Lincoln Moses MBE

07Nov09

This is probably the best of my interviews yet; this fascinating man gave me so much excellent material to work with that I couldn’t go wrong. Originally featured in my Midlands Non League Monthly magazine and on my football blog, this is the pick of my university articles:

Around 30 years ago, a teenager by the name of Lincoln Moses trudged into the boxing ring. He looked up at the man standing opposite him, a fearsome serviceman more than double his age and twice the size, his hateful eyes burning through his young opponent.

The fight began, the serviceman pounding the teenager, venting his anger and channelling his fury into every punch. The young Lincoln simply took it, and waited for his moment to strike back. Just when the serviceman thought he had taught the boy a lesson, he felt a crushing blow to his head. Lincoln had kicked him. However, instead of being commended for his tenacity and fighting spirit, the teenager spent a day in a police cell.

That was when Lincoln Moses decided to leave the army for good, and pursue his love of football and leading people. What was a terrifying experience at the time turned out to be a pivotal point in his life, at a time when options were limited for young black boys like himself.

“The only options for boys like me back then were either a low paid and unskilled job, college, or drugs.

“At 16 I decided to join the Army because of these lack of opportunities. There was so much racism though; some of the sergeants and commanding officers despised me, but I took any punishments in my stride such as the fight against the serviceman. They just did that to test my character, but after that I knew it was time to leave”.

After the army he started to play football, and whilst working at a brass company he discovered his passion for leading others and making a difference.

“I was on several trade union committees, and despite the racism I learnt to stick at it, because people were starting to realise my potential”.

Racism hindered Lincoln throughout his early career, especially when he helped to form the country’s first all-black football team, Continental Star, in 1973. The club was prevented from joining any leagues however simply because of the colour of its players. In 1975 it was eventually invited into the Birmingham Works League, and that was when Lincoln, now General Manager, began to build the club into a social enterprise.

After much success during the eighties the first team were moved to the Midland Combination League in 1993, which is where they remain today. Whilst football is still a top priority – the club boast football teams ranging from Under 7’s to Over 35’s and a women’s team – the social aspect of the club is what makes it so unique.

Lincoln said: “There is no cut-off point for joining Continental Star, we take in people of all ages. We have a women’s group for unemployed and single mothers. We arrange a lot of after-school activities such as homework clubs where kids get one-to-one help. We also take them on trips and provide free food.”

Part of Lincoln’s motivation for setting up Continental Star was the amount of gang warfare and crime within Birmingham at the time, and though little has changed, Lincoln feels he has helped many disadvantaged people build new lives for themselves.

“Gangs have been going on since the 18th Century, but nowadays I think the influence of television and music has made it more widespread. Drugs and the stranglehold it has on people have resulted in the gangs we see today. It is a city-wide problem which is getting out of control.

“Drugs and gangs will always be there, but I think football is the vehicle for change. As a football club and a social enterprise, we have been helping kids get off the streets and find jobs since the 1980s.”

His determination to help the underprivileged in Birmingham, and his ethos of promoting a healthy lifestyle and good education was what led him to recognition in this year’s Queen’s Honours List. All of this is achieved without much funding.

So why doesn’t every non-league club do what Continental Star have, and use football as a platform for change? Lincoln thinks it is asking a bit too much, especially given the current economic climate.

“Other non-league clubs haven’t followed in our footsteps simply because they haven’t got the capacity and knowledge, but I understand where they are coming from. At the moment it is hard for these clubs to stay afloat.”


Filed under: Uncategorized   |  Leave a Comment

Midlands Non League Monthly

07Nov09

This was my final year degree project. The magazine (including photos, copy and layout) was created entirely by myself. It is currently embedded into its own website (also created by myself), which you can see at www.mnlm.co.uk.


Filed under: Uncategorized   |  Leave a Comment