Watford captain Troy Deeney said he was “grateful” to be named alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford on the Football Black List for using his platform to challenge racial injustice, but insists the job is “only just getting started”.
The Football Black List, founded in 2008 by sports journalists Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds, highlights positive influencers from the Black community in the sport. Deeney has been named on the ‘Cyrille Regis Players’ section of the list for 2020 alongside Manchester United’s Rashford, Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings, and Crystal Palace’s Chloe Morgan and Wilfred Zaha.
“I’m grateful to be on this list because when you look at the people who are on it, you know everyone has contributed to the black community, this year especially,” said Deeney.
“It’s nice obviously, but a little bit uncomfortable as well. The things I try to do, especially with regards to race and in the black community, it’s not about saying ‘look at me’.
“People noticing the work you’re doing is obviously really nice and a huge achievement, and something I’ll probably look back on in a few years’ time and be very grateful for. But the work doesn’t stop, it’s only just getting started for me in that regard.”
This year Deeney has helped to get the Black Lives Matter logo on Premier League shirts, as well as working alongside Paul Elliott, former player and chair of The FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board, on the Football Leadership Diversity Code.
“These things aren’t campaigns that are two-week tick boxes where you meet a quota then move onto the next one,” said Deeney.
“It’s not just about giving black people jobs to tick boxes, it’s about making sure the right people get the job but also that representation of black, white, Asian, women, whoever, are all getting a fair crack at the opportunity.
“These are the kind of things we’re pushing towards. There are so many different angles you can go at with this, but I try to impact what I can impact and what I know should be happening, and I feel I can push that conversation forward.”
A panel of experts from the black community and football industry vote independently on nominations made by the public to determine who makes the Football Black List.
The panel included representation from the Premier League, The Football Association, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association, English Football League, PGMOL, FARE, BCOMS and Kick It Out.
The Football Black List creates an opportunity to celebrate the black community’s 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 away from playing.
Importantly, the list also helps to shine a light on deserving people working in the community and at the grassroots level of the game who often go uncelebrated.
