The influence and achievement of black role models working throughout English football has been celebrated this week at the 2021 Football Black List. The virtual event, held at the Football Museum in Manchester, was supported by the Premier League and was hosted by Miriam Walker-Khan and Kyle Walker. It highlighted the inspiring contributions of black people across football from the Premier League to grass roots, and from all parts of the football industry: playing, media, commercial, coaching, communities and administration.

The Football Black List, founded in 2008 by sports journalists Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds, highlights leaders working across all areas of the game from the Black community. A panel of experts from the football industry and Black community vote independently on nominations made by the public to determine who makes the list. The panel included representation from the Premier League, The Football Association, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association, English Football League, PGMOL, Sport England, BCOMS and Kick It Out.

Brentford is represented both on and off the pitch on this year's list. Striker Ivan Toney and Bees fan Billy Grant, a long term Season Ticket Holder, were named on the list. Former player Gus Hurdle, who represented The Bees in the early 1990s and now works for EA Sports, was also included as was William Boye, Head Coach of Ashford Town (Middlesex) Women's FC and formerly Manager of our women's team.

More on the event can be seen on the Premier League website here. The event can be seen in full below. Ivan Toney's acceptance speech was delayed in arriving with the Football Black List team but can also be seen below.