Stormzy and adidas Football Launch #Merky FC

U.K. rap and grime star Stormzy and adidas Football have just announced the launch of their collaborative venture #Merky FC — a careers program that is committed to enhancing and protecting diverse representation in the football industry.

Stormzy — who is due to drop his third studio album This Is What I Mean on November 25 — has a number of non-music ventures, such as #Merky books, which is a publishing imprint that gives both establishing and rising Black authors the platform to succeed. In addition to this, Big Mikey also has his #Merky Foundation which each year, financially supports Black students to allow them to attend the University of Cambridge — one of the U.K.’s most prestigious schools.

With this being said, Stormzy’s latest initiative will now see the life-long Manchester United fan move into the world of football with #Merky FC. The initiative will provide access to U.K.-based football career opportunities and mentoring, while adidas and 10 industry-leading brands will also offer work placements within their business in a bid to change the game. And while #Merky FC is open to all, applications are specifically encouraged to come from candidates aged 18-24 who identify as Black or mixed Black heritage.

The launch of the new football initiative has surfaced following research that has been commissioned by adidas in collaboration with FARE Network. It has revealed that just 6.7% of senior roles in football are taken by someone who identifies as Black or mixed Black heritage. Moreover, it has also been discovered that 64% of Black British young people aspire to be professional footballers, yet only 0.012% will make it as Premier League professionals.

Candidates can visit the official #Merky FC website to be a part of the nationwide application process now.