Reflecting on the workshop, Gleave said: “I’m quite old, I’m white, and I have no Black heritage at all. But it’s really important that we all understand where we’ve come from in order to go in the right direction in the future. One of the reasons I wrote the book was to make sure that the days we describe in its pages don’t come back. Diversity makes us stronger, and that’s something you see every day here at Palace.”
He added: “I hope the players remember the resilience people like Viv Anderson had to show – but also that they think about how they can make things better today. It’s not just about knowing the past; it’s about shaping the future. You can be a positive agent for change, just like Mané was.”
For the young players, the lessons clearly landed. One said: “I feel like this workshop was really good. It helped our age group understand more about Black history.”
Another reflected: “I learned that the first Black footballer in England was Arthur Wharton. I’d never heard his name before today.”
When asked which Black footballer inspires him, one young player replied: “Ebere Eze, because he’s a great player. He helped Palace win their first ever cup and major trophy. He also follows Jesus Christ, and the way he carries himself is really good.”
Throughout the week, the Academy also hosted an exhibition celebrating Palace’s own Black pioneers – from John Salako and Richard Shaw to modern-day figures like Chris Richards and Allyson Swaby.