West Ham United first team coach Paul Nevin and commercial executive Akinola Fashola have both been named on The Football Black List for 2022.
The Football Black List shines a light on the most influential black figures in English football and the Hammers duo are among 42 individuals nominated for this year.
They are joined by the likes of Premier League players Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, managers Patrick Vieira and Vincent Kompany, along with former Lioness Lianne Sanderson.
Deji Davies, Non-Executive Director at Brentford FC, the only black board member at a Premier League club, Les Ferdinand, the only black Director of Football in the game, and FA Board member – and one-time Hammers player - Jobi McAnuff also make the list.
The Football Black List, founded in 2008 by sports journalists Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds, highlights leaders working across all areas of the game from the black community.
A panel of experts drawn from the football industry and the black community independently vote on nominations made by the public to determine who makes the list, which is divided into eight categories – administration, coaching and management, commercial, community, players, LGBTQ+, media and practitioners.
The Ugo Ehiogu ‘Ones to Watch’ category – which identifies talented, young people in the industry under 30 years of age – is also released alongside the main list.
Nevin has been a vital part of David Moyes’ staff since February 2020, following coaching spells with the likes of Fulham, New Zealand Knights, Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion.
The former Shrewsbury Town, Carlisle United and Yeovil Town player also rejoined Gareth Southgate’s England coaching staff for a second spell in September 2021, helping the Three Lions qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage.
Fashola, a partnerships manager in the Club’s commercial team, has been with the Hammers for more than three years, having previously worked at Birmingham City.
Leon Mann MBE, co-founder of the Football Black List, said: “We are delighted to be sharing another incredible and inspirational Football Black List. Black excellence shines so brightly in the game and this list underlines that.
“I am particularly proud to see the list now feature Board members, and managers at the top of the game but clearly we still have a long way to go to see better representation in football. However, we are highlighting those leading the way. We are proud of these individuals and the impact they are making.”
The Football Black List 2022
Players
Andre Gray, Aris and Jamaica
Bukayo Saka, Arsenal and England
Charlotte Lynch, Leyton Orient Women
Marcus Rashford, Manchester United and England
Raheem Sterling, Chelsea and England
Administration
Deji Davies, The FA
Jobi McAnuff, The FA
Les Ferdinand, QPR
Maheta Molango, PFA
Sarah Gregorius, FIFPRO
Coaching and Management
Aubrey Rogers, Liverpool
Danetta Powell, Birmingham City
Patrick Vieira, Crystal Palace
Paul Nevin, West Ham United and England
Vincent Kompany, Burnley
Commercial
Akinola Fashola, West Ham United
Akua Agyemfra, Merky and The Balley Consultancy
Freda Ayisi, Content Creator
Liseli Sitali, Sky Sports
Sofia Thomas, Juno Sports Tax
Community and Grassroots
Andrew Lovelace, Watford Ladies
Habib Olorukoba-Oseni, Cray Wanderers and Welling United Deaf FC
Kerry Phillips, Saving Souls FC
Simon Hyacinth, FURD
Trisha Lewis, Romance FC
LGBTQ+
Dr. Michael Seeraj, Charlton Athletic Community Trust
Lianne Sanderson, talkSPORT
Media
Carl Anka, The Athletic
Fatou Jeng, BT Sport
Jemma Archer, Whisper Productions
Pippa Monique, The Football Mum Podcast
Nelson Kumah, BBC Sport
Practitioners
Ciaran Baxendale, Football Beyond Borders
Iffy Onoura, Premier League
Lauren Impey, PGMOL
Michael Hamilton, AFC Wimbledon
Dr. Paul Campbell, University of Leicester
Ugo Ehiogu’s Ones To Watch
Cordell Lake-Benjamin, Palace for Life Foundation
Debra Nelson, Football Beyond Borders
J’nae Ward, Refresh Sport Consultancy and Productions
Siham Abdullahi, Buzz 16
Tyra Mills, Kinetic Foundation