate injustice; especially by the Far-Left Labour Party, is to organise a song & dance jolly, that offers no immediate benefits to Birmingham’s politically abandoned and marginalised African, and African-Caribbean heritage community.
Why do England’s most able and successful African-heritage men rarely use their success to help; assist, and empower England’s politically leaderless, African, and African-Caribbean heritage people?
In 1983, the world’s most famous boxer, the great, Muhammed Ali, came to Birmingham, and gifted the Muhammed Ali Centre, for the benefit of Birmingham’s African, and African-Caribbean heritage men and women.
Last week in March 2023, I went by the Muhammed Ali Centre, and it was completely derelict.
My deep mourning for Birmingham’s African-heritage men; women and youth, was compounded by the beauty; wealth; opulence and maintenance of the nearby, Hindu Temple, Sikh Gurdwara and Muslim Mosque.
Birmingham’s Muhammed Ali Centre has been derelict for over a decade.
What is the psychological impact on all of Birmingham’s African-heritage residents, on having a building that was given to Birmingham’s African-heritage people, having been tolerated to have become derelict for over a decade?
The Muhammed Ali Centre reflects the political position of England’s African-heritage people; marginalised, without direction, and in great and urgent need of authentic leaders.
Is it unreasonable to have expected the Football “Black” List to have wanted to use its sporting pedigree to help re-establish the dilapidated Muhammad Ali Centre; for the psychological benefit of Birmingham’s African-heritage population?
I was so upset by the state of Birmingham’s Muhammed Ali Centre, I wrote seeking an explanation from Birmingham’s Labour-led City Council.
Birmingham City Council responded by directing me to the two Local Elected Labour Councillors; One being of Asian-heritage and the other of African-Caribbean heritage.
I contacted then both.
Minutes later, I received a response from the Asian-heritage councillor, who informed me to direct my concerns to Labour’s African-Caribbean Elected councillor.
To nobody’s surprise, to this day, Labour’s African-Caribbean heritage Elected Councillor still has not responded.
A shocking percentage of African, and African-Caribbean people do not have a culture for reading and writing; which makes us unsuitable for public office.
Is it too much to have expected the Football “Black” List to have used the proceeds of the Birmingham jolly to help restore Birmingham’s Muhammed Ali Centre?