Former Chelsea captain Paul Elliott pays tribute to his Kick It Out co-founder Lord Herman Ouseley after his tragic death – the Premier League’s first black captain praises “a great man who loved justice, fairness and equality”.

The Premier League’s first black captain Paul Elliott has paid a touching tribute to Lord Herman Ouseley, who has died after a “short illness”.

Lord Ouseley died on Monday aged 79 and tributes are pouring in for the equality campaigner.

Ouesley co-founded the anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out in 1993 with former Chelsea captain Elliott.

And Elliott praised his friend’s influence on the modern football landscape in an emotional letter for Mail Sport.

Elliott wrote: “Society, football and communities have lost a wonderful campaigner and campaigner who has been instrumental in driving change in this country over the last 50 years.”

Anti-discrimination campaigner Lord Ouseley died on Monday after a “short illness”.

“He has done great things by giving so much back to people who have suffered from so much prejudice, racism and inequality.”

“He challenged institutional racism and urged those in power to use their influence not for themselves, but to impact people’s lives, as many were excluded, marginalized and dissatisfied by unlawful discrimination.”

“I first met Herman in the early 90s after moving from Celtic to Chelsea, where I proudly became the first black captain and that of the Premier League when it was founded shortly afterwards.”

“He encouraged and empowered me to speak out about my disgusting, reprehensible experiences of racism in England, Scotland and Italy throughout my career.”

“He made me realize the power of my lived experience and how I can use it in an authentic way to hold people accountable and make a positive contribution to creating change.”

“This was formalized when we formed Kick It Out alongside Gordon Taylor and John Fashanu as a catalyst for change.

“Herman was in full swing after taking up the baton of chairman of the Racial Equality Commission, tasked with leading football stakeholders and clubs to address the issues of racism faced by many black players of my generation.”

“He evoked football with openness and frankness, as if John Wayne walked into the bar as a gunslinger in a Western movie.”

Elliott described his friend and former partner (pictured in 2001) as a “great man who loves justice”.

“But fundamentally he was extremely strategic, skillful and elegant in implementation, but knew how to use carrots and sticks to bring about lasting, effective changes using his personality.”

“Football was in denial back then. Herman was like a tornado, his resilience was undoubtedly his brilliance. I have been very close to him for many years and he has encouraged me and many others over his decades as chairman of Kick It Out.

“He has single-handedly taken over football and laid the strong foundations for Kick It Out to become the leading anti-discrimination organization in the UK.”

“This great man loved justice, loved humanity, justice and equality.”

“It is ironic that his death occurred on the second day of Black History Month – he will be sorely missed by so many.”