Kick It Out & JSP talk to.. Steven Gerrard
I’M Steven Gerrard. I play for Liverpool and England.
Away from playing the game, I support Kick It Out, the game’s equality and inclusion campaign.
Every week JSP Live! will bring an exclusive report from the Kick It Out HQ.
Kick It Out works with amateur teams, youth clubs, community groups and ethnic minorities who may have felt excluded in the past.
The aim is to ensure all communities are embraced by football and opportunities are available to everyone.
Kick It Out uses football to teach kids about racism’s negative effects. It works with big stars including Nicolas Anelka, Curtis Davies, Fernando Torres and Ledley King.
When a player is discriminated against because of colour, creed or faith, Kick It Out is on hand to help.
www.kickitout.orgHas football helped you learn about other cultures?
Yes definitely. We have loads of players from all over the world at the club and learn from each other.
Football has also taken me all over the world. I’ve seen and experienced things I probably would never have if I hadn’t become a footballer.
Did watching footballers of different races, cultures and religions make you more aware of different communities in the UK and around the world?
Yes and no. As a Liverpool fan, John Barnes was someone I had watched and admired. Yes he was black but first and foremost he was playing for my team. I didn’t really consider that he was different. I still don’t.
But on an international level, watching teams from all over the world, it was interesting to see the way all these countries loved the game but had different ways of playing it.
Playing with and speaking to people helped me learn more about different cultures and religions.
What makes Liverpool so special?
As the city has the docks it has newcomers to the country arriving in Liverpool. This means we’ve had lots of different communities settle here.
This a positive thing as these settlers have all brought something unique to the city and made it what it is today. Liverpool has a fair few Asian fans who travel to matches from all over.
Why do you think they have a special affection for Liverpool?
The team and I are aware that we have loads of Asian fans that come to games every week. I guess they love the club for the same reason every Liverpool fan does.
We have always played good football which is entertaining. I think that’s always going to attract people who love the game.
Can football educate people?
So many people love football and youngsters will always look up to their favourite players. Because of this it means we are in a position to help push important messages and raise awareness of issues such as racism.
I remember looking up to my footballing heroes as a youngster. So I know that what players do, as role models, can be copied.
We have to remember we have a role both on and off the pitch.
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