Romaine Sawyers part of Kick It Out's new initiative...
ROMAINE Sawyers has today been announced as part of a new initiative, entitled the Next 20, launched by Kick It Out to champion 20 young football stars across the Premier League, Football League and Women’s Super League (WSL).The Next 20, which was introduced as part of the organisation’s ‘Season of Action’ to mark its 20-year anniversary, will see players including Sawyers, Arsenal full-back Carl Jenkinson, Sheffield United defender Harry Maguire and Everton Ladies star, Toni Duggan raise awareness of Kick It Out through a varied set of activities within the community.
Sawyers made his first inroads into football as part of the West Bromwich Albion Academy before joining The Saddlers in the summer, having spent time on loan with the club last season.
The 21 year-old is happy that he was chosen by Kick It Out to raise awareness of their work.
“For as long as I can remember, Kick It Out has always been a key institution in stamping out racism in football,” he said. “I feel privileged that I was chosen to be part of this Next 20 and I want to assist Kick It Out as much as I can.”
Lord Herman Ouseley, Chair of Kick It Out, is thankful that Sawyers and a host of others have decided to back the Next 20 programme and help progress the work of Kick It Out.
“We have had great ambassadors over our 20 years of campaigning and we believe this generation of young footballers will help us in rooting out discriminatory behaviour in the game,” he said.
Here is the list of the Next 20 players in full:
Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal FC)
Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal Ladies FC)
Danny Rose (Barnsley FC)
Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers FC)
Dylan Lall (Brighton & Hove Albion FC)
Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea FC on loan at Nottingham Forest FC)
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea FC on loan at Everton FC)
Callum Wilson (Coventry City FC)
Toni Duggan (Everton Ladies FC)
Andre Wisdom (Liverpool FC on loan at Derby County FC)
Daniel Powell (MK Dons FC)
Gael Bigirimana (Newcastle United FC)
Nathan Redmond (Norwich City FC)
Jamaal Lascelles (Nottingham Forest FC)
Michael Harriman (Queens Park Rangers FC on loan at Gillingham FC)
Harry Maguire (Sheffield United FC)
Jack Butland (Stoke City FC on loan at Barnsley FC)
Ben Davies (Swansea City FC)
Wesley Foderingham (Swindon Town FC)
Romaine Sawyers (Walsall FC)