Playing Abroad as a Black British Footballer
I have played football in Germany, the Czech Republic, Canada and Iceland. Each move asked something different of me. There was the football itself, but there was also the work of finding a place in a new dressing room, learning how people communicate and building a life away from home.
In this video I speak about those experiences as a Black British footballer. Learning German changed how connected I felt with teammates in Germany. In other places, I had to work out social expectations and how to speak up when something felt wrong. Some experiences were welcoming and some were difficult. I want to be honest about both.
I cannot speak for every Black player abroad or for every person in the countries where I lived. These are my own experiences. My advice to a young player considering a move is to learn about the place, take the language seriously and find people you trust outside the club as well as inside it. Talent gets you through a trial; support and understanding help you settle.
Watch the full story on YouTube.
