Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006
At Stamford Bridge today, Ashley Cole will kick-off a season of
events to mark the tenth anniversary of a high-profile anti-racism
campaign.
Cole will meet 100 schoolchildren at the first of up to 100
"testimonial" events around Britain to honour the work of the Show
Racism The Red Card campaign.
He will be joined by other players at the Bridge for a
question-and-answer session about racism with the children.
The campaign was set up in 1996 to use players as anti-racist role
models.
The group's teams work directly with young people to promote the
anti-racist message as well as producing DVDs, educational posters,
magazines and other resources.
Ged Grebby, co-ordinator of Show Racism The Red Card, said: "Our
campaign was set up in 1996 and to celebrate over 10 years of our
organisation we are having a whole series of testimonial events
throughout the football season.
"Chelsea Football Club is a great place to have the first event of
the season and the club have given us great backing over the
years.
"Show Racism the Red Card harnesses the high profile of
professional footballers to combat racism in society.
"We use footballers as anti-racist role models in our educational
resources which have been acclaimed throughout Europe."
He said that the organisation was hoping to hold between 60 and 100
special events across the country to mark the anniversary.
"Most clubs in the Premiership in England and Scotland will take
part but not just the top clubs.
"There will be wider community-based events."
The group is part of a network of international football-based
anti-racism campaigns called Football Against Racism in Europe
(Fare).