Former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi smiles, arms crossed, sitting on a teal sofa
Shola Ameobi: ‘I want to show that anything’s possible for anybody.’ Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian
Shola Ameobi: ‘I want to show that anything’s possible for anybody.’ Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian
InterviewShola Ameobi: ‘I thought: how can I be most useful to Newcastle? Then the cog started turning’Sam Dalling

From experiencing racism growing up in Newcastle to becoming a derby hero and now a member of the executive team, the former striker has been on a remarkable journey

“There were times where I feared for my life as a kid, being harassed and chased by different groups of people,” Shola Ameobi says. “There were situations where I had to sprint to get away from groups of lads who didn’t like me because of what I looked like.”