Trent Alexander-Arnold wins Sports Personality of the Year at the HSBC UK Ethnicity Awards

Trent Alexander-Arnold has scooped a major award for his involvement with the recently launched Football for Change UK initiative and his support for the international Black Lives Matter movement.

The Liverpool right-back has won the Sports Personality of the Year accolade at the HSBC UK Ethnicity Awards.

He was part of a number of football stars including Everton’s Anthony Gordon and Jamie Carragher to launch the charitable initiative, which seeks to break down the social and economic barriers preventing young people achieving their potential. Football for Change will focus its efforts in some of the poorest parts of the region.

It will support young people into education, employment or training through a variety of high profile fundraising events.

The Liverpool and England superstar became a patron of Liverpool-based community organisation Mandela8 this year. He also demanded “meaningful change”following the death of George Flloyd in the United States.

The Ethnicity Awards awards recognise Black and minority ethnic role models. Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford will also be honoured with a special recognition award for his successful campaign for free school meals. He has also campaigned against online racist abuse.

Little Mix stars Jade Thirwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock won awards for taking part in Lonodn’s black Lives Matter protests and music legend, Craig David, won the Media Impact accolade.

Alexander-Arnold said:

“I am proud and honoured to receive such a special award especially in a year when so much has been going on around the world. I was proud to be a part of the BLM movement.”

Speaking about Football for Change in August, Trent Alexander-Arnold, said:

“Football for Change is about helping young people onto a positive path. It is footballers and football fans coming together with a goal to help improve the life chances and opportunities of young people from some of the most challenged neighbourhoods in the country. It is needed more than ever and I am proud to be part of it.”

It’s a goal! @TrentAA is our Sports Personality of the year! 🏅 🏅 #EthnicityAwards pic.twitter.com/nDO8ZNee2e

— Ethnicity Awards / Investing in Ethnicity (@EthnicityInvest) December 10, 2020

Ethnicity Awards founder, Sarah Garrett MBE, said:

“Trent Alexander Arnold is incredibly deserving of this award. He is a fantastic sports role model and, though initiatives like Football for Change, has used his platform to shine a light on issues facing young people who have been disenfranchised by social challenges in some of the poorest parts of the country. He has also campaigned against racism in football and was a high profile advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement.

It has been a pivotal and poignant year for people from racially diverse backgrounds. These awards are about celebrating their achievements.”

Find out more about Football For Change here.