A Day to Remember at St James’ Park: SRtRC and Newcastle United Foundation Unite for Anti-Racism
On Friday 8th May, Show Racism the Red Card was proud to join forces once again with our partners at Newcastle United and NUFC Foundation for a truly special day at one of English football’s most iconic venues at St James’ Park.
We were delighted to welcome 120 school pupils from three schools across the region: Forest View Primary School, Grace Darling Church of England Primary School and Excelsior Primary School. For many of these young people, stepping inside St James’ Park will have been an experience they remember for years to come.
A Morning of Learning and Critical Thinking
The day began with two carefully crafted workshops designed to educate, challenge, and empower. The first tackled the growing issue of racism online, exploring how hatred can spread through digital platforms and, crucially, equipping young people with the tools and confidence to identify, challenge, and report it. In an age where so much of young people’s social lives exist online, this kind of education has never been more important.
The second workshop took a broader anti-racism focus, encouraging pupils to think critically about the world around them, questioning harmful narratives, challenging assumptions, and understanding how prejudice takes root and how it can be dismantled. These sessions were thoughtfully delivered to ensure every child felt safe, heard, and empowered to speak up.
Between sessions, pupils had the opportunity to explore St James’ Park through a behind-the-scenes stadium tour, walking the corridors of a ground steeped in football history and seeing first-hand the environment that their footballing heroes call home.
An Unforgettable Afternoon with Football’s Finest
If the morning set the tone, the afternoon truly brought the day to life. We were honoured to be joined by an extraordinary group of special guests who gave their time to stand alongside us in the fight against racism.
Charlotte Potts of Newcastle United Women’s first team, club legend Shola Ameobi, and former defender Olivier Bernard were joined by current men’s first team stars Yoane Wissa and Joelinton for a powerful Q&A panel, with the questions coming directly from the pupils themselves.
Hearing professional footballers speak openly and honestly about racism, their experiences, their values, and their determination to see the game and society change is something no classroom lesson can fully replicate.
The presence of players like Wissa and Joelinton, who themselves have navigated life and football across different countries and cultures, added a depth and authenticity to the conversation that clearly resonated with the young people in the room. Shola Ameobi and Olivier Bernard, as former Newcastle icons with their own powerful stories to tell, brought perspective and passion in equal measure, while Charlotte Potts represented the growing force of women’s football and the importance of inclusion across the game at every level.
The day closed with photographs, smiles, excitement, and moments that will no doubt be treasured by pupils, teachers, and guests alike.
Why Days Like This Matter
Events like the one at St James’ Park are about far more than a day out. They are about planting seeds.
When a young person sits across from a footballer they admire and hears them say clearly and without hesitation that racism is wrong , that it has no place in football, online, or in life. When that same young person is given the language, the confidence, and the tools to challenge racism when they see it, they leave not just educated but equipped.
Our partnership with Newcastle United Foundation continues to go from strength to strength, and days like Friday remind us exactly why this work matters. Football has a unique power to open doors, command attention and inspire action and when that power is directed towards education and equality, the results can be genuinely transformative.
We look forward to building on this momentum, reaching more schools, more communities, and more young people in the seasons ahead. Together, we are not just showing racism the red card, we are helping the next generation understand why it must never be shown a place at the table.
Show Racism the Red Card would like to extend its sincere thanks to Newcastle United FC, NUFC Foundation, all attending schools, and every guest who gave their time to make Friday such an unforgettable and impactful day. In particular, we were grateful for support on the day from representatives from the NEU, UNISON and the PFA, and would also like to thank the Office of the Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner and the North East Combined Authority for their continued support. Finally, thank you to Newcastle City Council for helping to fund the First Black XI exhibition, part of a programme of activity marking thirty years of Show Racism the Red Card.