Troy Townsend

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Troy Donoghue Townsend MBE (born 1 August 1965 [1] ) is a British anti-racism worker, broadcaster and former footballer. He is head of development at the anti-racism organisation Kick It Out, where he has worked since 2001. [2] He was previously a youth footballer with Millwall and Crystal Palace, [1] and later manager at Leyton, Cheshunt, and coach at Slough Town and Boreham Wood. He is a regular pundit on The Guardian's Football Weekly podcast. [3]

Townsend has been involved with Kick It Out since 2001. [4] In 2013, the Football Association presented him with a Grassroot Hero Award for his anti-racism work. [5] He has been a regular pundit with The Guardian since 2021. [3]

Townsend is the father of professional footballer Andros Townsend. [6] His son Kurtis Townsend was in the youth team at AFC Wimbledon, [1] but died in 2001 following a car accident while travelling to a game for Cheshunt. [7] His nephew is footballer Colin Kazim-Richards. [8]

Townsend was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to diversity and inclusion in association football. [9] [10]

Townsend has been known to defend anti-LBGTQ+ footballers who discriminate based on their Muslim faith.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Rushden, Max; Glendenning, Barry; Townsend, Troy; Grove, Joel; Stephens, Danielle (27 June 2023). "The life and times of Troy Townsend – Football Weekly". the Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Tweet posted October 27 2021". Kick it Out. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Troy Townsend". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Kick It Out's Townsend: 'We are fed up with hashtags' in fight against racist abuse". ESPN . 28 April 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "ANDROS AND TROY TOWNSEND TO MAKE FA CUP DRAW ON SUNDAY". 24 January 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Father of Crystal Palace Winger Andros Townsend Slams West Brom's Appointment of Alan Pardew". 90min.com. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  7. ↑ Shepherd, Sarah. "'The worst thing was having to ring his mum' – Troy Townsend on the death of his son Kurtis". The Athletic. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. ↑ Brewin, Joe (9 January 2017). "Interview: "I'm not the Coca-Cola Kid – I'm Colin Kazim-Richards" From Bury to Brazil with football's misunderstood globetrotter". FourFourTwo . Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  9. ↑ "No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N26.
  10. ↑ "Emilia Clarke, Paul Hollywood and Shirley Bassey among stars on new year honours list". The Independent. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
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