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Nominations open for Football Black List 2020 awards

The Football Black List 2020 is open for business! First published in 2008, the list highlights black industry professionals who are positive influencers – and the nomination process has now started.

This year co-founders Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds have introduced two new categories, recognising the contributions made by LGBT+ and disabled black people in sport.

The Black List is designed to shine a light on role models for the next generation as a way of helping to diversify the industry.

BCOMS (Black Collective of Media in Sport) founder Mann (left), who is also vice-chair of the Sports Journalists’ Association, said: “The Black Lives Matter protests have focused minds in the industry. We need to see much more diversity in so many areas of football. This initiative shines a light on black people leading the way and helps to encourage and inspire.

“The impact of COVID-19 has meant it’s been an incredibly tough year for everyone in society, and also football. We considered postponing the Football Black List this year as a result, but decided it would be wrong not to highlight black excellence at a time we have needed it more than ever.”

 

Sky Sports News presenter, Jessica Creighton, is the driving force behind the introduction of an LGBT+ award. Mann and Hinds agreed instantly and also put in place an award to recognise the excellence of black disabled people in the game.

The awards seek to demonstrate talent within various areas of the game. The categories are: Administration, Community and Grassroots, Cyrille Regis’ Players (for off the field work), Media, Practitioners, Coaching and Management, Commercial, LGBT+ Award and Ugo Ehiogu’s Ones To Watch (under 30 and excelling).

A key aim of the initiative is to highlight role models – working across a wide range of positions in football – to young people to educate and encourage them to think about how they can get involved in the sport beyond the field of play.

To nominate someone please click HERE.

For further information follow @footieblacklist on Twitter or visit the Football Black List site.