Whelan picks up award
The Football Black List honoured Tony Whelan for his contribution to the sport during an event held in Manchester on Thursday.
United Academy stalwart Whelan was recognised at a ceremony designed to celebrate exceptional work in the region, with Joe Thompson, a Red in his youth and now pundit on MUTV, also collecting an award.
Whelan, our Academy programme advisor, attended the dinner at the National Football Museum in the city centre.
A really emotional moment to see my great friend and mentor Tony Whelan receive a special award at the @FootieBlackList awards pic.twitter.com/otLUzXsnvf
— Paul McGuinness (@Paulmcg8) September 30, 2022
The Football Black List was founded in 2008 by journalists Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds, with a view to shining a light on the pioneering and inspirational work being undertaken across the industry by black professionals.
“Black excellence in football is regularly talked about on the pitch," explained Mann in the past. "And we want to help highlight the contribution of Black leaders off the field in the sport, too."
Marcus Rashford was recognised for his incredible off-field efforts last year, along with Manchester United Foundation's Andrew Lawlor and Justin Cochrane, who has since moved to Brentford.
Ex-United Under-18s coach Paul McGuinness posted on social media to say it was a "very emotional night seeing my great friend and mentor presented with a special award by Fraizer Campbell, Aaron Burns and Joe Thompson, players he helped develop alongside Dave Bushell and Eamon Mulvey."
Congratulations to Tony from everybody at United for the award!