The black Liverpool community is one of the oldest in Europe and to celebrate Black History Month, Mersey Sport Live has profiled nine inspirational Scousers.
Black Liverpudlians have graced the stage in boxing, football, the Olympics, and many other sports.
Their work has helped challenge change and tackle discrimination. From being vocal online to working in communities, the black community is deeply rooted within Liverpool and has made incredible contributions to the city’s culture.
Black History Month is dedicated to celebrating and recognising history, contributions of black people and the achievements of individuals and communities who have inspired others.
Anyika Onuora
Anyika Onuora is a worldwide hero as her story is about survival and comeback. Ten months before she won Olympic bronze in Rio 2016, she was hospitalised with life-threatening malaria.
In fewer than 40 weeks, she went from having a serious illness to an Olympic podium.
At an inspirational talk held by Liverpool at Anfield, Onuora spoke about when she had malaria. She said: “I was told by the consultant that my career was over – but that wasn’t me and that’s not within my mindset.
“I’d already been to two Olympic Games at that point and going into my third, so I knew I had to be in the best shape possible. And I made it and got an Olympic medal.”
She is a retired three-time Olympic sprint track and field athlete and won medals at World and European Championships and Commonwealth Games.
In her book, My Hidden Race, she revealed her shocking experience of racism, discrimination, and sexual abuse. Since then, she has been praised for her bravery and strength in speaking out and raising awareness.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
As a 27-year-old, Trent has become a household name within football.
Born in West Derby, the Scouser joined Liverpool Academy in 2007 and made his senior debut in 2016. He is widely regarded as one of football’s best right-backs with his pinpoint passing, crossing and assists as well as his set-piece taking ability.
Talking to Sky Sports at the end of the 2024/25 season, Alexander-Arnold said: “From the bottom of my heart, I hope that one day the fans and supporters of this club will be able to recognise the hard work and everything that I have done for the team.
“There wasn’t a day, a minute, when I didn’t think about the team. From six years old, to 26 years now. Twenty years is a very long time. I have loved every single minute of it, the ups and downs.
“It has been an honour and a privilege for me to be a part of this club. This is all I’ve ever known. I’ll remember these moments for the rest of my life, especially a day like today.”
He won every trophy possible with the Reds including two Premier Leagues, one Champions League, UEFA Supercup, and the club’s first Club World Cup and various individual achievements. He left the club last spring to join Real Madrid and will be looking to add to his trophy cabinet in Spain.
Howard Gayle
Howard Gayle made history as he became the first black player to feature for Liverpool.
Born in Toxteth, he joined the youth ranks at a local side in Liverpool before signing a professional contract with the Reds in 1977. Howard has been regarded as a trailblazer in a sport which was predominantly white at the time, helping pave the way for future black footballers.
He has worked on many levels to ensure kids in the city get a good grounding to succeed in life and has become an anti-racism campaigner, working with Kick it Out and Show Racism the Red Card.
In a recent Liverpool video, Gayle spent the day with Curtis Jones to share his story of battling racism and breaking down barriers.
He said: “I’m beyond proud of the path that I chose, and the path that I’ve made for future footballers. And now when you look at the team, more than half of the team are black players. So, it’s a huge achievement on my behalf, and I’m just grateful that I had the chance to play an early role in it.
“At one time, because of the racism, I was talking about packing it all in. I had a strong family, they made me aware of what I was doing, how it was breaking down barriers, and it would help the next black person who may enter into Liverpool.”
Katrina Johnson-Thompson
Born in Woolton, Johnson-Thompson spent her first years of life in Nassau, Barbados before returning to live with her mum in Halewood.
She began her athletic journey almost by accident as at a sports day high jump event she broke her school’s high jump record on her first try, sparking her initial interest in athletics.
Beginning her athletic journey at 10-years-old, she went on to be world and double European champion in indoor pentathlon and in heptathlon became double world champion, double Commonwealth Games champion and an Olympic silver medallist.
After facing set-backs through injuries, Katrina told BBC Sport what Olympic success meant to her.
She said: “I can’t even describe the words that this week has taken. I’m just so, so happy that I’ve got my Olympic medal to add to my collection. It has been so hard getting back to this point so I’m just so relieved.”
