Football in the Community
At the time of the recording Anne-Marie Eden was chief executive of Solihull Moors as they pressed for promotion to the English Football League, the Holy grail of the game. In this conversation Saf and Anne-Marie consider the importance of engaging with the community and diversity.
Football has its roots in the community and this is where Anne-Marie Eden says Solihull Moors keeps its feet firmly planted.
Likewise, Saf’s businesses are part of the community with engagement a major commitment.
They begin a fascinating conversation defining what they mean by community and agree that it can be a multiplicity of things including gender, heritage, profession, sporting interests and much more.
Solihull Moors was born from the bringing together of two rival football teams, Solihull Borough and Moor Green. Anne-Marie talks about how bringing these two communities together, especially in a sport that can be so tribal, has been achieved. Imagine creating a community if merging Manchester United and Liverpool or Glasgow Rangers with Celtic.
Saf shares his experiences of helping to create unity from individuals and groups that may come from a different place and view of life.
Anne-Marie explains why Solihull Moors is about much more than just success on the field and how ‘community’ is at the heart of the club.
There is a discussion about the importance of diversity and how having people from different backgrounds can add to a business and a football club.
They talk about the dangers of stereotyping, such as assuming black people will be good at sport, as well as inclusivity and allowing people of all abilities to have a chance.
But how to bring about diversity? Saf and Anne-Marie talk about positive action and the role of targets and why they are different to quotas.
Inevitably, the conversation touches on the growth of women’s football.
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