Despite the wet weather, over 200 students, staff and volunteers took part in the 2010 Birmingham Schools Kick Racism Out Of Football Festival on Tuesday 13 July.

The event, held in conjunction with Moseley School and Birmingham County Football Association, was a celebration of Birmingham’s rich and diverse cultures designed to beat back racist ideas in schools, soccer and society.

The event had three parts. Firstly, a training session enabling the school children to learn new football skills and get to make new friends. Secondly a lunch time event with Love Music Hate Racism and Kick It Out which included a question and answer session with former Aston Villa and England defender Earl Barrett. Earl told us about the bad days of the past where racism had a hold on the terraces, reminding us how important it is that we don’t accept racism wherever we are. Finally we ended the day with a football competition,

Haris, one of the Moseley School Young Leaders who helped organise the event said: “It was amazing how easy it was to organise an event for so many kids to enjoy and to say that it’s the colour of your shirt that counts – not your skin.”

Priyanka, another Moseley School Young Leader said:

This was a really cool day with a really important message – that racists are no fun.

Jameela, another Moseley School Young Leader said:

If we can help organise this in our school, with music and football, then hopefully this can inspire people can do the same in their school.

Doug Morgan, BSKROOF Event Organiser said:

BSKROOF 2010 showed what is great about our city – people from all different cultures having fun, celebrating with football and flair. We know that through positive events like this anti-racism can radiate throughout the city and beyond. To those that want to divide us we say loud and clear: THERE’S NO SPACE FOR RACISTS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OUR SCHOOLS!

For further details: Birmingham Schools Against Racism