FULHAM
|
Anti Racism A recent audit of crowd
attendance at Fulham F.C showed an increase in the ethnic minorities visiting
Craven Cottage. However, this was only minimal over last season despite our
continued efforts to make our stadium a friendly and welcoming environment
for all members of the community. With Fulham on the brink of
the Premiership the club needs to continue with its work to attract ethnic
minorities to the ground so that the supporters coming to watch our games
will reflect the multicultural society in which we live. On Saturday April 7 2001
Fulham Football Club play host to West Bromwich Albion in a Nationwide
Division 1 fixture. This game will be the focal point of this year’s
anti-racism event. The opposition becomes even
more significant when you realise that W.B.A, back in the mid to late
seventies, regularly fielded three black players, Brendan Batson, Cyrille
Regis and the late Laurie Cunningham, who are widely regarded as outstanding
pioneers in the fight against racism in football. We are hoping to have two of
football’s original “Three Degrees” as our guests on the day. Also scheduled
to appear on the day, alongside the Chairman, are a host of celebrities,
including the ex-Celtic manager John Barnes, and dignitaries such as the
Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham and the Minister for Sport, Kate Hoey. The event is going to be a
fun time for the whole family with face painters, balloon modellers and
jugglers to entertain you in addition to the non-indigenous music and dancing
that is customary at such an occasion. We will also, once again, be asking
you to kick racism out of football by raising a red card just before
kick-off. As always we need volunteers
to assist us with the event in a variety of tasks so if you are interested
and can offer your help then please contact the Community Department with
your details on: 020 7384 4759. Mission
Statement "Black & White Help
Fulham Unite" Working Party on behalf of Fulham FC seeks to tackle
racism and discrimination in all forms within Fulham FC and the surrounding
community. §
We
will endeavour to foster links across communities in order to develop a
positive relationship between groups of differing ethnic origins. §
We
are committed to encourage a welcoming, safe and friendly atmosphere for all
people, regardless of the colour of their skin and will strive to attract new
supporters to ensure our crowds reflect the diverse community in which we
live. §
Fulham
FC along with the "Black & White Help Fulham Unite" Working
Party are committed to promoting equality of opportunity at all levels within
the club.
The club recognises the need
to administer to a section of the community that is underrepresented and
employs a Community Officer with a special interest in ethnic minorities.
Fulham are actively encouraging an increase in the participation by Blacks
and Asians through the soccer courses and Adult Education courses that are
being organised by the "Football in the Community" scheme. The
objective is to redress the lack of representation at coaching and
administrative level. Despite the untimely
departure of Andrew Beardall, who was very influential in his short time in
the role, the work continues. Dereck Brown has been promoted from within the
Community Department and he has been quick to acknowledge that there is no
easy solution to a long-standing problem. "We don't expect to change
people's perceptions overnight nor are we paying lip service to a subject
that is controversial. However, slowly but surely, by liasing with people who
have expert knowledge in this area we will instigate change for the better
and it will be the community of Fulham FC which will hopefully reap the
benefit." All around the ground there
are now signs which state that racial abuse of any kind will not be tolerated
and indicate the penalties that offenders can expect to face. There are
training programmes and workshops planned for all staff members so that they
are better prepared should they be faced with any sort of racial situation in
the course of their work. The first of these training
courses is an Anti-Racism and Equality Workshop that is scheduled for
Thursday June 10 1999. Members of Hammersmith & Fulham Council's
Equalities unit will pass on their expertise to the staff of the Community
Department. Fulham have also been quick to utilise the assistance of the
"Kick it out" campaign and their representative, Ben Tegg, has been
an invaluable source of information for the club. To attract more ethnic
minorities into the ground the Community Department have also given free
tickets to Youth Clubs and other local organisations so that groups can
sample the atmosphere generated on a matchday without feeling isolated. There
are also plans to possibly revise the cuisine on sale at the ground to cater
for the cultural differences. More recently the financial
difficulties experienced by another London club has led to Fulham taking over
the running of a "Football in the Community" scheme in the borough
of Lambeth. This is one of the poorest boroughs in London and has a high
ratio of ethnic minorities and a varied cultural mix. It is the intention of
the club to give as many of the children within the borough the opportunity
to experience football in an organised environment. The club has already
donated playing strips to local teams and there will soon be job
opportunities on offer within the region. Many working-class ethnic
males view sport as a means to improve their status within society. The high
visibility of successful black men in sport has helped to support the impression
that sport is one of the few instances in racial interaction where ability is
often the only credential required for participation. Sport's attraction to
ethnic minorities is based on an assumption that they will receive fair and
equal treatment in return for ability and endeavour. Fulham FC have
recognised that this belief in equal opportunity should be extended to all
levels within the club. The club can claim to be unique as from the boardroom
downwards there is a good racial mix providing a relaxed and friendly working
environment. In 1975 there were fewer
than 20 black professional soccer players operating within the Football
League. More than two decades on and that number has significantly increased.
However, the number of Asian players in the professional game is no better
than it was then and the ethnic minorities within the audience is
disproportionate to those who are interested in and play the sport. The club
has noted this imbalance and is playing a positive role in trying to redress
it. Racism is a global concern
for society and its impact inevitably touches us all. Fulham FC readily
acknowledges that what happens in a small corner of London is unlikely to
change the world but change has to start somewhere. The steps outlined so far
have been small but, nonetheless, a start has been made. If you re-read the
mission statement quoted at the outset you will find that each objective,
even at this early stage, is being diligently achieved. The intention is to
build on that and to take a united Fulham into the next Millenium. |
