Quote Originally Posted by Old_pie View Post
To make it clear the OP referred to is the OP of the merged "Racism at Notts County" thread. I started this thread because I was hoping to understand whether folk thought the initiative was likely to have any positive benefit for the club. The club seems to think so as they appear proud of the fact.

I find some of the tones in this merged thread quite disturbing. I'm not sure if I'm classed as a "white privileged" person; many might perceive my being one such but a bit further enquiry will reveal a background of working class parents, shifts (Dad) and factory (foreign Mum) work whose extended UK family seem to think I'm aloof (not I'm not) because I was the first of a rather large family to make it to University. But I was not alone, I was not very much in a minority and the "sausage" machine, together with an ambitious mother who wanted better for her son, churned me out and into a good job.

Not all people have that easy a ride. Black people (I was olive) were few and far between when I was at school, in fact I didn't encounter a black person until university. Single parent families were a rarity, and carried a stigma. There must be lots of untapped talent that just needs a break in all works of life who don't even think they are worth it. Many women underacheive because they have no self belief and no role model at home.

I find it disappointing to hear the fear and cry "unfair", "foul" in this thread. LincsPie's https://boards.footymad.net/showthre...5#post40501785 with the link to the offical government guidance on the issue covers the the issue in depth and for me is summarised in its

" 5. What is the difference between positive action and positive discrimination?

Positive action is not positive discrimination. Positive discrimination is unlawful in Great Britain"

I trust the club to be doing the right thing for the right reasons and with an eye of gaining some benefit out of the scheme.

Any boys and gals feeling put down by some of the comments here - rise above it and for those being negative, why should I even have to make that statement!

And yes, there will be many non-minority white male folk who also need a break, but I don't believe they face the same discriminatory issues.
Excellent post. Ultimately the club is taking advantage of the ability to employ an additional member of staff ( who will be coaching 13/14 year olds) at zero cost on a fixed term contract ( if you read the details). That member of staff at direction of the program sponsor ( The Premier League) needs to be from an under represented race or whatever you want to call it. I just don't see what the big issue is. I mean the alternative is that nobody gets employed as far as I can see as the program will not exist. I would imagine there will be a ton of applicants for this role and we will be spoilt for choice. I think it is great we are building links with the premier league and getting a free probably talented member of staff. But then I didn't come from much I can tell you now and I've had to graft for everything I have which is now not inconsiderable but it wasn't always like that. I do count myself as a priviledged white man.