THE first Black woman to play for England, Kerry Davis, will be celebrated at the Football Black List celebration today.

Davis, who made her England debut in 1982, will receive the Keith Alexander award in recognition of her achievements as a pioneer in women’s football. 

The former Liverpool and Napoli forward will be celebrated alongside a wide range of influential figures of Caribbean and African heritage who feature on the Football Black List.

The event, supported by the Premier League, will see hundreds of members of the Black community and football industry come together to highlight and celebrate Black excellence in all areas of the sport. 

Premier League stars Trent Alexander Arnold and Lyle Foster feature on the list, together with WSL and England stars, Jess Carter and Nikita Parris. Managers Vincent Kompany and Darren Moore, as well as former Lionesses boss, Hope Powell also make the list.

It is a particularly important time to be celebrating women of colour, given the recent abuse of Black women both in politics and football

Referee Sam Allison and assistant referee, Akil Howson, will receive Cyrille Regis awards for becoming the first Black match officials in the Premier League since Uriah Rennie in 2008.

The event will be hosted by TNT Sport presenter, Jaydee Dyer and ESPN broadcaster Alexis Nunes.

The Football Black List, founded in 2008 by sports journalists Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds, highlights leaders working across all areas of the game from the Black community.

A panel of experts drawn from the football industry and the Black community independently vote on nominations made by the public to determine who makes the list.

The panel included representation from the Premier League, The Football Association, League Managers Association, English Football League, PGMOL, PFA, BCOMS and Kick It Out.

The Football Black List features an LGBTQI+ Award for the fourth time, recognising work by Black individuals in challenging homophobia in society through football. There will also be a section of the celebration exploring the experience of those who are Black and disabled working in the game. 

The Voice newspaper is the exclusive home of the Football Black List which creates an opportunity to celebrate the Black communities contribution to the industry, while also encouraging debate and discussion on how best to address the ongoing under-representation of people from African-Caribbean backgrounds off the pitch.

The list also helps to shine a light on deserving people within the football community and at the grassroots level of the game who often go uncelebrated.

The list recognises people across eight categories:

•         Administration
•         Coaching & Management
•         Commercial
•         Community
•         Players
•         LGBTQI+
•         Media
•         Practitioners

Leon Mann MBE, co-founder of the Football Black List, said: “It is our great honour and privilege to be able to recognise Kerry Davis – the first Black woman to play for England. She is a pioneer and a leader who we feel should be more visible to the next generation and celebrated by all those who love football. 

“It is a particularly important time to be celebrating women of colour, given the recent abuse of Black women both in politics and football. We must stand together and reject this discrimination. 

“This event would not be possible without the support of the Black community and the wider football family. I would like to thank the Premier League for continuing to support this important celebration.”

Fellow co-founder of the initiative, Rodney Hinds, added: “The longevity of the Football Black List is entirely down to the support of the Black community and growing support from the industry in general.

“While we recognise the deserved award winners, the networking on the night is extremely powerful as ideas and experiences are shared in a bid to gain greater opportunities within the game. Collaboration and allyship is key.

“To be part of such a powerful initiative is satisfying but there is still so much more to do.

“What the FBL is doing is putting the Black community’s achievements in the spotlight in a bid to inspire future generations. Here’s to the best 15 years and beyond.”