Martene Carroll

Sunday 17^th July 2022

Ahead of the UEFA Women’s Euros 2022 Final at neighbouring Wembley Stadium on Sunday 31^st of July, the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF) hosted an exhilarating Women’s Football Tournament at Bridgestone Arena, NW10 with special guests Eartha Pond and Rachel Yankey, OBE.

As part of the JRF Inspire to Achieve Heritage Project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the afternoon’s sporting event included a special Memory Café where the audience heard from Eartha and Rachel about growing up in Brent and their journey to becoming professional footballers.

With England’s Lionesses playing in the UEFA Women’s Euros 2022 semi-finals only days away, this all-female Memory Café was the perfect time for the women competing in the day’s football tournament to be inspired by these two players who made such a significant contribution to Women’s football both Nationally and Internationally.

Some amazing questions were put to the former defender and left winger who both played at the highest level in Women’s football from a young age, and with Eartha’s role on the FA Women’s Football Board one of the audience members wanted to know what the FA’s plans are to maintain the momentum of the UEFA Women’s Euros competition and keep the focus on girls entering the sport.

Rachel who played for clubs including Arsenal and Fulham and who won her first England cap and goal at the age of seventeen, was the first professional female player registered in England, revealed that she had first been spotted by the head coach of the male team.

Eartha who joined the women for their training session ahead of the tournament, played for clubs including Chelsea, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur, and surprised the audience when she spoke about having to work whilst pursuing her career in professional Women’s football, and that she was a sports teacher and Assistant Vice-Principal at the local Crest Academy.

The insightful Q&A session uncovered stories of the resilience young women like Rachel and Eartha had to display when Women’s Football went from grassroots to elite level in what was then a male-dominated sport. The audience appreciated the contribution these two former professional players have made to Women’s football and how they and the current Lionesses have raised the profile of Women in football and have opened the door for future generations to pursue a career playing football professionally.

The day ended with a fun Heritage Quiz with a focus on Brent, and with excited anticipation of the forthcoming Women’s semi-final on the 26^th of July.

On Wednesday 26^th January the students at Newman Catholic College received a visit from former student and ex-professional footballer Dave Regis, as part of the Jason Roberts Foundation’s Inspire to Achieve Project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The former striker who scored 53 goals from 237 appearances in the Football League in the 1990s, notably for Stoke City and Notts County, spoke to the students about the resilience, the challenges, and the successes of he and his late brother, Cyrille Regis, on their journey from Newman Catholic College to the different Leagues in their footballing careers.

The Regis Memory Café gave students and those accessing the Q&A session via Zoom, the opportunity to ask Dave about his time as a professional footballer, and to tell previously unheard stories of the childhood he and his brother shared growing up in Brent.

Cyrille Regis, MBE (1958 – 2018) was a professional footballer who played as a forward. His professional playing career spanned 19 years, where he made 614 league appearances and scored 158 league goals, most prolifically at West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City. He remains a footballing icon who broke through the bigotry of a different era and encouraged diversity, helping to pave the way for current and future footballers.

After his sad and untimely passing in 2018 his family set up the Cyrille Regis Legacy Trust which serves to honour and remember the life of Cyrille Regis MBE. For more information visit https://www.cyrilleregis.com/

For more information regarding the JRF Inspire to Achieve Heritage project please contact info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org

Sunday the 12th of June saw several ex-professional and current footballers descend on the Bridgestone Arena turf to celebrate the achievements of former players that went before as part of the JRF’s Inspire to Achieve project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

The 200 strong crowd were treated to a Festival of Sports with a host of special appearances including a team from East London which consisted of some well-known names including Henry Hughton and former Reading legend Michael Gilkes, alongside the Stein brothers, Dominican International Richard Paquette and Jefferson Louis and another footballing family – the trio of Grenadian international players Byron, Alvin and Bradley Bubb.

The colourful event brought out authentic stories of players reconnecting with their countries of heritage, recollections of the Windrush journey the players’ parents and grandparents experienced were shared, and memories of the journeys each of the players have lived through and the collective impact they have had on the modern game were told.

The memorable afternoon culminated in a celebration of flags, music, and reunion.

Algie who organised the East London team commented; “Today was inspirational in so many ways. Coming to Brent and seeing so many youngsters enjoy the day, and of course catching up with old friends. The reunion, reminiscing on our stories, and celebrating our past was sensational.”

On the evening of Monday 13^th June 2022 tables at BOXPARK Wembley filled with 400 guests young and old, to hear the inspirational story of Paul Merson’s journey from Harlesden in Brent to the national pitches of the Premier League, as well as the International stage, earning 21 Caps for England.

As part of the Jason Roberts Foundation Inspire to Achieve Heritage Programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players, the project will uncover the untold stories of 18 footballers from Brent who paved the way for future sportspeople, and will produce exhibitions, talks, and memory cafes along the way.

Paul answered questions from freelance sports broadcaster Pippa Monique and football commentator and pundit for Sky Sports Dickie Davies with humour and honesty. Michael Adams from JRF’s Cultural Media Centre followed the professionals, and Heritage Youth Ambassadors Eyadd and Yunis demonstrated their journalistic ability on the stage in front of the packed audience.

Former professional footballer, manager, and sports television pundit for Sky Sports, Paul talked openly about the highs and lows of his professional career, starting as an Apprentice at Arsenal in 1984, before his debut for the Gunners on 22 November 1986 against Manchester City.

During the evening Paul was presented with a personally penned shirt by his former youth teammates from Forest United, the first club he played for, who celebrate their 50^th anniversary next year.

Amongst the audience were some of Paul’s former teammates from Arsenal, the Mayor of Brent Cllr. Abdi Aden, Chief Executive of Brent Council Carolyn Downs, and Leader of the Council Muhammed Butt.

Otis Roberts, CEO of the JRF said of the evening; “”To have someone of Paul’s calibre as part of our Inspire to Achieve project is an honour. He is an asset to any team. Young people and future sportspeople can learn a lot from him.”

He went on to say; “We are very grateful to BOXPARK Wembley for hosting this event, Christian Klapp founder of Eversleigh LLP for sponsoring the evening, Laura Ashby from Quintain, and of course the National Lottery Heritage Fund for giving us the opportunity to uncover these untold stories so they can be preserved for current and future generations, and we hope they too will be Inspired to Achieve their dreams and goals.”

On Wednesday 15th December, the JRF Team hosted the first Memory Café Event as part of the Inspire to Achieve Heritage Project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Stein brothers – Brian, Edwin, and Mark – shared their truly inspiring story of the journey they travelled from their home in Cape Town to Brent and their individual careers as professional footballers.

The event at Bridgestone Arena which was also broadcast online via Zoom was launched with an opening ceremony including a dance performance from Shaq, who delivers dance training sessions for the Foundation, and a group of local youngsters, to a backdrop of the England and South African flags being waved.

Thanks to National Lottery players, the exciting new project will uncover the untold stories of 18 footballers from Brent who paved the way for future sportspeople, and will produce exhibitions, talks, and memory cafes during the term of the project, and beyond.

Young people from Brent will benefit from the Inspire to Achieve project by honing their media, presenting, and production skills and will have the opportunity to meet and interview the former players as part of the collation of their oral histories.

Some of the subjects the brothers discussed included living in Brent, school days, dealing with racism, and ending their footballing careers.

Bite size Vodcasts with highlights from the evening can be accessed via the new CMC website here https://cmc.jasonrobertsfoundation.com/heritage