Key FA staff members share their advice for aspiring black and Asian coaches and explain what black history month means to them.
Butch Fazal - coach inclusion and diversity manager
Advice
If it’s the professional game you’re setting your sights on, three words: hard work, resilience, and belief. The game is the harshest of teachers and everyday must be a school day. Remain stubborn with your goals and flexible with your methods.
Black History Month
It’s a celebration of the past but also an opportunity to stand still, reflect and finally to look forward to a different world. ‘Be the change you want to see’. Let's all pledge for a future which is fair and equitable, and that it’s the quality and attributes of the person that’s seen before their gender, disability or ethnicity.
Matthew Joseph - regional FA youth coach developer
Advice
The game owes you nothing, however equality is essential. Work hard, show commitment, develop resilience and a strong self-belief. Build your support network and definitely love what you do - the highs and lows are coming.
Black History Month
Black History Month is an opportunity to influence change - but only if it goes beyond 31 days a year!
Warren Hackett - FA youth coach developer
Advice
Be a student of the game, learn how to overcome and deal with disappointment, be confident in your own ability, be yourself and keep an open mind. Also, be persistent and never give up.
Black History Month
It’s a time to reflect, understand, appreciate and honour what so many black pioneers have done in the past against so much resistance. Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Barack Obama and in the world of football; Cyril Regis, Laurie Cunningham and Viv Anderson.
Peter Augustine – coach development officer
Advice
Fall in love with learning and learning about the game. Don’t rush your journey, you’ll get there when it’s your time. Always show the best you and never walk away from a challenge.
Black History Month
It’s a time of reflection, a time to look at where we are as a community. We mustn’t forget the past but also look to the future. It’s also a time to ensure that we’re moving forward year on year. We must show pride in ourselves and our achievements and be unashamedly true to ourselves.
Sarah Lowden – coach development officer
Advice
Set a goal and put everything you possibly can into achieving it.
Being a coach is all about people, so learning your own coaching craft is crucial. Get on the grass as much as possible and develop yourself with varied experiences.
There’s lots of support available to you from The FA and on a local level, so be sure to use these opportunities as much as possible.
Black History Month
Integrity. Bravery. Leadership.
These are the three things that I always reflect on when reading the stories of the many black pioneers in history who did many great things to change the way we live today. I’m always inspired to listen to the stories of others and feel it’s important we celebrate individual differences and lived experiences, to give us better perspective in today’s world.
Pav Singh – coach development officer
Advice
Be a student of the game because learning doesn’t stop, and the game is constantly evolving, so keep studying.
Be open to learning and don’t be fearful of what you don’t know, and what you do know needs to be circulated, so be brave and always believe in yourself.
Have a short, medium and long-term plan. Always prepare yourself to get honest feedback in line with your needs and wants that are aligned to the plan.
Black History Month
For me it’s about celebrating, promoting and advocating the black and Asian contributions in football and wider society. We need to recognise the achievements of our role models, their struggles and how they dealt with adversity, systemic racism, stereotyping and stubborn inequalities that exist in our society today.
Daniel Fenner – coach development officer
Advice
Continue to be the best of you and have a positive outlook; that every challenge that you face, you’re creating a pathway for someone in your community to excel.
Black History Month
It’s a time to celebrate achievements made by black people. Not just in sport, art and entertainment, but also black inventors, scientists and black culture, which has influenced British culture.
It’s an opportunity to learn from the past, reflect on the present and to plan and deliver for the future.
Lawrence Lok – coach development officer
Advice
Continue to develop your love for the game. Formal learning is important, do not rush your coaching qualifications.
Surround yourself with role models who take your opinion seriously. Try and learn from your peers and always be open to positive and constructive feedback.
Learning is a two-way relationship; build up your support network and continue to learn from those around you. Be humble through the process and share your knowledge with others.
Black History Month
It’s an important time to celebrate the achievements of the past but also look forward to building a legacy and creating leaders for the future. It allows us to go against the norm and think differently, to provide a positive future for the children of today.
If you want to find out a bit more about our new diversity and inclusion team, or want to contact them, head over to this blog.