Parliament Event Celebrates Brentford’s First Black Players with Show Racism the Red Card
Show Racism the Red Card joined forces with Brentford FC at the UK Parliament on 14th April to host a powerful exhibition celebrating the club’s First 11 Black Players.
The event brought together MPs, football representatives and community leaders to honour the impact of Black players on Brentford’s history and to highlight the importance of education in tackling racism.
Celebrating Pioneers and Untold Stories
The exhibition focuses on Brentford’s first 11 players of black heritage, spanning from the 1980s to the early 1990s. Among those featured are Chris Kamara MBE, alongside Terry Rowe, Francis Joseph, Keith Cassells, Tony Lynch, Bobby Fisher, Roger Joseph, Tony Obi, Henry Hughton, Paul Smith and Keith Jones.
Attendees at Parliament had the opportunity to engage directly with the stories behind the players, as well as speak with Brentford club ambassadors Marcus Gayle and Karleigh Osborne about the lasting influence these pioneers had as role models.
The exhibition is part of a wider initiative designed to uncover and celebrate hidden histories in football, ensuring these contributions are recognised beyond matchdays and embedded into education and community engagement.
Paul Hill and Martina Barton, Co-Regional Managers (South), delivered a joint message reflecting on the significance of the moment:
“Bringing the First 11 project into Parliament is incredibly meaningful because it places these stories exactly where they belong, at the centre of our national conversation.
For many of these players, their experiences of racism were part of everyday life in football, yet their contributions were never fully recognised. This project changes that. It gives them the platform and respect they deserve while ensuring their stories are preserved for future generations.
What’s most powerful is the impact we’re seeing on young people. When they engage with these exhibitions, they’re not just learning history, they’re seeing representation, resilience and achievement. That inspires confidence, pride and a sense of belonging.
This work is about more than reflecting on the past. It’s about shaping the future, challenging racism, promoting inclusion and using football as a tool to bring people together. That’s at the heart of everything we do at Show Racism the Red Card.”
From Parliament to the Community
Following the Parliamentary showcase, Brentford’s First 11 Black Players exhibition continues its journey back into the community. It will be displayed at the Gtech Community Stadium, giving supporters the opportunity to engage with the stories ahead of matchday.
This reflects the broader aim of the project: to move beyond one-off events and ensure these histories live on in stadiums, schools and communities, inspiring conversations and driving change year-round.
The success of the event reinforces the growing impact of the First 11 initiative, which continues to expand across clubs nationwide. By connecting football, education and community, the project is helping to ensure that Black history is recognised as an essential part of both the game and society.
As momentum builds, the message from this event was clear: these stories matter and they must be shared, celebrated and remembered.
