NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2013 T H E V O I C E ! 43
FA 150th ANNIVERSARY FEATURE Alex Horne, General Secretary of The FA:
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HE LAST 12 months has seen the football family united for The FA’s 150th anniversary year and we’re delighted to be a part of The Voice’s special commemorative supplement that celebrates black achievement across the beautiful game. We have had numerous FA150 highlights throughout the year. From our star-studded launch event in January featuring former England stars Sol Campbell and Alan Shearer alongside international greats Lothar Matthaus and Marcel Desailly, it has proved a tremendous year. It all culminated in our Gala Dinner on October 26 that saw HRH The Duke of Cambridge, Michel Platini and Joseph S. Blatter paying tribute to foot-
COMMITTED: The FA’s General Secretary, Alex Horne
ball in this country. Earlier that month, Troy Townsend and his peers were honoured at our 150 Grassroots Heroes event at Buckingham Palace. This followed on from the Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day in August which saw all levels of the game come together to
TRIO: Troy Townsend and June Kelly pose with England manager Roy Hodgson at last month’s Gala Dinner
remember a legend and support the grassroots game in England. There was also the small matter of Roy Hodgson leading England to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as group winners, meaning a fantastic summer of football is in store for Three Lions fans next year.
England’s women, captained by Alex Scott, signed off the year with four wins from four on the road to 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification in a year when Rachel Yankey became the most capped player in both the men’s and women’s game. The black community has played a huge part in English football history and we are proud to remember Laurie Cunningham and Viv Anderson as the first black players to represent England Under-21s and England seniors respectively.
CAPTIVATED Staying with England Under-21s and our current
squad were captivated by a talk on combating racism from Cyrille Regis and Garth Crooks as The FA recognised the 20th anniversary of Kick It Out at St. George’s Park. Let’s hope that Andros Townsend, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott have the same impact as those legends of the game on a new generation of youngsters in the years to come. While The FA has been looking back on 150 years throughout 2013 – with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the brilliant voice behind The FA’s official history film used across the year - we remain committed to building a positive future and that means football for everyone.
Along with the Premier League, Football League, LMA and PFA, we have recognised that there’s a lack of black and Asian coaches coming through the ranks at club level so our COACH programme, led by Brendon Batson, is helping talented individuals to get on the coaching pathway. You can read more about COACH in this supplement. This year has also seen The FA working towards the delivery of an Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination plan which reflects a collective effort by the whole game to ensure football is inclusive. The Voice does a fantastic job in representing the black community in England and The FA looks forward to working with the newspaper throughout 2014 and beyond.
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44 ! T H E V O I C E NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2013
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FA 150th ANNIVERSARY FEATURE Two women who have more than played their part in the Football Association’s glorious history are Hope Powell and Rachel Yankey. The Voice of Sport profiles both pioneers…
MODEST RECORD BREAKER SETS HIGH STANDARDS Rachel Yankey serving the women’s game with distinction
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NGLISH FOOTBALL'S history was rewritten when Rachel Yankey became the country's most capped player of all time in June. The 33-year-old won the accolade after playing for the Three Lions in their 1-1 against World Champions Japan. Having claimed her 126th cap, the Arsenal Ladies midfielder, overtook goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s long-standing 125-cap record. Speaking about the new distinction, Yankey said: “Peter Shilton is a legend and I am not going to compare myself in any way with anything he has done but, in my own right, I have done well”. Yankey, who made her England debut in a 4-0 win over Scotland in 1997, told the Voice of Sport: “It’s a bit strange. It is not something I planned to do! When I’ve finished playing I’ll probably realise just how big a thing it
When I’ve finished playing I’ll probably realise just how big a thing it is
is.
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“It’s just a bit mad to think that my name is associated with the likes of Peter Shilton, an absolute legend that I grew up watching.
PROUD
PROUD: The veteran has set high standards
“It makes me dead proud to be mentioned in the same breath. I’m amazed and hopefully I can play a few more games. Yankey, of Ghanaian descent on her father’s side, revealed one of the secrets of her longevity. “As I’ve got a bit older I’ve learnt a lot more about the game, about myself, my body and keeping myself in shape.
“It’s been about knowing the right time to train, stop yourself training and being sensible. The most important thing is those 90 minutes for your team and making an effect on the pitch. “I’m not a 20-year-old anymore and I can’t do some of the stuff [in training] that the younger ones can. I have to be true to myself and listen to my body.”
