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BAME representation in Football

The Creating and Developing Coaches initiative, organised by Leeds Beckett University in partnership with the West Riding County FA, was launched in 2016 at Bradford's Valley Parade, with a second event running at Elland Road in Leeds later that year. Building on its success, the upcoming event will run at Huddersfield Town's John Smith's Stadium from 6.30-9pm.

The networking event will welcome both current and aspiring Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) coaches, as well as anyone working with under-represented groups, who wish to further develop their skills and knowledge and to form relationships with football's key stakeholders in the West Yorkshire region.

The Creating and Developing Coaches initiative was created to provide a space where under-represented groups can highlight barriers, put forward aims and aspirations, learn about development opportunities, and forge relationships with key individuals and organisations.

Event organiser, Dr Daniel Kilvington, Senior Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies at Leeds Beckett, explained: “At present, there are only two black managers in English football out of the 92 professional clubs. And, according to Sporting Equals, only 4.1 percent of senior football coaches employed during the 2016-17 season were BAME, a slight decrease on the previous campaign. Considering that BAME groups represent over a quarter of professional players, it is evident that BAME coaches are marginalised in the professional game.

“At a professional level, the Rooney Rule and the COACH programme have been introduced to address this issue. But, at grassroots level, action has been slow. Therefore, Creating and Developing Coaches attempts to challenge the under-representation of BAME groups within grassroots football and create the next generation of coaches.”

Creating and Developing Coaches works in partnership with experienced football coaches in the professional and grassroots game as well as influential organisations such as County FAs, Black and Asian Coaches Association (BACA), Sporting Equals, and Kick It Out, offering their guidance, help and support for the attending coaches.

The event is free for all to attend, however it is specifically tailored to understand and meet the aspirations of football's under-represented communities and those who currently, or aspire to, coach within football and want to learn how to: create and develop clubs; access coaching courses; speak with experienced coaches and coach mentors; and develop a professional career within football.

Attendees of previous Creating and Developing Coaches events have benefited from securing links with local professional clubs, while other participants have taken advantage of coaching qualification courses offered at discount rates.

For more information, please contact Dr Kilvington at D.J.Kilvington@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or via Twitter at @dan_kilvington or @CAD_coaches. To register your place on the course, please click here.

BAME representation in Football

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