Shola Ameobi recounts childhood racist abuse and explains Newcastle executive role

Shola Ameobi has described fearing for his safety because of racist abuse while growing up in Newcastle, in a Guardian interview published on Thursday. The former Newcastle United striker, now the club's head of corporate affairs, recalled being chased by groups of people after moving from Nigeria to the city at the age of six.

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Ameobi said those experiences affected everyday journeys during the late 1980s and 1990s, including trips between his family home near St James' Park and Newcastle's former training base at Benwell. He told the newspaper that he had to remain alert to his surroundings, but that the experiences also helped him develop resilience and a sense of self-worth independent of other people's attitudes.

His playing career at Newcastle brought 79 goals in 397 appearances, including seven against Sunderland. Since July, he has served as head of corporate affairs after spending seven years as the club's loans coordinator. He explained that his responsibilities include building external relationships and strengthening the club's connections with the region through civic, sporting and community engagement.

According to the Guardian, the move followed chief executive David Hopkinson's 100-day review. Ameobi did not immediately accept the proposed change, instead seeking a clearer understanding of how the job would work. He took the position after six months of discussions, drawing on experience gained from establishing and developing the loans department during Mike Ashley's ownership.

Ameobi also described the contribution of the Premier League's player-to-executive pathways scheme, which began as a pilot in 2022 to help people from underrepresented groups move into senior roles. He was among its first seven participants and said the programme helped him recognise how his existing skills could transfer into executive work. He has been part of the league's Black participants advisory group since its formation in 2019.

The former forward traced his interest in life beyond playing to hip surgery in November 2006, when uncertainty about his recovery prompted him to consider other ways of contributing to Newcastle. Ameobi, who also holds a master's degree in strategic leadership, said he wants his progression from academy player to executive to help inspire the next generation.