Events

Liverpool legends launch the Show Racism the Red Card Anti Racist Schools Competition at Anfield

13 February 2007

Show Racism the Red Card held the North West launch of the Anti Racist Schools Competition at Anfield the home of Liverpool Football Club on the 13th February 2007.

The event and was well attended by ex Liverpool legends John Barnes, Alan Kennedy and Howard Gayle. Alan Johnson represented Everton FC, also on the panel were the General Secretary of the CWU, Billy Hayes, Brian Hall from Liverpool FC and Ged Grebby UK Project Coordinator for SRtRC. The panel was completed by ex Sunderland players and schools workers for SRtRC, Gary Bennett and Kieron Brady who chaired the event.

The event kicked off with an exhibition of incredible football skills from local Liverpool lad Mr Silky Skills, Richard Braithwaite. The children were delighted by the display and a couple of lucky youngsters got the chance to join in and learn some new skills to impress their friends.

The event also saw the unveiling of the Liverpool FC/SRtRC poster, copies of which were distributed with magazines, bags and stickers. After viewing our DVD featuring top players and managers, the young people were able to ask questions of the panel on racism. Each youngster who asked a question received a SRtRC wristband. The panel answered all the questions expertly and in depth helping the children to understand the issues in more detail.

The questions were excellent and the panel handled all the questions comprehensively, the overall winner of the best question received a football signed by the current Liverpool FC first team squad, generously donated by Brian Hall. The runner up won two tickets to an Everton match courtesy of Alan Johnson. All the children received a goodie bag containing a poster of the first team squad and signed poster of Steven Gerrard donated by Liverpool FC.

There was Media interest on the day too, with part of the event filmed by SKY television who then conducted an in depth interview with John Barnes. Mohammed Bhana, the accomplished football writer and Sports Editor at Emel Magazine also covered the event.

Local children from Springwood Juniors, Rice Lane City Farm, Walton Youth Project and the Al Ghazali Multi Cultural Centre attended the event and were delighted to meet the ex Liverpool stars in the flesh and hear them speak about important issues affecting the youngsters in their daily lives.

All the players showed their support for the schools competition also spent time talking to the children and guests after the event as well as holding an autograph and photo session, which proved very popular.

Show Racism the Red Card patron and ex-footballer Gary Bennett spoke about the schools work in the North East of England, holding anti-racist workshops accompanied by football training and the importance of educating young children at an early age on the issue of racism.

The launch was well attended and in attendance were members of UNISON, CWU, Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police and Wirral Council.

Show Racism the Red Card would like to thank Liverpool FC and in particular Brian Hall and Sue Griffiths for organising the event. Heartfelt thanks also to John Barnes, Alan Kennedy, Howard Gayle and Alan Johnson who helped us launch our competition. The event could not have gone ahead without the substantial contributions of Lynn Collins, Steve Swinnerton, Dominic Van Bunnens and Kieron Brady. Finally a big thank you to the hard working staff of all the youth groups, the children and everyone who attended.