John Conteh
John Conteh was a professional boxer who competed between 1971–1980. He began boxing at the age of 10 in a boxing club in Kirkby.
He became a seasoned amateur winning an array of belts and medals, including a gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games.
During 1974-78 in his professional career, he held multiple light-heavyweight championships, including the WBC title and the British, European and Commonwealth titles between 1973-74. He went on to display a career of greatness, fighting 39 times and winning 34 of them. The Liverpudlian was awarded an MBE in 2017 for services to boxing at the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
In 2019, former Kirkby ABC boxer Rob Butler spoke to MerseySportLive about the massive influence Conteh had on their gym. He said: “He was one of, if not the best light-heavyweight Britain has ever produced.”
Nikita Parris
Nikita Parris became the first black female footballer to score for six different Women’s Super league sides. From Toxteth, she began playing football at around six-years-old.
With grass-root opportunities limited for girls, she played in boys’ teams until she created her own squad, Kingsley United.
Despite being a big Liverpool fan, it was Everton who started her professional sporting career. Nikita made her professional debut against Arsenal in May 2010 at 16-years-old and has gone on to win a Women’s Champions League, Women’s Super League and UEFA Women’s Euro’s.
In an interview with Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association, Parris reflected on winning the Euro’s.
She said: “The most important thing is It shows that women and girls across the country that there is a career path in football and an opportunity to play at the highest level, compete, and win, that the main thing.
“As a team winning the Euros we wanted to inspire the next generation not just players but influence managers, coaches, referee to come into the game and make the game flourish in equality in all aspects.”
Natasha Jonas
Natasha Jones is a pioneer of women’s boxing, a two-wight world champion and one of best female boxers through history.
Brought up in Toxteth, she became the first British female boxer to compete at an Olympic game and won the British Boxing Board of Control’s 2022 British Boxer of the Year award, becoming the first women to do so. She also became the first black women to receive a manager’s license from the British Boxing Board of Control in 2023.
She told ITV.com: “All my life I’ve always believed in myself, and I’ve never allowed myself to give up.
“I’ve not consciously set out to be first to do anything, I just knew that I wanted to break down barriers and not be scared to do anything just because it hadn’t been done before.
“That being said, one thing I do like about being first is that it makes you part of history and nobody can take that away from you.”
Cliff Marshall
Everton Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Cliff Marshall.
The thoughts of everybody at Everton are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, Cliff. 💙
— Everton (@Everton) November 24, 2021
Cliff Marshal became the first black Liverpudlian to play for his boyhood team, Everton FC. Growing up on Stanhope Street in Toxteth, he impressed at youth level and signed for Everton in 1974.
He made his debut for the Toffees on the 11th of January 1975 after coming on as a substitute in a 3-0 win over Leicester in the First Division.
He told the Everton Former Players’ Foundation: “There is no better feeling in the world, you’re building up to make it in the first team and when you get that opportunity, it’s hard to describe.”
Marshall died aged 66 in November 2021.
John Barnes
Although John Barnes was born in Kingston, Jamaica, he is known as an honorary Scouser and has been treated as a hero ever since he first joined Liverpool in 1987.
Signing for £900,000, he played for the Reds for 10 years, becoming a key member in the club’s successes. Across all competitions, Barnes scored 108 goals and 99 assists whilst also representing England. He won two league titles, an FA cup, and a league cup.
Speaking to the Echo, Barnes talked about his favourite goal with the Reds.
He said: “My favourite was [against] Queens Park Rangers, I’ve scored a lot of goals but that was my favourite one.
“Particularly as Ian Rush had just gone to Juventus the season before and that was the first time that he’d come back and watched a game. As we were walking out, there was a huge roar.
“We thought it was for us, running out onto the pitch, but it was actually for Rush who was sitting in the director’s box, so we were under a bit of pressure, with me, Aldo (John Aldridge) and Peter Beardsley trying to replace him. The goal was special.”
During his career he faced racial issues and discrimination and has been vocal in support of black players and challenging racism through interviews, punditry, and guest appearances.
