NAT-STORY2-201023-ND-Black History Month: Donervon Daniels talks being captain of a Football League Team and inspiring the next generation
An interview with the Captain of Walsall FC
Transcript
00:00 Donovan, thank you for coming out today and joining me for a bit of a chat. Now I'd like
00:07 to just start by saying that you're a bit of a celebrity, aren't you? And you're quite
00:12 rare in that you don't see many captains who are black in the world of professional football
00:18 today. Can you tell me about your journey and how you landed that top job?
00:23 Born and raised in Montserrat. My family left the Caribbean because of the volcano on the
00:30 island. Migrated to London, East London, Hackney. And lived there until I was about 15. And
00:43 obviously played football. Football was always my escape plan, if I could use that terminology.
00:51 And luckily for me, I was half decent at it and found myself here at Walsall. And we kind
01:01 of met at a perfect time, myself and Walsall. And it allowed me to fall in love with the
01:08 game again.
01:09 OK, Donovan, we are on the Black Sabbath bench right in the heart of Birmingham, within your
01:17 community. How does it feel to be here?
01:19 It feels good. It's a different scene to where it was before. It's nice to be in my own clothes.
01:28 Now whether you realise it or not, you are a role model. What does it feel like to be
01:33 displayed as a role model?
01:35 Sometimes it's a little bit surreal. I've got to take a moment to appreciate that. And
01:42 it's something that I take great pride in.
01:44 So what would you say to, say, a young black boy watching this interview now with aspirations
01:51 to be where you are in your career in a few years' time?
01:55 Just believe in yourself. There will be obstacles. There will be injuries. There will be setbacks,
02:03 sidewalk steps, doubters. But there will also be believers. There will also be people encouraging
02:10 you.
02:11 Every year during October, it's a celebration and recognition of black history. But what
02:16 does it personally mean to you?
02:18 I learned about black history really young. It was something I'd spoken about in my household
02:24 from my mum. I grew up watching so many incredible athletes, the Muhammad Ali's, the Martin Luther
02:33 King's. They're teaching all stuff in school. But black history, personally, it's just family,
02:42 where I'm from. But it's a feeling. For me, black history isn't just a month. It's a forever
02:49 thing. It's an everyday thing. And it's a feeling that I carry with me and try to create
02:55 a little bit of myself each and every day.
02:58 It's been an absolute pleasure talking to you today. Thank you very much.
03:02 Thank you for having me.
03:03 Thank you.
03:03 - Thanks, Chet.