Between 2023 and 2025, the National Football Museum worked with representatives from across football’s Black heritage community to co-curate Black in the Game, our critiically acclaimed Score Gallery exhibition.
On display from October 2025 to March this year, it celebrated Black excellence in English football, showcasing the cultural impact, unique achievements and untold stories of African and Caribbean communities within the English game. The exhibition steering group collectively decided which objects and stories to feature – but sadly, there was not enough room to feature every story within the physical space.
With that in mind, our curator Marek Romaniszyn has looked at objects from the careers of three Black Lionesses, telling their stories via our website.
Recognised for her immense sprinting speed and ability to find the back of the net, West Midlands-born Ebony Salmon is a versatile and pacy forward.
Salmon spent three years in the Aston Villa Women’s academy, before making her full debut for the club in a Women’s Super League 2 match against Sheffield FC Ladies in 2017. During her debut season she scored an impressive seven goals in twelve league games before moving to the newly-formed Manchester United Women..Game time was scarce at Leigh Sports Village, but she did enjoy a successful loan spell at Sheffield United Women.
Salmon really made a name for herself when she signed for Bristol City Women in 2019. During her two years at the club, she finished as their highest goalscorer in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 Women’s Super League campaigns. This form resulted in a senior England call-up, making her full international debut in a match against Northern Ireland in 2021.
She left Bristol to go and play in the US National Women’s Soccer League for Racing Louisville. There, her bright start earned her a place in Sarina Wiegman’s first England squad. Unfortunately, during her second season at the club, she lost her place and concurrently spent time playing in England’s Under-23 team. There she captained the team and featured in a new U23 European League.
Determined to get back into a starting line-up at club level, she moved to Houston Dash halfway through the season and earned a recall to the England senior squad following the 2022 Women’s EUROs. Her journey then came full circle as she returned to her first club, Aston Villa, in 2023. Whilst back playing for the Villains she made a considerable 75 appearances over three years.
Salmon’s international progress and ambition are firmly represented in this match-issue home shirt for the 2023 Arnold Clarke Cup game. She remained on the bench during England’s 4-0 win over Korea Republic. Now playing for West Ham Women, the dangerous attacker is looking to add to her four senior England caps and score her first Lionesses goal.