A Collective Responsibility

Ivan Liburd, England

England Football and Goal Click have teamed up to create a powerful storytelling series spotlighting how grassroots clubs across England bring The FA’s five pillars of Respect the Standard to life. Nine clubs throughout the country have shared the behaviour-focused initiatives they take to promote positive change.

Ivan Liburd’s multifaceted role at Leicester Nirvana across coaching, communications and mentorship gives him the unique opportunity to reinforce positive messaging throughout every area of the club.

My name is Ivan Liburd and I am 50 years old. I was born and raised in Leicester, in what was once the ‘ghetto’ area of the city. Growing up in the mid-80s in an inner-city environment marked by concrete and poverty, football was a vital escape for me. 

At the time, it felt free to kick a ball around, and I found my first opportunities to play on the school playground and at the Red Star Youth Club in the Highfields area of Leicester. This youth club began organising team training and eventually entered a league. It became a significant part of my youth, as I grew up a stone’s throw from the club. My journey through these formative years was both a blessing and a curse; while I formed lasting bonds and friendships with my teammates, I also encountered the harsh realities of racism.

I recall a moment during a game when someone shouted from the sidelines, "Go back to where you came from; go back to the jungle." This behaviour not only resonated throughout the crowd but also influenced other players, who began to repeat the same hateful message on the pitch. 

Although we had the opportunity to win the battle through goals, it became painfully clear that we were unlikely to win the war for justice. This incident, among others, profoundly shaped my perspective and fuelled my passion for championing anti-discrimination practices in football today. It remains a driving force behind my belief in displaying positive behaviours within the sport.

Beyond Boundaries

I am proud to be associated with Leicester Nirvana, a grassroots club renowned for its remarkable diversity, with members from over 70 countries. Through football, we have created an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome. 

The values of Leicester Nirvana are deeply rooted in inclusivity, community and empowerment. We pride ourselves on being one of the most diverse clubs in the region.

Teammates and coaches embody these values through their everyday actions and interactions. Our coaches serve not just as leaders on the pitch; they are mentors who prioritise the development of young players both as footballers and as individuals. 

My role within the club is multifaceted as I serve as a trustee, coach, Sustainable Development Goals Champion, website communications and press officer, treasurer, and mentor. This diverse set of responsibilities allows me to contribute holistically to the mission of the club to ‘use football as a vehicle to empower and provide opportunities for all young people and communities.’

What truly sets Leicester Nirvana apart is our unwavering commitment to community and our ability to unite individuals beyond the boundaries of religion or race. 

Our journey has not been without challenges; we have faced early years marked by racism and social unrest. However, we have emerged as one of the most progressive grassroots football clubs in the country, proactively challenging discrimination in football. We prioritise the advocacy and well-being of our members.

Once the youth are engaged, the possibilities become endless. One role model who recently demonstrated this is Akil Howson, an ex-Leicester Nirvana player who famously became the second Black official in Premier League history. Many of our players have progressed to professional academies and furthered their careers in the sport as players, officials or coaches.

Changing The System

In 2014, Leicester Nirvana coach Antoin Akpom was a victim of knife crime which spurred the club on to support a city-wide knife crime and serious violence strategy to prevent and reinforce our position that we do not condone violence.

Antoin was a volunteer coach who was loved by all. To honour him, we now dedicate an award in his name every year for volunteers who go above and beyond.

People can experience racial trauma from something that happens directly to them or from seeing others mistreated because of their race. Coverage of events caused by racial discrimination in the media can also be upsetting, and repeated viewing or frequent media accounts can amplify those feelings.

We have coaches with residual trauma from the days when they were racially abused playing the game, meaning they are triggered by any signs of potential discrimination. This can be difficult to deal with and we have had to keep a constant dialogue with them, oftentimes with another person present to ease the tension.

We knew we had to promote positive behaviours while standing up to racism. If we wanted to change the system, we needed to change the way we reacted to the issues. We challenged all of football to do better, and after a landmark racial case, we sparked a national movement and the club worked with the highest Black judge in the land, Peter Herbert, and the Society of Black Lawyers to start lobbying for change. 

As our club started to attend discussions and be involved in campaigns, our members slowly started to take a more system-wide approach to challenges and a shift in behaviours started to take place internally. 

As we stood up for what we believed in, club and community members took pride in our stance as well. It was as if people were waiting for a club to challenge the status quo. Our players soon realised that if we set an expectation of behaviour, they had better live up to their end of the bargain.

Reinforcing The Good

At Leicester Nirvana, we are deeply committed to influencing positive behaviour both on and off the pitch. A significant part of our approach involves mentoring individuals within the club. We focus on instilling messages that set clear expectations regarding discipline and behaviour among our members. 

We actively encourage participation in wider projects that reinforce good behaviours and create a sense of responsibility. For instance, we hold Continuing Professional Development sessions on the four corner models of The FA, run a WhatsApp group to promote positive parental behaviour and hold internal awards of recognition for those going above and beyond.

By raising awareness of the social action campaigns led by the club, we empower young players to take part, reinforcing the message that Leicester Nirvana is a club that genuinely cares and embodies strong values.

Vital Resources

At Leicester Nirvana, we are actively engaged with several initiatives from The FA that support us in creating positive behaviour within our club environment. One key initiative we rely on is the Play Safe campaign, which emphasises the importance of safeguarding children and young people in football. This campaign provides us with essential resources and guidance on best practices for ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all our members. By promoting Play Safe, we create a culture of trust and accountability, ensuring that players, coaches, and parents are all aware of safeguarding policies and procedures.

Additionally, we incorporate The FA’s Respect programme, which aims to promote respectful behaviour among players, coaches, referees, and spectators. This initiative encourages everyone involved in the game to respect each other, reinforcing our commitment to positivity and good sportsmanship. Through Continuing Professional Development, we engage our members in discussions about the importance of respect on and off the pitch.

Another vital resource is The FA’s England Accreditation programme, which helps clubs develop a framework for good governance, quality coaching, and a positive culture. This initiative has guided us in setting clear behavioural expectations and implementing policies that promote inclusivity, respect, and community involvement within our club. 

These expectations are based on respect lines, parent behaviour, and safeguarding. We are now teaching and pushing gender inclusivity as we show the boys that we have space for women and girls in football too.

The Power To Be Great

Looking forward, we hope to further our No Racism campaign, as racism is still prevalent in both the professional and grassroots game. We will build relationships with the wider football community to break down barriers and stereotypes about who we are as a club.

We aim to nurture good humans, a benefit that often goes underrated. Through our efforts, we are shaping the leaders of tomorrow while building a sense of community and belonging.

Ultimately, the message we want to share is that we have the power to be great, and that power lies within all of us. We strive to be not just a football club, but a supportive family that champions positive change and inspires people.