ON THE BALL: Yankey in action
In praise of Hope
First Lady of Football credited for so much positive THE FIRST lady of football, Hope Powell, lost her position as senior England’s women’s coach in August. However, Powell, responsible for so much positive surrounding the women’s game, will never be forgotten. The Football Association’s General Secretary Alex Horne was one of many within the game who paid tribute to Powell’s tenure as England manager, suggesting that she should be given much credit for her role in developing women’s football.
CREDIT
MADE HER POINT: The respected coach on England duty
“Hope deserves a lot of credit for her commitment to developing the national teams over such a long period,” Horne said.
pointment of the recent tournament in Sweden, the Club England Board believe the time is right to make a change and for a fresh outlook.”
CAPS
PASTURES NEW: Powell
“The high point was undoubtedly reaching the UEFA European Championship final four years ago. “However, after the disap-
As a player, Powell won 66 caps for England between 1983 and 1998, scoring 35 goals. At club level she played in four FA Women's Cup finals and captained Croydon to a League and Cup double in 1996. She became the first woman 10 years ago to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence — the highest coaching qualification available. Powell was appointed
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours. In 2003 she was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in recognition of her talents.
EFFORTS Horne added: “I'd like to place on record the organisation's thanks to Hope for her efforts and wish her every success in the future. “Hope will always be welcome back at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park and she leaves a strong legacy, having helped The FA build the women's game to a strong position. “The FA has made significant investment into the game over the past 20 years and this has seen major developments such as The FA Women's Super League.”
Tell us what you think. Email: yourviews@gvmedia.co.uk
Photo credit: Ken Passley
By Rodney Hinds
N O V E M B E R 7 - 13, 2013 T H E V O I C E ! 45
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FA 150th ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
BLACK AND ASIAN COACHES GET A BOOST FA’s bursary programme continues
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OOTBALL'S COACH bursary programme has entered a second season and Brendon Batson is delighted with the opportunities it’s creating for black and Asian coaches across the country. Supported by The FA, Premier League, Football League, PFA and LMA and officially launched in 2012 by Roy Hodgson at St. George’s Park, COACH has seen over 120 coaches from a BME background on the programme in the last twelve months. “Ruud Gullit and Jean Tigana were the Premier League’s first black managers over a decade ago but we’ve not seen any real number of coaches coming through from an ethnic minority background at any level in the time since,” said Batson who is an Equality Consultant at The Football Association. The professional game has three black managers currently with Chris Hughton in the Premier League at Norwich City and Chris Powell and Paul Ince both managing in the Football League.
Barnet’s Edgar Davids was relegated to the Conference last season. Batson says that the whole game is supporting COACH with an overall aim of putting the bursary candidates in a position that will lead to coaching opportunities in the future. “You need football coaching qualifications to progress in this country so education is the real currency for making a career out of the game,” added Batson. “What COACH is doing is giving those bursary candidates an opportunity to pick up qualifications and work alongside talented coaches in academies. “When jobs do come up then they'll have that piece of paper plus the necessary experience that will enable them to throw their hat into the ring." COACH candidates have been given a mentoring home in the academies of professional clubs across all four divisions, a situation that will benefit the club as well as the coaches. “Some clubs are seeing a coach from a different cultural
background for the very first time so it's a great way of showcasing individuals," explained Batson. “A selection of coaches have really connected with their academy and four have been offered part-time roles already so who knows where that might lead to in the future?" COACH has been viewed as an English version of the NFL's Rooney Rule which states that American Football clubs must interview a candidate from an ethnic minority background when there are vacancies across the coaching setup. But Batson believes the two initiatives are polar opposites: "We've seen great results with the Rooney Rule and the number of black coaches represented in the NFL has really increased but you don't actually need coaching qualifications to manage or coach over there. “Our whole game is about working your way through the coaching system and COACH is providing that opportunity for talented individuals from BME backgrounds." CONSULTANT: The FA’s Batson
Wing and prayer for England’s World Cup hopes Surfeit of wide men key to Brazil dream By John Portch
IMPACT: Townsend
WITH HIS energetic and focused performances Andros Townsend’s first appearances in an England shirt saw him barge his way into Roy Hodgson’s World Cup plans. The 22-year-old Spurs winger, who scored on his England debut, is currently first in line to start on the right-hand side of midfield in Brazil. Other contenders include the Arsenal duo of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as well as the Manchester United pair of Ashley Young and Wilfried Zaha. Townsend’s Tottenham team-mate Aaron Lennon is in the running, as is Manchester City’s James Milner, and at least two or three are likely to be left disappointed when Hodgson names his final 23-
man squad in May. With Hodgson favouring pace and mobility this is perhaps the area where the manager’s options are most bountiful. At present, he probably favours Townsend and Milner but the others will be hoping to influence the manager’s selection process during the remainder of the season.
