Troy Townsend

Troy Donoghue Townsend MBE (born 1 August 1965^[1]) is a British anti-racism worker, broadcaster and former footballer. He is head of development at the anti-racism organisation Kick It Out, where he has worked since 2001.^[2] He was previously a youth footballer with Millwall and Crystal Palace,^[1] and later manager at Leyton, Cheshunt, and coach at Slough Town and Boreham Wood. He is a regular pundit on The Guardian's Football Weekly podcast.^[3]

Townsend has been involved with Kick It Out since 2001.^[4] In 2013, the Football Association presented him with a Grassroot Hero Award for his anti-racism work.^[5] He has been a regular pundit with The Guardian since 2021.^[3]

Townsend is the father of professional footballer Andros Townsend.^[6] His son Kurtis Townsend was in the youth team at AFC Wimbledon,^[1] but died in 2001 following a car accident while travelling to a game for Cheshunt.^[7] His nephew is footballer Colin Kazim-Richards.^[8]

Townsend was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to diversity and inclusion in association football.^[9][10]