'Diverse communities enrich everything we do at Spurs'

As they celebrate being named on the 2021 Football Black List, Sarah Ebanja and Dayne Matthieu from Tottenham Hotspur talk about their work

The latest edition of the Football Black List celebrated black role models throughout the world of football who inspire and support others.

Sarah Ebanja, chief executive of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, and the club's head of safeguarding and welfare, Dayne Matthieu, are two of the 46 additions to the 2021 list.

Both joined Spurs in 2018 and now play an important role in helping the club impact on the lives of, and give opportunities to, thousands of people across north London.

"This has been Spurs' home for 100 years and it will be for a further 100 years and we live here, these are our neighbours," Sarah said from the stands of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in her acceptance speech.

"We have fantastic, diverse communities around us that enrich everything that we do, that we learn from, that we can share with.

"One of the great things about being here is we can learn every day and through our positions, we are able to be continuously dynamic in everything that we do, that our organisations do."

Sarah joined Spurs after working at the London boroughs of Lewisham, Hackney and Islington, and now leads an organisation that through numerous programmes helps those most in need in the local community.

"What's so fantastic being part of this global brand and being a part of Spurs, is that we are able to have an influence and make a difference and be recognised by others for doing that," she said.

"It's not about me, it's about the communities we serve, it's about the Foundation, it's about the whole team that have contributed to making that difference, and the family that I work with at Spurs, which includes Dayne.

"Thank you Football Black List and thank you and congratulations to everyone else that's had a knock at their door and an award delivered - which is a most amazing experience."

Dayne has dedicated her career to building, influencing and strengthening organisational culture and objectives around a strong safeguarding ethos.

She is responsible for safeguarding arrangements across Spurs, including the club's work to support the mental health of its players and staff.

"For us, equality, diversity and inclusion is at the core of everything that we do," she said.

"It's amazing to be a part of the Spurs family that champions that and has that same shared value and sentiment that we do."

The 2021 Football Black List event in full