Stormzy has announced an initiative, Merky FC, in collaboration with Adidas, which plans to increase the number of Black people working in football.
As well as Adidas, Stormzy has also secured Manchester United, Fulham FC, Sky, UEFA, and many more as partners. In a press release, he said: “Just 6.7% of senior roles in football are taken by someone who identifies as Black or mixed Black heritage. We barely see any black Team Managers, Coaches, Sports Presenters, Assistants, Ops Managers, Sales Managers, Accountants, Marketing Managers or Physiotherapists – the list goes on, nor are many of us even aware of the vast roles available within the football industry.
“Through the #Merky FC initiative we hope to inspire real change within this field as part of my wider commitment to support racial equality in the UK. With the support of adidas and the additional 10 partners, we will be in a position to aid the people who may have experienced disadvantages during their football career pathway. We strongly encourage other companies to join us in our mission.”
Adidas added: “We are passionate about providing inclusive opportunities to young talent in the UK. We are proud to be working in partnership with Stormzy to introduce #Merky FC, an initiative that directly tackles some of the biggest barriers facing UK youth in football today, by creating a legacy of career opportunities off the pitch alongside the other partners. Along with the support of our network of adidas partners, we are committed to fighting for equal representation in football, and this launch is only the beginning for #Merky FC. Watch this space.”
If you’re interested in taking part in Merky FC, visit merkyfc.com to find out more and register your interest in the placements available. There’s also a panel conversation with Stormzy available to stream on their website.
Meanwhile, Stormzy’s third album, This Is What I Mean, is due out on November 25th, and includes the singles ‘Hide & Seek’ and ‘Mel Made Me Do It’.
