Pair hailed 'everyday heroes' in Brown book

Kevin Tittlerton and Desbon Bushuri Rubamba are spotlighted for their work for the Football Unites, Racism Divides movement which was born in the city in the mid-1990s.

They are among a select group of 33 people featured in Mr Brown's book, which features the stories of ordinary folk who are making a difference in their communities.

"They're the kind of heroes who live next door, and in the next street, and throughout our neighbourhoods - the kind of heroes we might ourselves become," Mr Brown said.

Kevin has been a part of the campaign since its early days, getting involved after he spoke at Sheffield United's annual general meeting about the issue of racism in football.

Desbon meanwhile is a skilful player and talented coach who arrived in the UK as an 18-year-old asylum seeker from the African nation of Burundi.

Kevin said he became part of FURD because he was concerned that United were in the heart of a Sharrow community where many black and Asian people lived - but few ever came to a match.

"I found they were almost under siege on match days - they either went out for the day or locked their doors, I thought 'this isn't right'.

"Through Football Unites, there was an opportunity to join something as a volunteer and try to redress the situation, which obviously I was up for," Kevin said.

He helped develop Streetkick - a wooden panelled transportable football pitch which can be taken around the city to stage mini-tournaments.

A more modern version with an inflatable pitch has toured internationally and was even used during last year's World Cup in Germany.

"It's such a great platform for getting any message across, not just anti-racism but sportsmanship and anti-drugs messages too," Kevin said.

Desbon, who is now 25, found a flat close to Bramall Lane when he came to Britain and soon got involved in FURD.

A footballer in Burundi, he had a trial with the Blades but when he wasn't offered a contract, was signed for Matlock Town instead.

He is now a paid worker with FURD as a community football coach, working with young people who are at risk of slipping into crime by engaging them in sport.

"We coach them in sport, and we also give them confidence to say 'I'm going to be a better person'," Desbon said.

In his book Mr Brown says he finds Desbon's story particularly moving because as well as helping others, he has been able to build a new life for himself too.

"When I arrived in this country, I didn't know anybody - no colleagues, no family, not anything. Now I've got a family, I have a wife and we have a child. It's an honour and a privilege to be in this country and this is where I belong now," Desbon added.