The first ever edition of VERSUS 50 has arrived in partnership with Chivas Regal, celebrating the individuals who are rising up to shape new football culture.

The beautiful game is now the most influential force in culture and society – impacting the worlds of music, style, art, activism, sustainability, equality and more like never before – and VERSUS 50 is a chance to recognise the people who have made this possible.

Headlining our ‘Class of 2024’ are four people who have done incredible things to make football a more creative and inclusive space: Foday Dumbuya, Diana Al Shammari, Calum Jacobs and Miriam Walker-Khan.

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As founder and creative director of LABRUM, Foday has revolutionised the intersection of football and fashion with his brand, collaborating with Arsenal on this season’s away kit and recently hosting LABRUM’s London Fashion Week show at Emirates Stadium.

Diana Al Shammari a.k.a. ‘The Football Gal’ is an Iraqi-born designer and embroiderer who has created some of the most hyped and limited jerseys in recent years, including a bespoke Nigo x adidas Japan third jersey for Jules Koundé.

Calum Jacobs is a critically acclaimed writer and author who has helped to document the Black experience in football. After starting his own platform CARICOM in 2019, he released seminal book ‘A New Formation: How Black Footballers Made the Modern Game’ via #MERKY Books.

Miriam Walker-Khan is a journalist, broadcaster and community leader who formed ‘Brown Girl Sport’, an online platform and community that represents South Asian women and girls in sport via content, events, support and more.

All four took part in a shoot to reveal the first VERSUS 50 award, which will be received by everyone who made the inaugural ‘Class of 2024’ alongside a personalised bottle of Chivas Regal 12. The final list of 50 was selected by VERSUS and Chivas Regal from more than 1,000 public nominations.

While VERSUS 50 is inspired by football’s influence off-pitch, our ‘Class of 2024’ features a string of active and former players who used their platform to move the game forward. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eberechi Eze, Raheem Sterling and Lotte Wubben-Moy all feature for their community work, while Ian Wright, Hector Bellerin, Daniel Sturridge and Alex Iwobi all receive an award for helping to make football more culturally progressive. Leah Williamson and Katie McCabe are both nominated for their undeniable influence on gender equality in the game.

Football’s relationship with fashion continues to grow and the likes of KidSuper’s Colm Dillane, NIVELCRACK’s Shinjae Lee, and designers Saedaah Haque and Hattie Crowther all receive recognition. In music, Conducta, Kamakaze, Guvna B and Lil C are honoured.

Among the individuals honoured for their contributions to social impact are Football Beyond Borders founder Jack Reynolds, Girls United’s Romina Calatayud, Banaat FC’s Budreya Faisal and BCOMS founder Leon Mann.

The first VERSUS 50 with Chivas Regal is in full below. Find out more about each winner here.‍

‍Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool and England

Akua Agyemfra, Cultural Strategist

Diana Al Shammari, Founder of The Football Gal

Ceylon Andi Hickman, Community and Cultural Leader

Andy Ansah, Founder and CEO of Sports On Screen

Elliot Arthur Worsop, Founder of Football For Future

Héctor Bellerín, Betis and Spain

Romina Calatayud, Founder and CEO of Girls United‍

‍Lucy Clark, Manager and Former Referee

Conducta, DJ

Hattie Crowther, Fashion Designer

Colm Dillane, Founder of KidSuper

Aaron Dolores, Founder of Black Arrow

Foday Dumbuya, Founder of LABRUM

Eberechi Eze, Crystal Palace and England

Budreya Faisal, Founder of Banaat FC‍

‍Shameek Ashley Farrell, Founder of The Goalposts League‍

‍Émile-Samory Fofana, Fashion Designer‍

‍Guvna B, Rapper and Author‍

‍Ellis Gilbert, Cultural Leader‍

‍Nubaid Haroon, Broadcaster‍

‍Saeedah Haque, Fashion Designer‍

‍Sophie Hird, Fashion Designer‍

‍Ryan Hunn, Founder of Stadio‍

‍Alex Iwobi, Fulham and Nigeria

‍Rebecca James, Founder of Limitless Sports Consultancy‍

‍Calum Jacobs, Writer and Author‍

‍Kamakaze, Rapper and Pro Player‍

‍Shinjae Lee, Founder of NIVELCRACK‍

‍Lil C, DJ‍

‍Nicole Lockwood-West, Playwright‍

‍Tosin Makinde, Producer and Content Creator‍

‍Leon Mann, Founder of BCOMS‍

‍Katie McCabe, Arsenal and Ireland

Daniel-Yaw Miller, Journalist‍

‍Gabriel Moses, Director and Photographer‍

‍Musa Okwonga, Founder of Stadio‍

‍Clint Ogbenna, Founder of Corteiz‍

‍Ted Philipakos, President of Athens Kallithea FC‍

‍Jack Reynolds, Founder of Football Beyond Borders‍

‍Raheem Sterling, Arsenal and England‍

‍Daniel Sturridge, Former Player and Cultural Leader‍

‍Don Strapzy, Founder of SE Dons‍

‍Hannah Thornley, Founder of Hells Bells FC‍

‍David Vujanic, Content Creator‍

‍Miriam Walker-Khan, Founder of Brown Girl Sport‍

‍Rebecca Welch, Former Referee‍

‍Leah Williamson, Arsenal and England‍

‍Ian Wright, Former Player and Cultural Leader‍

‍Lotte Wubben-Moy, Arsenal and England‍
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Calum wears Yenesai, Labrum & MJ Jones, Diana wears Nanushka & MJ Jones, Foday wears Labrum & Labrum Arsenal, Miriam wears Yenesai & MJ Jones
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Please drink responsibly.