The fight that can never rest

Top former footballers including Les Ferdinand MBE and Paul Elliot MBE will be among those coming together at Unite’s headquarters this Friday (September 9) to promote the 20th anniversary of the sport’s very own campaign to combat racism.

The Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) campaign was formed in 1996 to use footballing role models to enlist young people in anti-racism drives.  Previous stars on the SRTRC team sheet include Thierry Henry, Ryan Giggs and Samuel Eto’o.

Unite has been a long-time supporter of the organisation, which has also worked with trade unions to combat racism in the workplace.

On hand this year to promote the 20th anniversary’s Wear Red day, which will be on Friday, October 21, will be Les Ferdinand, former England star and current director of football at Queen’s Park Rangers FC, and Aston Villa and Celtic star Paul Elliot.  They will be joined by Unite general secretary Len McCluskey.

Ahead of the event, SRtRC chief executive Ged Grebby said that the fight against racism “can never rest” especially now when, he said, “worryingly, hate crimes are on the rise.”

More in common

“Football is such an important part of so many people’s lives that it is only right that we use this power of this tremendous sport to bring people together, to show that we really do have more in common than divides us,” he added.

“We are extremely proud to be marking our 20th anniversary with our friends in football, including lifelong anti-racism campaigners like Paul and Les.  With them on our side we will make this year’s Wear it Red day one to remember for sure.”

Show Racism the Red Card is an anti-racism educational charity which works extensively across Britain to present an anti-racist message to young people and others. In Scotland and Wales, the campaign also focuses on tackling racism within professional and grass-roots football.

In May, McCluskey joined SRtRC at an earlier event this year celebrating the organisation’s 20^th anniversary – a celebrity match between MPs and former footballers at the Den, home to Millwall FC.

Presenting the trophy at the match, McCluskey hailed the work of Show Racism the Red Card.

“Football is a fabulous medium to tackle racism that millions and millions of our people enjoy, in particular the kids,” he said.

“You’ve got to see some of the sessions that Show Racism does with hundreds of kids in classrooms or football clubs, splitting them into workshops, talking about the issues of racism and listening to what the kids say,” he noted.

“It’s absolutely staggering when you hear kids say, ‘Well I’ve heard my dad say that word.’  And it’s amazing that the kids themselves then feel empowered to go home and challenge their own parents.”