WILLINGNESS Hodgson has demonstrated his willingness to pick players who are not regular starters at club level, which may work in Young and Zaha’s favour. Young has been an occasional but often maligned presence in a stuttering Manchester United side this term, while Zaha has seldom got that far.
Young remains in line for his ability starting on the left, although he may find himself tactically overlooked in favour of United team-mate Danny Welbeck, but it is probably a tournament too soon for Zaha. Arsenal’s Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain have found their own claims hindered by long-term injuries. Walcott is currently sidelined having undergone abdominal surgery and it is still unclear when he will return. There are also signs that Townsend has a greater variety to his game than his north London counterpart and the Gunner will need match time to redress that view. Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is convalescing from a knee injury that has kept him out
since the opening day of Arsenal’s Premier League season, could find himself in a battle with his club team-mate for a seat on the plane. Perhaps both Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain will ultimately benefit from their absence and both can take solace from the knowledge that they have become favourites under Hodgson. Townsend profited greatly on the right-hand side for Spurs in the absence of Aaron Lennon, who missed 11 matches due to a foot injury. Lennon found himself restricted at international level prior to Townsend’s emergence, but he remains a credible option. World Cup hopes could be reliant on the wide boys.
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FAVOURITE: Arsenal’s Walcott
46 ! T H E V O I C E NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2013
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FA 150th ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
NAT WILL DO NICELY! Versatile Under-21 starlet proud to wear the shirt
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NGLAND UNDER-21 player Nathaniel Chalobah, 18, is earmarked as a star of the future. Chalobah, who was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone can operate both as a defender or midfielder and currently plays for Nottingham Forest on loan from Chelsea. The highly-rated Chalobah spoke to the Voice of Sport’s Rodney Hinds, about the challenges of international football, the rise of Andros Townsend and what it means to play for the Three Lions… What are the main differences between club and international football? Tactically you come up against a lot of different situations. That is the main difference. In the Premier League all the teams play football while in the Championship everyone has their own style. It challenges you a lot more at international level. Does the progress of Andros Townsend give you a boost? Yes! I was at Wembley to see him make his debut [against Montenegro]. It’s great to see
someone come through the ranks. He was with us at Under-21 level for some games and now he is with the seniors. It’s all positive and it shows that it can be done. It proves that you’ve just got to work hard. It is good that the England manager is showing interest in some of the younger players.
Tactically “you come
up against a lot of different situations
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Did Andros’ sparkling debut take you by surprise? Not really. I know him as a person and a player. He’s a very forward thinking character and you can see that in his game. As soon as he gets the ball he goes for it; he never seems to be caught in two minds and that was evident against Montenegro where he just kept running at the full-
back. Every young player would love to do that! How happy are you to see African football making so much progress? It’s encouraging. There is a lot of talent on the African continent at the moment and it is good to see. People like Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi have been great ambassadors. Who were among your early football heroes? When I was younger I was an Arsenal fan and I loved Thierry Henry. I had posters of him on my wall! As I got older, and was now playing myself, the likes of Claude Makelele and John Terry influenced me. My all time favourite, however, is Zinedine Zidane. What does playing England mean to you?
for
It means everything. It is an honour to put on the shirt and represent the country. It is always great to step out and sing the National Anthem. Representing England means that you are doing well at club level.
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A STAR IS BORN: Chalobah is considered by good judges to have a bright future
Goal-dan chance for duo Sturridge and Welbeck ready, willing and able to be Rooney foil By John Portch
WAYNE ROONEY is set to lead England’s attack in Brazil but Daniels Sturridge and Danny Welbeck will join him as more than mere backup. The trio complete the array of exciting attacking options open to Roy Hodgson as he looks to build on the cautious optimism that greeted England’s recent victories over Montenegro and Poland, which sealed their place in next summer’s tournament. Rooney, whose header opened the scoring at Wembley against Poland, will require able support and though Sturridge and Welbeck, much like Rooney himself these days, are good rather than great, both offer enough to suggest that their high work
MOVEMENT: Welbeck starting berth at Chelsea, but his £12million transfer to Anfield in January saw him shed any lingering sense of entitlement as he relished the opportunity, perhaps his last, to excel at a club with ambitions at the top of the scale.
