Football manager inspires college learners for Black History Month

Learners at Solihull Sixth Form College had the opportunity to meet former professional footballer and now manager Darren Moore recently to mark Black History Month.

Darren Moore is currently the manager at Port Vale Football Club and his talk to students covered his playing and management career, as well as the work he has done outside of football.

He enjoyed a successful playing career for West Bromwich Albion, where he made more than 100 appearances, as well as playing for eight other clubs, including Derby County, Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers and Torquay United. He was also capped by Jamaica. He cites former West Bromwich Albion player Cyril Regis among his inspirations for getting into football as a black player.

Darren Moore is one of just two managers among the 92 league football clubs in England who is black. In the history of the Premier League, there have been 280 football managers, but only 11 of them have been black. Darren is working with the football authorities to try to widen the opportunities for black players to move into management.

Student development officer Chris Curran commented: "This was a fantastic opportunity for our young people to hear from one of Birmingham's great footballing success stories. We are grateful to Darren for giving up his time to come in and talk to our learners about his career as both a player and manager. He was able to offer an insight into the challenges black players face trying to move into football management and discuss the work he is doing with the footballing authorities to try to change this."

There are many events planned for Black History month at at Solihull Sixth Firm College. The college use this month to continue to shine a light on the achievement of black and brown people.

Pictured: Darren Moore talking to Solihull Sixth Form College learners