West Ham United has always been a family, an identity, a collective – a community where there is No Room for Racism.
Based in the heart of east London, that ethos is embedded in the halls of West Ham United’s Academy of Football facilities at Chadwell Heath, where a young footballing family congregates every day to become the best versions of themselves they can be.
In an area where 75% of local demographics are of Black, Asian, and minority ethnicities, it is estimated that around two-thirds of Academy footballers are also from BAME backgrounds.
West Ham United’s Academy is such a diverse community and we believe it is extremely important to celebrate the different cultures represented at our Club
Academy Player Care Officer Kiera Colthart
“For us and the area that we represent, Black History Month is crucial,” Assistant Academy Manager, Jeremy Sauer, explained. “We did a lot of work over the lockdown period with the kids, helping educate them around these topics. What became apparent from that was a need to continue that programme once we returned to in-person coaching, which we now have.
“We spend a lot of time ensuring that kids are well aware of the community that they represent in east London. We want our players to be ambassadors for us and the Club, and we do that by increasing their education and awareness of such topics, encouraging them to carry that forward into later life.
"Both where we are based in east London, and Essex, have such a strong, diverse community of our players and their families, and celebrating that is something we consider a key aspect of developing West Ham United players.”
Throughout Black History Month, a programme to do so has unfolded.
Kiera Colthart, Academy Player Care Officer, explained: “In Black History Month, we thought as an Academy it would be a great opportunity to highlight and celebrate Black History makers throughout the month.
“At the beginning of each week we have been sending out an article to all of the Academy players about a specific Black Historian who has been acknowledged for their astonishing achievements and inventions, such as NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson.
“West Ham United’s Academy is such a diverse community and we believe it is extremely important to celebrate the different cultures represented at our Club.”
Players in the Professional Development Phase (the U18s and U23s) are also each reading lines from the poem 'My Pitch', produced by a local poet called Mr Gee. This is being recorded and will be sent to the whole Academy as a closing reflective piece.
Kalam Mooniaruck (Head of Coaching Development), Carlton Cole (U15s/U16s Coach) and Lauris Coggin (U13s/U14s Coach) also recently spoke about how they have been proud to act as role models of BAME representation at the Academy.
And, at the weekend, players from the U23, U18 and U16 squads all lined up with their respective opponents to show their support for the Premier League's No Room for Racism initiative.
“We want our players to be ambassadors for us,” Sauer expanded. “We do that by increasing their education and awareness of such topics, encouraging them to carry that forward into later life with them.
“No matter where some of the players end up later on in their careers, we know that they have a strong understanding of different cultures and the diversity within their local area.
“We have to feed it through the programme that we deliver, brought to life by the coaches and other members of staff. We want to create a diverse workforce that represents our community, like it does the players.”
