Shola Ameobi visited Newcastle United Academy last month to support the club-led No Room for Racism workshop to provide young players with the tools to combat discrimination.

The recently revealed Magpies saga Named Newcastle’s No Room for Racism SymbolBuilding on an educational lecture delivered by the club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team, he engaged the next generation by sharing insights into his career through a Q&A session with the Academy’s Under-16 team.

In line with Black History Month, which has the theme of reclaiming narratives by focusing on sharing stories of Black history and culture, Ameobi took the chance to discuss his journey in football and the challenges of discrimination before sharing his advice with young players.

The workshop was held in Newcastle United Academy’s newly opened Ameobi Classroom; this is one of several areas of the academy facility honoring graduates who have made significant contributions to the club both on and off the pitch.

As well as making 397 appearances for the Magpies, Ameobi continues to develop the club’s community work as a Trustee of the Newcastle United Foundation. The former Nigerian player is also part of the Premier League Black Participants Advisory Group, which played a key role in shaping the No Room for Racism Action Plan.

“I’ve been in this game for 30 years and you can see the evolution that’s happening in society,” Ameobi said. “A lot of this is about education: talking about important issues and making sure we don’t do them.” Don’t shy away from difficult conversations.

“I think it’s important that we start the dialogue with academy players early in their careers. It was valuable to have the opportunity to discuss what discrimination means, its effects, and how we can reduce them by engaging with each other.

“So many people in this region love football, so it’s important that we use the excitement of the game to teach: that’s a big part of what the Newcastle United Foundation does.

“We must continue to create safe spaces for individuals from different religious and ethnic groups and offer them equal opportunities to be who they want to be. This is really important for us as a football club and as a Foundation; I’m proud of that.” Play a small part in this.”