UCFB academic the inspiration behind groundbreaking football research project

Richard Flash joined UCFB in October 2011 and is one of our first academics. The former Manchester United professional is currently making a positive impact on a national scale, through his research on English football’s earliest black footballers.

In 2023, Richard created the @thesoccerdemic, a social media handle with a focus on celebrating the achievements of Black footballers between 1889 and the modern era. His posts on X and Instagram grabbed the attention of the National Football Museum and football charity Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC), the UK’s leading Anti-Discrimination Education charity.

Last year, Richard joined SRtRC as their research partner, and shared his idea of celebrating English football’s earliest black footballers. The Newcastle-based charity is headed by former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop and CEO Ged Grebby. They brought Richard’s idea to life, by planning a series of anti-discrimination educational events, in partnership with a number of football club charity foundations.

October saw the launch of the ‘First Eleven Black Players Project’, in partnership with the English Football Association and Professional Footballers Association.

Premier League side Sunderland hosted the first exhibition, which coincided with October’s UK Black History month. Club legend Gary Bennett was on hand to provide first-hand experience of his life as a Black footballer on Wearside. Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Derby County, Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers followed suit with exhibitions, and The English FA launched the ‘First Eleven Black Lionesses’ exhibition in late October.

Richard stated, “One of the highlights so far is when my research brought Liverpool’s first four black footballers back to Anfield. Howard Gayle, John Barnes (my childhood hero), Mark Walters and Michael Thomas all attended. They formed a panel and took questions from a number of primary school children.”

Whilst English football continues to see a number of racist incidents occur at matches and online, Richard’s idea to showcase English football’s ‘Black Pioneers’ is making a positive impact. The project continues to roll out across the UK within football clubs, schools and libraries.

Future events will take place with Manchester United, Leicester City, Newcastle United, Leyton Orient, Tottenham and Chelsea. Richard is developing a website to host a player archive, and his daily posts can be viewed on his @thesoccerdemic platforms on Instagram and X.