Her Story: Shannon, AFC Leyton First Team Player

Shannon, AFC Leyton First Team Player
Age: 26
Position: Left Winger/Striker
This year’s theme, “Reclaiming Heritage,” holds deep personal significance for me. My heritage traces back to the Windrush generation, when my great-grandmother and grandfather arrived in England from Jamaica. Football runs through our family, with my great-uncle Laurie Cunningham’s legacy serving as a key inspiration. As the first Black British player to represent Real Madrid, one of Europe’s most prestigious football clubs, his achievements, despite his untimely passing in the 1980s, have fueled my own passion to drive change in the sport.
As a player for AFC Leyton and Director of Player Engagement at Hackney Laces Football Club, I am committed to creating safe and empowering spaces for young ethnic minority girls to build confidence and realize their potential in football, regardless of the challenges they may face. Through this, I strive to carry forward my heritage and contribute to the excellence that can emerge from it.