We are proud to release a special poem called 'The Stadium Speaks' to recognise and honour the influential Black figures who have helped shape Manchester City.
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Club News
The Stadium Speaks: Meet the people that bring our poem to life](https://www.mancity.com/news/club/black-history-month-participants-63895960)
To celebrate Black History Month, the Club commissioned a work by the renowned poet Lemn Sissay to reflect the club’s journey from Maine Road to today, and honour the people who have made a powerful impact both on and off the pitch.
The Stadium Speaks is narrated by Lemn himself, along with a host of current and former senior and academy players, staff and fans.
Among the contributors are Stan Horne, the first Black player to represent Manchester City, former players Nedum Onuoha, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Shaun Goater and current players including Ruben Dias, Bunny Shaw and Jeremy Doku.
They are joined by Jahmal Williams-Thomas, City Matters’ Black and Mixed Heritage representative, Bing Findlater, the Official Supporter Club’s Equality and Inclusion Lead, as well as City fans and staff who work throughout the Club.
This celebration forms part of our ongoing commitment to Black representation and inclusion.
“Manchester felt like home to me, the moment I stepped foot across the boundary,” Lemn said. “I came here very early on, when I think I was 13, I came to see Manchester City play. The first time I came to this city was to see City.
“I want the poem to be owned by the person who’s in the stand watching the game. And I wanted the poem to be to be owned by the person on the pitch who’s playing it. And I want them to feel proud reading it.”
As a club, Manchester City do not tolerate racism and encourage fans to challenge and report discrimination of any kind.
Any fans who see or hear abusive behaviour at the Etihad or Joie Stadium can report it by texting 07700151894 to make our security team aware of what they have witnessed.
Feedback can be shared anonymously by texting your block, row, seat number and a short description of the incident to the number. Fans can also report incidents by talking to a steward or the police at the stadium.
Our Supporter Charter sets out our zero-tolerance to discrimination in all its forms.
Meanwhile, fans can report online discriminatory abuse they see targeted at Premier League players, managers, coaches, match officials and their families directly at www.premierleague.com/reportracism.
Watch a video of the poem in the player above…