A true British hero, a man with a legacy that opened doors for the masses. Jamal Edwards was not only a treasure, he was an inspiration to us all.
Today we mourn the tragic loss of a beloved member of the Chelsea family, founder of SBTV Jamal Edwards. His mother, Brenda issued a statement confirming that the cause of his death was "sudden illness".
In just 31 years of life, he had accomplished so much. An MBE, an entrepreneur, a community leader, he paved the way in the music and media industry and highlighted what the often-maligned youth of this nation are truly capable of. As the world mourns a true modern-day pioneer in cultural terms, Chelsea fans have really lost one of their own.
Jamal was a lifelong, proper Chelsea fan who has endured a deep connection with the players, staff and fans.
He would rock the Chelsea gear with ease. We see pictures of him kissing the badge, wearing the scarf on matchdays as he became part of the family at Stamford Bridge.
The club paid their respects last night as the news was confirmed, saying: "We're deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jamal Edwards. An inspiration to many, we're honoured that he was part of our Chelsea family."
He loved Chelsea, he loved the fans and he has left his footprint within the club. Just last year during Black History Month, he spoke with Trevoh Chalobah, Chelsea’s latest youngster to make it through from Cobham. The pair spoke at length about what it means for Chalobah to become a role model for young black aspiring footballers.
Chalobah, saddened by the news also shared a tribute on social media. He caption his Twitter post: “RIP brother Jamal Edwards, lost for words."
Former Chelsea captain and legend, John Terry also paid his respect, referring to Edwards as his “friend”.
Jamal Edwards may have been a pioneer in the music and media industry, but his legacy goes so far beyond that.
He has inspired those with a dream to keep pushing. He was an example that if you believe in your craft and you have a vision, you can achieve the impossible. His life was not a fairytale or a Hollywood script, it was a real rags to riches story with lessons for a generation to learn from.
Jamal left us with words that I will continue to live by. In 2012 he tweeted: “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”
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