In episode two, Corey and Mayowa are joined by Jordan Henderson, one of the most influential leaders in the game, to speak about the new responsibility football players are embracing to make the world a better place. 2020 was the year where pro ballers stood up, made their voice heard, and took action to improve the lives of the people they represent. From Marcus Rashford’s food poverty campaign to Wilfred Zaha’s pledge to accommodate NHS workers during the pandemic, players represented the best of our society in an immensely difficult time – and Jordan Henderson was no different. The Liverpool captain created the PlayersTogether initiative which saw athletes from across clubs and leagues join together to make donations for the NHS, and last year he spoke passionately in Anton Ferdinand’s BBC documentary about racism in football. Hendo is a leading light among a generation of players who are finally squashing the “stick to football” narrative. He joined ‘The Future of Football’ to talk about why it’s right for players to speak up on issues they care about, what’s changed within football to make this a possibility, and what else the game needs to do to tackle inequality once and for all.
