DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
“ The crystallisation of diversity as a positive force for good is all about the knowledge and certainty of equalness – in our workplaces , on the pitch and throughout communities ”
in the air ; something greater than the sum of football , something that transcended the sea of polyester flags , something that gave long overdue credence to the truth of parity .
Sterling , Kane , Phillips , Walker , Bellingham , Maguire and the entire squad seemed to reflect a new kind of solidarity – a logical interplay and interaction which echoed society more expansively . But , my goodness , this wider appreciation of difference has been a long and winding road .
How England got to the final – the spirit in which the team arrived – broke the mould ; it felt like the completely natural phenomenon of diversity had somehow been endorsed and vindicated through the conduit of Association Football . Ah , ‘ association ’ – let that word roll around your head for a while . This was the all-encompassing word chosen at the conception of our beautiful game 158 years ago .
At the moment of germination the bold prefix of this addictive pastime invited us to believe it was an open invitation ; if you will , diverse , inclusive , equal . With this in mind , I have a quick message for the lads of the 1863 committee : “ It ’ s 2021 here , but rest-assured we ’ re finally hitting our diversity and inclusivity goals !”
A complicated history Let ’ s be clear about this , the crystallisation of diversity as a positive force for good is all about the wider knowledge and certainty of equalness – in our workplaces , on the pitch and throughout communities .
Diverse personnel in football , however , is nothing new . The sport ’ s early history included a tiny number of black players , including Andrew Watson – Scotland captain in the 1880s – and Arthur Wharton , thought to be the first black professional . By the 1960s , however , it was still highly unusual for a team to field
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