We were proud to host the prestigious Football Black List at Emirates Stadium recently, with members of the Arsenal family among those recognised for their achievements in the game.
The Football Black List was established in 2008 by Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds. The initiative aims to tackle the under-representation of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds in key decision-making roles in the game by highlighting their achievements.
Carly Williams, our Women’s Academy Player Care Lead and under-21 coach, was one of those recognised on this year’s Black List in the coaching and management category.
Carly has been with us for seven seasons, and has previously coached various age groups, ranging from under-10s upwards. Carly also serves as a women and girls FA coach mentor and tutor, contributing to the development of fellow coaches from diverse backgrounds.
Speaking about being recognised on the prestigious list, Carly said: “I often don’t see or recognise the impact that me being me has on others, so I’ve been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received. It’s an honour to be mentioned in the same category as so many well-known coaches in the game, and I feel proud and grateful that my hard work and dedication has been recognised.
“Growing up, I lacked diverse role models in football. My role models were Ian Wright, Hope Powell, Alex Scott and Rachel Yankey, but as a woman of mixed heritage, they were few and far between. I hope this inspires and opens doors for others within the game who are also working hard to make a difference.”
Also recognised was the family of club legend Kevin Campbell, who sadly passed away in 2024. Upon Kevin’s passing, the family set up the Kevin Campbell Foundation, a charitable organisation which aims to advance the lives of children and young people through support and funding that empowers them to realise their full potential.
Mary Phillip, who made 135 appearances for Arsenal Women and became the first Black woman to captain England, was also recognised, as were actor and Gooner, Idris Elba, Arsenal Invincible, Ashley Cole and Raheem Sterling, whose foundation is dedicated to helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds break down barriers to success.
There was strong Arsenal attendance on the night, with our Managing Director Richard Garlick attending alongside many of our people, including several members of our internal H.E.R.O Network (heritage, ethnicity, religion, open to all), a group which meets once a month to promote racial, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity at Arsenal and to ensure there are equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds.
_Get a taste of the event by pressing play on the video above_
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