Supporting this legacy campaign.

I think there are many underlying factors that underpin violence and it is no coincidence that the worse problems emanate from communities blighted by poverty and social inequality. These are the issues society needs to focus on tackling above all else!

I remember hearing the tragic news about Damilola. The absolute horror. It was hard to process. This kind of thing just did not happen in London. It was unheard of. Things were so different back then. So very different

Through the work of my own foundation I am very aware of how violence effecting young people became normalised over the two decades since Damilola died and I am so honoured to have been asked to support this legacy campaign aiming to make such a difference

I think there are many underlying factors that underpin violence and it is no coincidence that the worse problems emanate from communities blighted by poverty and social inequality. These are the issues society needs to focus on tackling above all else!

This team that has been assembled to support this campaign has so much potential to effect change. Seeing that my union the PFA had got involved alongside such an eclectic line up of youth organisations for instance really pleased me. The PFA do so much societal good behind the scenes that people rarely get to hear about!

It is fantastic to see the Metropolitan Police involved as well. The mistrust issue between the Police and Black community has long been a hot potato but we cannot allow it to be any longer, I am also an ambassador for Kick off @ 3 a sports project that gives access to play to thousands of young people each year and is run by a Metropolitan Police officer Michael Wallace. The kind of Police officer the media need to be speaking about more often!

Richard Taylor has been such an outstanding statesman and it was wonderful to be able to welcome him to my club Chelsea last season for a League cup game against his favourite team Manchester United. He was so happy when Marcus Rashford scored the winning goal that I almost forgot to be upset myself. Almost!

Out of the darkness comes the light as a great man of history once said. Hope 2020 is about celebrating the kind of young person Damilola was turning into and I am truly looking forward to playing my part in helping make it a great success!

Paul Canoville – Former English footballer