Everton is celebrating the pioneering Black players who helped shape the club’s history with a special exhibition at Hill Dickinson Stadium throughout Black History Month.
The display celebrates Everton’s first 11 Black male players and has been created in partnership with Show Racism The Red Card as part of a pilot programme which the organisation hopes to introduce across football clubs nationwide.
Researched with support from Everton’s Heritage Society, the exhibition was officially unveiled at an event in Trinity Place Bar at Hill Dickinson Stadium this week.
Banners telling the stories of the players will remain on display in the stadium’s public space throughout October, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about their contribution to Everton and the wider game.
The exhibition features Mike Trebilcock, Cliff Marshall, Daniel Amokachi, Earl Barrett, Terry Phelan, Danny Cadamateri, John O’Kane, Olivier Dacourt, Ibrahim Bakayoko, Kevin Campbell and Abel Xavier.
Everton legend Peter Reid attended the launch alongside club officials and representatives from Show Racism The Red Card, the Premier League and Unison General Secretary Andrea Egan.
Ben Osu, Head of Equity and Inclusion at Everton, said:
“It’s fantastic to be able to launch our Black History Month exhibition, celebrating the first black men’s players to represent the Club, in partnership with Show Racism the Red Card.
“Players of Black heritage have made an enormous contribution to the history, success and culture of our Club, both on and off the pitch, and it is fitting that we take this opportunity to recognise and celebrate those achievements during October.
“This exhibition shines a light on the pioneering individuals who helped pave the way for future generations, often overcoming significant barriers in the process.
“By sharing their stories, we not only honour their legacy but also inspire current and future players, supporters and colleagues to continue championing equality, inclusion and opportunity for all.”
The exhibition will also provide the backdrop for an educational visit by schools connected to Everton in the Community next month.
Paul Kearns, from Show Racism The Red Card, said the project tells the stories and lived histories of players who helped lay the foundations for those who followed them.
He said:
“This is a really important project for us.
“It encapsulates the history of the club and tells really important stories and lived histories of the players who set the foundations and were pioneers for the players that came after them.
“We started these exhibitions as a pilot project and it’s proven to work, so we aim to get this across the whole city to make sure as many people as possible can learn about these histories and now important these players’ stories are.”
Iffy Onoura, Head of Race Equality and Inclusion at the Premier League and a boyhood Everton supporter, also attended the launch.
He said:
“Fair play to the club and Show Racism The Red Card for putting this on because it’s important to the whole of the city.
“Everton has always been the people’s club, but something like this just shows the inclusion and everything that it stands for.
“It’s important to keep fighting the fight because there is no room for racism.
“Unfortunately, we’re in an era now where we’re seeing some of those elements creep back into society and dissenting voices are coming from dark places.
“it’s always a vocal minority and somehow we’ve got to find a way to embolden that decent majority, so events like this just speak to that.”
Black History Month takes place throughout October each year, celebrating the contributions Black people have made to Britain’s history, culture and society.
The theme for Black History Month 2026 is “Honouring Our Communities”, recognising the people whose everyday contributions help shape, support and sustain Black life across the UK.
You can read more here.
