Footy icons celebrated celebrated

Brent’s homegrown football talent is being celebrated at Wembley Stadium in its centenary year at a special exhibition.

The Inspire to Achieve Heritage Exhibition honours Brent’s football talent, featuring 15 professional footballers with Brent roots. Created by Otis Roberts, CEO of the Jason Robert’s Foundation, the exhibition at the home of English football focuses on current and former Brent residents and their achievements.

One of these greats is former Arsenal player Rachel Yankey who grew up in Queen’s Park and Kensal Rise. “Friendly matches with local friends turned into me joining Arsenal at 16 and later going on to play for the English national team,” says Rachel.

Yankey recalls her first trophy being presented by fellow Brent footballer Dave Beasant.

“You get attached to the people who have been on the same journey as you. Brent locals have gone on to play at the biggest heights and we want to support home grown talent.”

Dave Beasant agrees wholeheartedly. Growing up in Willesden, Beasant loved football and recalls a key childhood memory “one of our neighbours had a colour TV and let us watch the FA Cup Final in colour on their TV.”

Little did he know that years later, millions would watch him become the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final!

“I’m very proud and privileged to see current and past footballers,” Beasant says on the exhibition. “Fans get to see football heritage, local football heritage, it’s important for people to see the background of the players.”

Another one of these players is Mark Stein. One third of the Stein brothers, a trio who all played professional football, Stein moved from South Africa as a child and found a home in Brent. Going on to become a striker, Stein speaks fondly of the exhibition saying, “hopefully people can look at us, want to emulate us, and see us as role models.”

Find out more about the Inspire to Achieve Heritage Exhibition at www. inspire2achieve.co.uk