First team coach Paul Nevin and commercial executive Akinola Fashola have both been named on The Football Black List for 2022.

The  List shines a light on the most influential black figures in English football and the Hammers duo are among 42 individuals nominated for this year.

Among the Premier League players also on the list are Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, managers Patrick Vieira and Vincent Kompany, along with former Lioness Lianne Sanderson.

Deji Davies, Non-Executive Director at Brentford FC, the only black board member at a Premier League club, Les Ferdinand, the only black Director of Football in the game, and FA Board member – and one-time Hammers player – Jobi McAnuff also make the list.

The list was founded by sports journalists Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds in 2008, highlights leaders working across all areas of the game from the black community.

A panel of experts drawn from the football industry and the black community independently vote on nominations made by the public to determine who makes the list, which is divided into eight categories – administration, coaching and management, commercial, community, players, LGBTQ+, media and practitioners.

The Ugo Ehiogu ‘Ones to Watch’ category – which identifies talented, young people in the industry under 30 years of age – is also released alongside the main list.

Nevin has been a vital part of David Moyes’ staff since February 2020, following coaching spells with the likes of Fulham, New Zealand Knights, Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion.

The former Shrewsbury Town, Carlisle United and Yeovil Town player also rejoined Gareth Southgate’s England coaching staff for a second spell in September 2021, helping the Three Lions qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage.

Fashola, a partnerships manager in the Club’s commercial team, has been with the Hammers for more than three years, having previously worked at Birmingham City.

ClaretandHugh says: Well done the Hammers. There has been much discussion about how few black individuals are involved in the game and that the hammers are now among those who can count them among their staff is admirable. It’s good to see but not many would disagree that there’s a way to go before  see better representation in football. However, we are highlighting those leading the way. We are proud of these individuals and the impact they are making. However, it’s great to see the Hammers playing their part in making the club more inclusive.