Tackling diversity in football

Dr Dan Kilvington is on a mission: to increase diversity in football at all levels from grassroots to the Premier League. A football fan and lifelong grassroots player, Dan has pursued academic study and research to fulfil his passion for the game. His PhD examined the exclusion of British Asians in football, and the results inspired him to continue that line of research to create positive change. Dan said: “In my PhD I found an almost complete lack of British Asians in football which is just not representative of our diverse society. Because there is a lack of diversity and representation there is a lack of role models which is a barrier to others entering into the game.”

Dan, senior lecturer and course director in media, communication and cultures, is widely published and his research and teaching explores race, sport and new media. He worked with the local organisation for football, the West Riding County FA, to tackle the lack of diversity, creating a new strategy ‘Creating and Developing Coaches’, which has seen him work with over 200 coaches since its inception.

“It’s like speed dating for coaches,” says Dan. “We invite football's key stakeholders along to talk to BAME coaches about opportunities in the region and how to access funding or coaching qualification courses. At the end of the session, new, and significant, networks have been formed." The strategy’s success means Dan is now in demand to roll it out with other organisations around the country. He also provides consultancy for key stakeholders, inclusion charities and anti-racism campaign groups.

“The research I do has helped form strategies which leads to impact and things change because of it. I hope our students find this empowering; I hope they can change things too.”