Liverpool is home to one of the oldest black communities in Europe, and this October, the city has come together to celebrate Black History month with a host of special events and tours, designed to inspire and unite people together.
Sefton Park Rangers have arranged several history sessions on recurring Wednesdays, held before the team’s training sessions aimed at raising the profile of black history within the community.
These sessions have provided players and members of the wider public the opportunity to attend, learn and share their own heritage.
First team player and the coach of the Women’s Team, Gareth Thomas hailed his club’s celebration of the events.
He said: “It is great to see. Not only for the club, but for the people who play and are a part of the club. Honestly, I am just so happy to be a part of this club.”
Speaking about how events like this shape the identity of Toxteth, Thomas added: “Its big. I am from East London, so it is difficult for me to speak on Toxteth like someone from here.
“But through playing and coaching people who are from this part of Liverpool, I can see how much it means to them. Everyone is aware of the history of this area and what has gone on, so this community has been through a lot, so it is really good to see how well these events have gone.”
Elsewhere from football, a running club in Liverpool called 2Step Collective have held weekly running sessions, open to all people, helping to collate music movement and the need for creative expression to bring people together.
Held on a Wednesday evening as well as Saturday morning, the sessions welcome runners of all ability in an open, uncompetitive environment that has seen hundreds of people gather weekly.
The club, which is growing in popularity and has previously combined with New Balance Running and Adidas, the community provides its focus on giving people the license to share their stories and connect in the form of meaningful exercise.
Leader of 2Step Collective, Nadeem Freeman spoke of the recent success of his group during this year’s events.
He said: “The project has done well this year. When I set up the club a few years ago, if you told me what the group has would go on to achieve, I would have laughed in your face.
“It has been a rollercoaster, but the people make this project, and I am so happy it has brought lots of good memories to people and kept people fit at the same time.”
Toxteth has been a community shaped by hardship and perseverance. The area was at the forefront of the 1981 riots, which proved to be a defining moment, off the back of racial tension, oppression and a fight for justice.
Beyond that period, Toxteth has continued to provide a beacon of strength for the black community in Liverpool.
Footballer Curtis Jones, who grew up in the vibrant and diverse Toxteth community, took part in a project organised by Liverpool FC and the Mandela8 Foundation to celebrate the career of Toxteth-born Howard Gayle, the club’s first Black footballer.
The milestone was commemorated with a striking mural on Upper Warwick Street, serving as a powerful tribute to a significant moment in the club’s history.
Gayle, made his debut for Liverpool in October 1980 and was part of Bob Paisleys European Cup winning side in 1981, following his career best performance against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, before defeating Real Madrid in the final 1-0.
This month’s events in Toxteth have showcased that black history has continued to grow. It has also exacerbated that Liverpool’s sense of community remains united and driven to provide the foundations for a brighter future.
