Spencer Weir-Daley is a former professional footballer whose journey exemplifies resilience, representation, and community impact. He played for clubs like Nottingham Forest and Notts County, and represented Montserrat internationally in the Nations League.

Now, Spencer runs his own coaching business, S10 Future Stars, and stays closely connected to his roots through Highfield Rangers, the local club where he grew up.

What is your favourite footballing memory?

I would say it’s between two. My first one was scoring on my league debut for Nottingham Forest. I felt like that goal I scored wasn’t just about that day—it was 10 years of work. I got signed as a 10-year-old, and then I was 19, going on 20, when I scored on my debut for Nottingham Forest.

The other one was when I scored quite a good goal against Belize in the Nations League for Montserrat, which made it the first time that the country had beaten a Central American opposition. Those are my two proudest moments.

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Spencer after scoring against Gillingham on his Football League debut for Nottingham Forest

Who were your role models growing up?

In general, my family—grandma, mum, dad. I always look to them. Our area wasn’t the most affluent, but I had a good family.

As far as football idols, I was a Man United fan. Andy Cole—he was my idol. I liked the way he played. I feel like he was doubted a bit, but he was always a top player, and I used that strength as well to emulate his game and play in that position.

How important is representation in football?

It’s massive. It’s something that I’ve seen in my career that helped me, but also something I was lacking as well. As I get older, I feel that I didn’t have enough Black representation from players, managers, and senior people who understood Black culture.

Sometimes people can be intimidated or not understand—there is racism in the game. So it’s massively important, without even thinking, to see a coach or a manager that looks like yourself and might have gone through the same struggles and have the same sort of interests and culture.

What more can be done to support Black Players

I would say, obviously, we need to try and support ourselves. Take courses, learning—education is the main thing. And just understanding from a young age the way to conduct yourself, and things about the game. Just as a whole community, learning is the way forward, putting yourself in positions, and then it’s a whole process of being pushed forward.

This year’s Black History Month theme, “Reclaiming Narratives,” marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture. By emphasising this theme, we shine a brighter light on stories, allegories, and histories that underscore our commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage.

To learn more, visit here.

Join us as we celebrate and honour the achievements of the Black community across Leicestershire and Rutland this month.