ABILITY TEAMWORK: Sturridge (right) during a training session with Rooney
rate, intuitive movement and aerial prowess can command the attention of opponents. At the time of going to press Sturridge has 11 goals in 13
appearances for club and country this season. The 24year-old has continued to refine his play as a goal poacher whilst developing his
understanding alongside the wily and brilliant Luis Suarez at Liverpool. Much had been made of Sturridge’s inability to win a
His well-taken penalty in Montenegro last month is not by itself indicative of an ability to hack it at international level but his pace; athleticism and knack of ghosting into space equip him for the challenges that lie ahead. Hodgson
used the Liverpool forward just ahead of Rooney last month and that is where he is likely to retain his place. Welbeck is able to adopt a deeper role when required and could find himself playing on the left of an attacking trident as he did during those recent qualifiers. The Manchester United star’s unpredictable movement is complemented by his ability to pop up in places where he is able to affect play. Although Welbeck has not been as prolific as Sturridge this season, he still has a commendable six goals to his name and deserves to be satisfied with his England career to date. Much has been made of the unlikelihood of Sturridge and Welbeck both starting against more formidable opponents. Sturridge’s goal scoring form likely insulates him should Hodgson wish to bring in another traditional midfielder, but there could not be a more determined pair to prove the doubters wrong.
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FA 150th ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
Kick It Out Chair Lord Herman Ouseley:
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HE YEAR 1993 was a mixed one for English football. The national team failed to qualify for the following year’s World Cup competition in the USA. The game was saddened to lose World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore. The Premier League’s inaugural season ended in May, and the game was slowly modernising. Amidst all of this, a new initiative, soon to become known as Kick It Out, was launched with the aim of kicking racism out of football, challenging racially motivated abuse and behaviour on the pitch and the terraces and within the game’s administration, which seemed oblivious to the abuse and prejudice prevalent in all aspects of the game. In 2013, Kick It Out marks 20 years of campaigning and has launched its ‘Season of Action’ initiative to commemorate such a milestone. The campaign has so far seen the launch of a free downloadable app to help fans report abuse, and features a number of events looking at the origins
CAMPAIGNER: Lord Ouseley
of the movement and projecting the next phase of activities to rid football of racism,
homophobia and all forms of discrimination. Back in 1993, some people thought Kick It Out would be a “here today, gone tomorrow” campaign, with few expecting it to be around today. The vile chanting that characterised football matches back then forced people not to attend, with violence and racial
harassment also commonplace. We’ve altered that landscape, working in tandem with the steps taken by the governing bodies, the leagues, clubs, players, managers and supporters. Our essential tasks were to educate, raise awareness and campaign on changes that needed to be made. Legislation has been brought in to help deal with the harassment and criminality associated with the game. Nowadays, football is a much more enjoyable experience, whether watching or playing, but there is still work to do be done and we need the next generation of players, fans and everyone associated with the game to lead this. As the campaign looks forward to the next 20 years, its commitment to partnership work is as strong as ever. Kick It Out works with all involved in football for the benefit of the sport with its enabling and facilitating roles meaning it’s a resource for change within the game.
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Win tickets to see England in action! VOICE OF SPORT readers have the chance to win tickets to England’s final internationals of the year. The Three Lions play Chile (November 15) and arch rivals Germany (November 19) at Wembley and YOU have the chance to be there! All you have to do is answer this simple question in order to be in with a chance to watch the national team at the home of football. Please state which game
you can attend. How many England caps does Ashley Cole have? 1)75 2)107 3)105 Please email your answer, full postal address and mobile ‘phone number to: rodney.hinds@gvmedia.co.uk placing ‘England football competition’ in the subject field. Competition closes Monday, November 11 at 12 noon.
England’s top 10 most capped black players: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Ashley Cole 105 Rio Ferdinand 81 John Barnes 79 Sol Campbell 73 Emile Heskey 62
6. Des Walker 59 7. Jermain Defoe 54 8. Paul Ince 53 9. David James 53 10. Glen Johnson 48
HOW MANY CAPS?: England’s Cole
HISTORY MAKER: Ince
Leaders of the pack Paul Ince created history 20 years ago LEADING THE national side is generally regarded as the highest honour for a footballer. Three black players have led the Three Lions with distinction over the years with Paul Ince leading the way. On June 9, 1993 Ince created history when he became the first black captain of the England senior team. England were up against the USA at the Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts.
Ince would lead for another six matches, the last of which was against Morocco in a 1-0 win. The second black captain was Sol Campbell, who took the armband for the first time in a goalless draw against Belgium on May 29, 1998. The third of England’s black captains was Rio Ferdinand who led the side for the first time in a 1-0 loss to France at the Stade de France in Paris on March 26, 2008.