FA gives green light to a celebration of the Windrush community’s contribution to English sport

FA gives green light to a celebration of the Windrush community’s contribution to English sport at Wembley on June 22… with Marcus Rashford and Ian Wright among leading black sporting figures set to be invited to the event

  • The FA are planning a star-studded event to celebrate the Windrush Community 
  • Talks have been ongoing regarding the celebration at Wembley for many weeks 
  • The A-List event was inspired by former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott CBE 

The Football Association has given the green light to a star-studded celebration of the Windrush community’s contribution to English sport later this month.

Some of this country’s most prominent black sporting figures, including current England internationals Marcus Rashford, Tyrone Mings, Raheem Sterling and Nikita Parris, will be invited to the historic event at Wembley on June 22 – which marks the 75th anniversary of the original Windrush generation’s arrival in Great Britain.

The FA have been in detailed talks with regards to the plans for several weeks and chair Debbie Hewitt, it is understood, is fully behind the A-list event, inspired by former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott, himself a Windrush descendant. He has been at the forefront of the FA’s plans to host the night.

The majority of the guest list for the one-off night will have lineage to the first Windrush generation.

From football John Barnes, Ian Wright, Les Ferdinand, Hope Powell, Rio Ferdinand, Viv Anderson and Garth Crooks are among the invitees.

The FA has given the green light to a star-studded celebration of the Windrush community’s contribution to English sport later this month, with a host of this country’s prominent black sporting figures including Marcus Rashford (pictured) set to be invited to the historic event

FA chair Debbie Hewitt, it is understood, is fully behind the A-list event taking place on June 22

FA chair Debbie Hewitt, it is understood, is fully behind the A-list event taking place on June 22

The FA also want to celebrate Windrush’s influence across other sports with former England cricketers Devon Malcolm and Norman Cowans as well as track and field athletes Derek Redmond, Tessa Sanderson, Diane Modahl and Donna Fraser also to be invited.

England head coach Gareth Southgate, who has been a major advocate of diversity and equality in English football, is also on the invite list.

Former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott, himself a Windrush descendant, has been at the forefront of the FA¿s plans to host the night

Former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott, himself a Windrush descendant, has been at the forefront of the FA’s plans to host the night

Elliott told Mail Sport: ‘The original Windrush community’s resilience has been their brilliance, without that we would not have found our own inner strength.

‘Their values and motivation continue to live through us. I was always told I had to be twice as good as anyone else to even have a chance of making it in football because my parents lived through that struggle. All our Windrush descendants have lived that shared experience.

‘Look at our club and national teams at every level now, packed full of footballers of different races, faiths and beliefs. I hope the night captures the huge significance and impact the Windrush story has had on sport in our country.’

On June 22, 1948, the HMT Empire Windrush, carrying more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean, docked at Tilbury in a moment that has shaped modern day British society and sport.



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