Chelsea Roots and Show Racism the Red Card teamed up for a special event at Stamford Bridge celebrating the club’s diverse history, whilst acknowledging the work still needed to move towards genuine equality.
Chelsea’s First Black 11: Legacies, Lessons and Goals brought people together at the Bridge for an important discussion on the work already done at Chelsea to promote equality, diversity and inclusion, both within the club and the wider community, whilst also highlighting the fact it is an ongoing mission which requires continuous effort.
The event included an exhibition in our stadium’s Canoville Suite – named after the first black player to represent the Blues’ first team, Paul Canoville, who was also in attendance alongside another fellow former Blue, Paul Elliott.
The exhibition showcased the pioneering first 11 black players to play for Chelsea, as well as the first 11 black players to represent England Women.
Ex-Chelsea players Ken Monkou and Anita Asante were also in attendance as part of a panel discussion later in the day, alongside referee Farai Hallam, Premier League Head of Race, Equality and Inclusion Iffy Onoura, and journalist and broadcaster Miriam Walker-Khan. The discussion was hosted by Chelsea Roots co-chair and Chelsea FC's Chief Digital and Marketing Officer Phil Lynch.
The panel discussed a wide range of important topics and welcomed questions from the other guests in attendance.
Earlier in the day, 60 local school children had been invited to Stamford Bridge to attend an interactive workshop delivered by Show Racism the Red Card, as well as meeting former Chelsea players Canoville and Monkou, and enjoying a behind-the-scenes tour of our stadium.
Chelsea Roots is an internal network within Chelsea to support those from underrepresented heritage. Its goal is to continue to foster an inclusive culture for all and be a voice and champion of the diverse landscape in football and beyond.