As part of Black History Month, we want to celebrate achievements of those within our community, and with that in mind we have spoken to FA Tutor Daniel Fenner who has been doing some great things to improve inclusive football in Sussex.

‘Danny’ has worked for The FA for the last nine years, and for the last five years has worked as a Coach Development Officer with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

“In the practical sense, my role involves working one-on-one with coaches, whether they're starting on their coaching journey, or they might be at the end, it might mean qualifications and supporting them on that,” said Fenner, speaking on his role.

“This includes working with underrepresented groups in our communities and supporting them in their coaching journey. 

“Signposting is one of the main things I do as well, so signposting coaches to clubs or other qualifications that might be able to support them, and also being a sounding block! Sometimes coaches need someone to vent their frustrations and also gain advice. 

“It looks different for every coach, all coaches are on different journeys, and it's up to the coach development officer to give them that support.”

Sussex is a predominantly White-English area so when it comes to football Danny explains the work he is trying to achieve.

“The diversity side of things is fairly new, and in the South East where we're focusing on at the moment, there are underrepresented groups, there's a good proportion of them in the area, and what it looks like is working with coaches that are probably not mainstream. 

“They're people that don't see many people that look like them as coaches and as role models, whether that's on TV or being coached, and it's just a case of assuring them that there are opportunities out there, and we're here as The FA to signpost you to those opportunities. 

“I did a project with an asylum seeker group down in Chichester, and one of their barriers is that we get them on the Introduction to Football Course, but then they couldn't get any volunteer coaching work in Sussex, because they couldn't obtain a DBS. 

“The reason for that is because they don't have a permanent place of residence, so that's one barrier. 

“Another barrier is within the South East Asian community, one of their barriers, that I don't necessarily see as a barrier, more an opportunity, is that there isn't many of their community in senior positions within leagues and clubs so they often create their own clubs. 

“Similarly with disability football, we've done a lot of work there, same thing again, it's that they want to do something for themselves, by themselves, create their own legacy, and it's just about supporting them with it. 

“There are those systematic barriers that are out there, we know it, we see it, sometimes it's about breaking those barriers down, but creating your own opportunities as well.

“Some of these barriers have been systematic for the last 200 years and a lot of hearsay, a lot of words have been said without much progress. So, a lot of these communities now just create their own paths.”

Despite the Sussex demographics, Danny alludes to the great work two clubs in particular are doing.

“There are two clubs in Sussex at the moment that are doing really good work. Clinical Training FC and Game Changers, both based in Crawley.

“When you go there, they are the most diverse clubs, you will see coaches that are black, white, Eastern European, all supporting multicultural players.

“Right there, it's just fantastic to see, they've created real clubs, playing in mainstream leagues, and it creates a diverse space that other people will want to come and play in.

“Fingers crossed, in the future, we won't see it as that, we'll just see a lot of kids playing football, coaches coaching, but it won't be because of their background.

“Sussex looks different to other counties, but we shouldn't compare other counties, because they're all unique in what they do, and all want the same thing which is creating football for all.” 

Whilst we speak to Danny within Black History Month, he talks to us about what the month means to him and why we should celebrate it.

“There are various events that happen throughout the year, we're in one right now which is Black History Month, so if you are a club, celebrate it. You might not have a coach or player from the black community, but if you celebrate it, share the information, that makes it more open and diverse. 

“You've got South East Asian Heritage Month which happens in July, same thing again. You've got Disability Awareness Month, you've got Pride, so there's various things that clubs that can do.

“Even if it's just on their website to say they're celebrating it, this is what it means to us, and it only takes one person to see that and think, 'well that club's just around the corner, and my son or daughter has a disability, or my son or daughter is from the black community, and this club is doing things right.' 

“The learning bit behind it is important as well, don't be afraid to ask questions. Can I say the word 'black'? Can I say the word 'Asian'? Does it make that person feel comfortable to refer to them as 'disabled'? 

“Be comfortable in doing that, it's about learning, and people appreciate that more when you're open with it and taking time to understand different cultures. 

“I believe for me that as a black male, black coach, it's an opportunity just to celebrate black achievements. Over the past couple of hundred years, because black people have been in this country for that long, celebrate that. 

“When it comes to this month in relation to Sussex, you look at clubs like Brighton & Hove Albion, they've had black players both male and female, the women's team had one of the country's most successful managers in Hope Powell. 

“Celebrate it, highlight it, it's all about that for me. There's been some really good collaboration with white-English people and the black community, and dual-heritage people, so celebrate that, the culture behind it, that's the most important thing for me.” 

For further information about our equality and inclusion work, please contact Development: