No matter what your colour, ethnicity, religion, beliefs? Football has for so many years been at the forefront of positivity in this country housing teams from varied communities of mixed backgrounds male and female young and old that we can all support and celebrate together.

Ask a Liverpool fan who their favourite player is and you’ll get various answers from kids across the UK and even worldwide stating Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino or Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Ask a Forest fan a similar question and lovable French goalkeeper Brice Samba will be up there, Lewis Grabban perhaps, Samba Sow, Michael Dawson, Uncle Albert? Even Georgia Hewitt or Precious Hamilton?

Which is why it saddens me today that we still victimise people over the colour of their skin.

Many years ago I once wrote an article about Eastern European football fans needing educating with regards to their ancient tribal like repulsive condescension when it comes towards black players. Sitting on my high horse, an Englishman born to parents of mixed heritage that watched football at the highest level in England with racism no longer an issue in our great country.

But that has all changed. Now I don’t know whether politics has played a part, but whatever has ignited the recent influx of racism in this country, it needs to be put out and stopped.

Yesterday a young non-league footballer whilst playing for Carlton Town during an epic County Cup knockout game against Bingham Town came off the bench and scored an extra time winner that should have saw him wake up this morning beaming with a smile as long as Stoke Lane.

But instead, abused by incoherent thugs who’s simplistic philosophy was to throw abuse at black players last night the player instead of feeling joy for his goal felt no option but to raise the issue of his unwarranted sufferings through the world of social media.

Why? Because no one listened.

This isn’t the first time that Mamoke Akuanu and his team mates have suffered racism whilst playing football… But it certainly needs to be the last.

The young Carlton player has tried previously through FA protocol to raise awareness of this ongoing issue. 2 years ago after reporting an incident at Barwell FC he received a call from the FA a month after reporting an incident to a Referee. The FA told Akuanu they’ll look into it. 2 years later still no phone call back. Brushed to one side perhaps and swept under the carpet, the issue not quite eradicated, just forgotten about for now.

This has left Akuanu with no option but to vent his frustrations using the power of the people and that is where we as a community of sports people, football people, people of Nottinghamshire should come together and say enough is enough.

Mamoke has written a letter published on Twitter earlier today that we asked if we could publicise on Nottingham Sport to help alert those that can clamp down on this to do just that now.

Here’s what Mamoke had to say…. @mamoke5

—

To whom this concerns,

This email, quite frankly been overdue. My name is Mamoke Akaunu and I am a semi-professional football player at Carlton Town F.C. and I am writing to you today to discuss the issue of discriminatory abuse and racial abuse at football grounds in grassroots/non-league football.

In all honesty, as a player of ethnic minority background, I feel not enough is being done by the footballing authorities to tackle the issue of racism which includes the FA and Nottinghamshire FA and is a subject that makes a lot of people feel quite uncomfortable.

However, I believe that we as a county have a great opportunity to be an example to other parts of the country and address these bigots and persons of ignorance in making a stand against a problem that is slowly taking away the love of the game that a lot of young men who look like me (or who are of similar background) have had since they were old enough to talk.

Not only do they ruin the experience for other people who have just come to watch a game of football, but they take the focus away from the only thing that should be discussed which is football.

Last season I reported an incident of racism at Barwell F.C. where stereotypical mind-sets were used as templates to insult me verbally during a game, which came from an opposing player. I reported it to the referees after the game, the protocol for these incidences, and left it at that. A month later I received a call from the FA, they interviewed me about the incident and till this day I haven’t heard anything back from them.

This incident was nearly 2 years ago.

This season I have seen my fellow teammates abused at Stamford F.C., home and away and most recently last night at Stoke Lane (Carlton Town F.C. ground).

More must be done!

I know that there is a lot of work to do but I think the first step is educating on the issue, maybe hearing some of the player’s experiences to try and help further understand what it is like to be a player of ethnic minority background in non-league football.

I suggest a sit-down/meeting between a few members of the Nottinghamshire FA, owners of clubs, managers of clubs and a few brave players who are willing to come forward and share their experiences in non-league football.

I stress the importance of needing to tackle this issue now as it has gone on for too long and it is important to set an example to young players making their way (black, white, Asian, etc.) that we are all one community in football and everyone is equal. Furthermore, it is equally important that we as a community create an environment at every ground that is comfortable for players of all backgrounds and a situation where we are not only comfortable to speak out, but know that the necessary disciplinary action will take place. I would strongly recommend that we get in touch with the necessary people and organise this as soon as possible.

Regards, Mamoke.

—

If you have experienced similar issues please get in touch and we can do something about it. At Nottingham Sport we’ll be looking to work with Mamoke and hopefully through the right bodies can work together so that we can eradicate the problem for good.

We urge those at the FA the players the fans and the Football clubs of Nottinghamhire to get together as a nations first and let’s tackle this together.

If you have any information, would like to help or have suffered yourself please get in touch at info@nottinghamsport.com and we will help you by helping us tackle this issue once and for all and lead through football and the community so that we eradicate racism once and for all.

*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).

*Main image @CT1904 Carlton Town’s Mamoke Akaunu left with no choice but to speak out.