On loan Gills defender part of Kick it Out's season of action to mark 20 year anniversary
Gills defender Michael Harriman, currently on loan from Queens Park Rangers, has today (30 October) been announced as part of a new initiative, entitled the Next 20, launched by Kick It Out to champion 20 young football stars across the Premier League, Football League and Women’s Super League (WSL).The Next 20, which was introduced as part of the organisation’s ‘Season of Action’ to mark its 20 year anniversary, will see players including Michael, Arsenal full-back Carl Jenkinson, Sheffield United centre-back Harry Maguire and Everton Ladies star Toni Duggan raise awareness of Kick It Out through a varied set of activities within the community.
The 21-year-old, who made his debut for parent club QPR in 2011 against Rochdale, believes the Next 20 initiative is an important step in eradicating discrimination from the game.
“Kick It Out has made great strides in the 20 years it has been campaigning,” said Michael. “This initiative will help its aim through the influence and experiences the players have.”
Lord Herman Ouseley, Chair of Kick It Out, is thankful that Michael and a host of others have decided to back the Next 20 programme and help progress the work of Kick It Out.
He said: “We have had great ambassadors over our 20 years of campaigning and we believe this generation of young footballers will help us in rooting out discriminatory behaviour in the game.”
Here is the list of the Next 20 players in full:
Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal FC)
Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal Ladies FC)
Danny Rose (Barnsley FC)
Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers FC)
Dylan Lall (Brighton & Hove Albion FC)
Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea FC on loan at Nottingham Forest FC)
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea FC on loan at Everton FC)
Callum Wilson (Coventry City FC)
Toni Duggan (Everton Ladies FC)
Andre Wisdom (Liverpool FC on loan at Derby County FC)
Daniel Powell (MK Dons FC)
Gael Bigirimana (Newcastle United FC)
Nathan Redmond (Norwich City FC)
Jamaal Lascelles (Nottingham Forest FC)
Michael Harriman (Queens Park Rangers FC on loan at Gillingham FC)
Harry Maguire (Sheffield United FC)
Jack Butland (Stoke City FC on loan at Barnsley FC)
Ben Davies (Swansea City FC)
Wesley Foderingham (Swindon Town FC)
Romaine Sawyers (Walsall FC)