Jordan Wilson spent five years with Nykøbing FC in Denmark's second tier.

The central midfielder, a native of Mississauga, ON, was revered by supporters and was voted the fans' Player of the Year in 2017. When Wilson departed for York United FC last year, the club's manager, Claus Jensen, offered the following words:

“Off the field, he has been such a positive presence – both internally, but also towards fans, sponsors and the club’s many youth players. With his great winning mentality, he has helped develop the young players on the team, and been a ‘culture carrier’, which we have been extremely lucky and happy to have in the club."

But Wilson has revealed that his time in Scandinavia was more difficult than it seemed due to the colour of his skin. In conversation with Waterloo United as part of their Diversity and Inclusion Speaker Series, he went into detail about his experiences with racism and prejudice.

"You can probably say I was a fan favourite at my club so people saw outside of my skin, for sure," he said.

"I have a really infectious personality and when I walk into a room I think people appreciate me wearing a smile on my face. I take a liking to a lot of people and I'm interested in their lives and what they do. So, I think outside of the colour of my skin, people like me. But that doesn't mean they can't make certain comments or treat someone in a way that isn't right."

"And I'd often wonder how people would treat someone who looked like me but who wasn't me. I had an incredible journey and experience in Denmark but how would it be for someone who might be a little slower to express themselves or maybe not as open? How would they be received?"

Wilson admitted he may well have been worn down by the relentlessness of the 'challenges' but, instead, was confident enough in his identity to push through.

"In Denmark I was definitely made aware that I was black," he said.

"I was dealing with people who were shocked that I have a mother and father who are married, that I grew up having a great education, that football isn't my only means of income and I could have done something else. Breaking down those barriers and constantly being challenged and questioned about who I am could have broken me. But it does really play a part in who you want to be. Do you really know yourself? Are you confident when you walk into a room? No matter what someone says about you, are you still able to know who you are and be comfortable with the answer?"

"I always stood out - I never fit in. I used to make a joke that I'd always pick up a yellow card because if I foul someone I can't just run into a sea of white people and maybe the ref shows a card to my team-mate. If I fouled someone he could see me. It was an adjustment and never something I completely got used to. I just learned to live with it and stay true to who I was."

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