Pompey in the Community’s equality, diversity and inclusion lead Duke Harrison-Hunter has been named on the Football Black List for 2020 for his contribution to the game at community and grassroots level.
Football’s Black List has become the biggest and most respected celebration of African and Caribbean achievement in the British game, celebrating and highlighting role models from the Black community who are working in football at all levels.
The initiative was founded in 2008 by sports journalists Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds, hoping to shine a light on the achievements of the football community away from the pitch.
It also provides an opportunity to reflect on how diverse the industry is and discuss the under-representation of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds and how to address this issue.
A key aim of the initiative is to highlight role models, working across a wide range of positions in football, in order to educate young people and encourage them to think about how they can get involved in the sport beyond the field of play.
A panel of experts from the Black community and football industry vote independently on nominations made by the public to determine who makes the list.
"It means the world to me that all of our hard work has been recognised for the good of the community."
The panel includes representation from the Premier League, The Football Association, PFA, League Managers’ Association, EFL, PGMOL, FARE, BCOMS and Kick It Out, making Duke’s nomination all the more special.
Being named alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford MBE, Chloe Morgan and Les Ferdinand MBE, to name but a few, is a huge accolade.
The Black List pays tribute to individuals making a difference within the community and at the grassroots level of the game.
Since joining PitC in November last year, Duke has certainly made an impact through his roles as the targeted kicks mentor and EDI lead within the local community.
He said: “It means the world to me that all of our hard work has been recognised for the good of the community – diverse or otherwise – and putting Pompey in the Community firmly up there for all to see.
“I was absolutely stunned and happy to find out that I had been nominated and won, alongside some big names in the sport.
“This feeling will be with me for quite a while – it’s an unbelievable feeling. Thank you to those who nominated me.”