This year Brentford FC Community Sports Trust commemorated Black History Month by telling the stories of numerous people connected to the Trust and Brentford FC.

This year's theme for Black History Month was ‘Celebrating our Sisters, Saluting our Sisters, and Honouring Matriarchs of Movements’, highlighting the crucial role that Black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities.

To begin the month, we spoke to Nia and Sofia from our Post 16 Girls Programme to learn more about their cultural heritage, backgrounds, and connection to the West London community.

When thinking about black Music and food what comes to mind? What did you grow up listening to and what foods were household staples for you?

Sofia: My mum used to make a lot of ‘Muamba’, which is an Angolan dish – which is essentially a chicken stew with ‘funge’ which is like pounded yam. Growing up we used to listen to and to be honest still do a lot of kizomba. Which is famous in Angola and a lot of southern Africa.

What were some of your earliest experiences?

Nia: Most Sunday mornings I would just wake up to my mum playing music whilst she was cleaning. I’d heard a lot of Caribbean music whilst growing up and attending family birthday parties as well.

BRENTFORD FC COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST STAFF SHARE THEIR CELEBRATIONS

Black History Month is both a time to celebrate and a time to learn about and understand Black history and culture. With this year’s theme being ‘Celebrating our Sisters, Saluting our Sisters, and Honouring Matriarchs of Movements’, we heard from staff across the Community Sports Trust to find out more about what Black History Month means to them and how they celebrate.

JOSH DASILVA DISCUSSES HIS BLACK HISTORY HEROES

As part of Black History Month, Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva sat down with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust to talk about Black History Month and what it means to him and his family.

Josh said, "I think Black History Month is important to uplift and show that we are worthy in a sense, even though we shouldn't have to. But it is a good opportunity for other cultures to understand black people and where we have come from."

BRENTFORD SUPERFAN SPEAKS TO THE TRUST

Brentford FC superfan Billy Grant was born in Isleworth and has followed Brentford for a number of years through the highs and lows.

Billy joined us at the Gtech Community Stadium to talk about the importance of Black History Month and spotlighting black culture.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION WORKSHOPS

As October drew to a close The Athletic’s Jay Harris covered the Anti-Discrimination workshops delivered by the Trust’s Primary Stars Coordinator Bevan Vincent and Brentford FC Ambassador Marcus Gayle.

Marcus said, “We talk to the children about different scenarios and the answers are varied. It’s about letting them express their views in a safe environment. Sometimes the teacher says, ‘That student never talks’, but how we set up the sessions enables the quietest children to put their hands up and have confidence to ask questions.”

BRENTFORD WELCOMES DAVID OLUSOGA

This Black History Month, Brentford FC and Brentford FC Community Sports Trust were privileged to host a staff event with British-Nigerian historian, author, presenter and BAFTA-winning film-maker David Olusoga.