An exhibition celebrating Black pioneers in British football, highlighting their impact on the sport and society, will be displayed across South London and at dedicated club matches.
Crystal Palace has launched a dedicated exhibition, “Celebrating Black Legacy in British Football,” in partnership with The FA and Surrey FA, as part of the UK’s Black History Month.
The initiative, officially unveiled at Selhurst Park, highlights the rich contributions of Black pioneers who have shaped the sport, focusing specifically on their impact within South London and Surrey.
The exhibition, which follows the theme of ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride,’ showcases numerous trailblazers, including the club’s first eleven Black players, starting with Tony Collins in the 1950s, through to club legends Mark Bright and John Salako, and up to current stars like Chris Richards and Allyson Swaby.
After a successful internal launch, the exhibit is scheduled to tour local grassroots clubs to encourage community engagement and connection with this history.
The launch event featured an in-depth panel discussion hosted by Jamie Dapaah, EDI Communities Lead for the London Region at the FA. Panellists included Mark Bright (Palace’s Director of U23 Development), David Gleave (author of Football’s Black Pioneers), and Saffron Renzullo (Co-Founder of Inter Melanin FC).
The discussions focused on the necessity of visibility and belonging within the game. Saffron Renzullo noted the importance of representation: “Belonging is really important, and seeing yourself in something matters.”
David Gleave emphasized the exhibition’s role in preventing history from repeating itself: “We wanted to try and make sure that the kind of stories that we were telling, about the racism players faced, weren’t going to come back.”
This effort is part of a wider commitment by Palace to promote diversity and inclusion across the sport.