As part of Black History Month, we are publishing a series of Q&As giving people from different parts of our club the opportunity to talk about their experiences of football, their relationship with Clapton Community FC, their own histories and identities, and what they would like to see from the club and from football more broadly.

Brian Bramble is coach for the Clapton Community FC Women’s First Team. He has previously served as assistant manager and coach across the women’s setup and is widely recognised within the club as a key figure and mentor across the women/NB and community football structure.

Football and racism

When a club says it is “anti-racist”, what should that actually mean beyond putting out a statement or wearing a T-shirt?

BB – Words are easy to say, perhaps have workshops from time to time to get know people’s lived experiences.

Do Black players and supporters sometimes feel pressure to let racist comments or behaviour go because they don’t want to be labelled as difficult?

BB – Black players and supporters can feel pressure when they hear racist statements because at the moment they may not want the extra attention this may bring as the perpetrator could simply deny it, and in a minority this can be hard.

Representation and football culture

Is having Black players in a team enough to make a football club genuinely inclusive?

BB – No not necessarily, because in the professional game football is a business so it’s just about making money and if clubs were all inclusive we would see more black people in management and the boardroom.

Does football genuinely value Black culture, or does it sometimes value Black players while remaining uncomfortable with Black voices and politics?

BB – Like a lot of businesses you are primarily useful for making money so promoting black culture is not a priority.There are a lot of home truths that people don’t want to hear.

Clapton Community FC specifically

What does being a Black supporter/player at Clapton Community FC mean to you? Is the club genuinely different from other football clubs you’ve experienced?

BB – Clapton is so different to many other clubs because Clapton is prepared to talk about important issues others don’t want to and are passionate about it.

Clapton Community FC talks a lot about community, equality and inclusion. Where do you think the club gets it right, and where could it do better?

BB – Overall Clapton does a great job but because there are many causes we are fighting for sometimes certain important issues can slip down the order.

Identity and Black History Month

Does Black History Month genuinely educate people, or can it sometimes become a month of well-meaning gestures before everything returns to normal in November?

BB – I think people should not confine Black history to one month because it sort of devalues the importance of black history. It is important to recognise the great things certain people have achieved but Black history is not just that. For some it is a good starting to look further.

How important is it for young Black footballers to see people who look like them in positions beyond the pitch?

BB – It is very important for young Black footballers otherwise they won’t believe in it.

Miscellaneous

Can someone love football, support a club and still be part of a culture that excludes Black people?

BB – This is difficult but we must continue to believe that changes can be made.Football doesn’t exist in isolation it also reflects our society on the whole.

Is football genuinely prepared to listen to Black people when they say something uncomfortable, or only when they say something that makes everyone feel good?

BB – Football isn’t ready to listen to Black people who say uncomfortable things mainly because they don’t really know how to deal with it.

What is something white football supporters genuinely don’t understand about being Black in football?

BB – Unless people walk in your shoes they cannot understand what it is like. People tend to judge by their own experiences and most other things are uncomfortable.

If you could change one thing about football’s relationship with Black people tomorrow, what would you change, and why?

BB – I would like to see Black people who contribute so much on the field be given the same opportunities off the field.