Young people attending Millwall’s Premier League Kicks session at St Paul’s Sports Ground took part in an educational workshop delivered by Show Racism The Red Card as part of Black History Month.
Club Event Lead & Educator (South) Jack Cunningham led the session, speaking to participants about racism, discrimination and the impact it can have on individuals and communities.
The workshop encouraged participants to think about what racism looks like, how it can affect people both on and off the football pitch, and the role everyone can play in challenging discrimination.
The educational session provided an opportunity for the young people to ask questions, share their thoughts and learn more about how they can help create an environment where everyone feels included and respected.
Following the workshop, participants were joined by Millwall Lionesses full-back Esther Ogunyemi, who continued the conversation by sharing her own journey in football.
Esther took part in a Q&A with the group, speaking openly about her experiences, her route into the game and the challenges and opportunities she has encountered throughout her career.
Her visit gave participants the chance to put the themes discussed during the Show Racism The Red Card session into a real-life sporting context, while hearing directly from a professional footballer about her experiences.
Millwall Premier League Kicks Officer Gregory Perkins said: “It was great to bring Show Racism The Red Card into our Premier League Kicks session and give the young people the opportunity to learn more about tackling racism and discrimination.
“Having Esther join us afterwards was a brilliant way to continue those conversations. Hearing about her own journey and experiences in football gave the participants another perspective and showed the importance of representation, education and creating an environment where everyone feels they belong.”
The session formed part of Millwall Community Trust’s Black History Month activity, combining education around tackling racism with the opportunity to celebrate Black representation and achievement within football.
Through the work of Show Racism The Red Card and Esther’s personal story, participants were encouraged to learn, ask questions and understand the importance of challenging racism both within football and wider society.
