The Football Association, the Professional Footballers' Association, the League Managers' Association, the Football Foundation and Kick It Out - the body that campaigns against racism in football - are all supporting Connecting Communities, organised by the Martin Shaw King Trust.

The conference, at Arsenal's Highbury Stadium on Tuesday, October 28th will focus on how black and minority ethnic communities can break through football's glass ceiling. Whilst black players are represented at all levels of the game, black and minority ethnic communities are significantly under-represented in all other areas of football: management, refereeing, committees etc.

Speakers at the conference will include Lord Herman Ouseley, former head of the Commission for Racial Equality, Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA and Lucy Faulkner, The FA's Head of Ethics and Sports Equity. Garth Crooks, the former England under-21, Spurs and Stoke player and now a campaigner for wider representation of minority ethnic communities in football, will open the conference.

The FA launched its Football for All programme with a conference at Derby County's Pride Park stadium in May 2003. Lucy Faulkner from The FA says, "We believe football has a duty to ensure all sections of the community in England are represented at all levels and in all areas of the game. By taking the message to events like this at Highbury we can use the power of football to build a better future."

Conference organizer Dr Colin King, from the Martin Shaw King Trust, says, "There has to be greater representation in football. That means members of the black and minority ethnic communities being given opportunities to represent their communities and have a say in football. We're delighted that so many of the game's major stakeholders are supporting our conference."

YOUNG TALENTED PLAYERS TO BE RECOGNISED

In July this year, The FA strengthened its commitment to all communities in England with the further development of its Football for All programme. This is designed to improve the chances of spotting young, talented players from minority ethnic communities by establishing an FA calendar of events. Some minority ethnic communities stage football festivals or competitions that warrant attention from scouts and may previously not have been part of the calendar. The FA is determined to ensure all promising players have the opportunity to play at the highest level.

Following The FA's Football for All conference in May, details of opportunities, support and ways to access funding are being circulated to over 3,000 clubs and organizations from minority ethnic communities. As well as the young talented player initiative, The FA will also be putting in place a system to ensure wider representation on its national committees, and arranging meetings with various organizations to discuss ways of working together to improve communications with grass roots football.

FA WILL LISTEN, LEARN & DELIVER

Following the 'Football for All' conference in May 2003, The FA pledged to enhance its communications with minority ethnic communities. The FA also planned to extend awareness of how to access support for its football development programmes.Football for All, held at Derby County's Pride Park stadium, was aimed at increasing minority ethnic community participation in football. Over three hundred people attended the conference, which was passionate and, at times, critical of The FA.

"The fact that people from all sections of the community love football and believe it can be a power for good in our society came across loud and clear," said The FA's Ethics and Sports Equity manager Lucy Faulkner. "People want to talk to The FA and they want us to listen. They want to know how they can gain more support, recognition and representation. They also want to know that the FA is being serious in its commitment and that we will listen and act."

The focus of 'Football for All 'was on increasing black, Asian and other minority ethnic community participation at all levels of the game: playing, managing, refereeing, medics, committees and coaching. The conference also heard about issues that continue to present barriers to participation and ways in which The FA can help minority ethnic communities participate fully in the national game. The conference was fronted by former international professional player and ITV football expert Robbie Earle.

With so much interest in the issues being raised, The FA fielded a panel of senior executives to list and respond. Nic Coward, Acting chief executive, joined Steve Parkin, Director - National Game, Kelly Simmons, the Head of Football Development, Mark Sudbury, Head of Policy and Research, and The FA's Ethics and Sports Equity manager Lucy Faulkner on stage. Others contributing to the conference included Piara Powar from Kick Racism Out Of Football, the broadcaster and campaigner for racial equality Garth Crooks, one of England's leading Asian women players, Amen Dosanj, and Lyndon Lynch, the coach to England's world cup winning learning disability team.

Representatives from Luton Asians FA also praised The FA's work. Their manager, Butch Fazal, said, "We have had fantastic support from The FA. Club development, coach development, advice and help. It's all there and The FA has been brilliant. You have to want the backing. But if you do, The FA provides it and has been fantastic to our club."

Click here to visit the Football for All website.
Click here to visit the Kick it Out website.
Click here to visit the Show Racism the Red Card website.
Click here to visit the Football Unites, Racism Divides website

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