Dartford goalkeeper Jason Brown has called for changes to be made across football after being racially abused at Bristol Rovers last week.

The former Gillingham and Wales international keeper was subject to racist abuse from a fan in the stands behind his goal leading to Brown making complaints both to the linesman and referee.

After the game, an inquiry was launched as to the identity of the fan that taunted Brown with Bristol Rovers making it clear they would do all they could to identify the offender and subsequently ban him from the ground for life.

With so much emphasis on kicking racism out of football, Brown has been one of the most vocal players calling for equality throughout the game, but told KSN how he was still shocked to have received such abuse:

“I think that it’s important that the FA and the powers that be recognise that it’s not just the players that are sick and tired of this, it’s also the supporters.”

“I got so many well wishes and messages after the game, especially Bristol Rovers supporters. I want the authorities to move swiftly on this so it will show that they do take this sort of thing seriously.”

“In my experience, too many incidents like this get swept under the carpet.”

“In the black community of players, there’s a massive lack of trust in regards to the FA regarding racist incidents. In the past five years or so there has been a lot of evidence that gives us that doubt.”

“I think this is now and opportunity for them to deal with it and deal with it swiftly. I have morals and principles and I don’t think in 2014 racism is acceptable. It has never been acceptable.”

Brown is one of the more vocal players speaking out against racists and he feels it may well have cost him:

“I may well have lost contracts over it. A lot of people will probably brand me a trouble maker, but if that’s the cost for refusing to have racist slurs thrown at me, then so be it.”

“In football, this is the fourth time I have had a racist incident. This is the second time in the last five years and it’s a similar incident to when I was at Gillingham where I was racially abused by a supporter who was standing next to a steward.”

“That was ten years ago now and in this day and age with social media, the racists can come to you directly. They don’t necessarily need to say it to your face anymore or stand behind the goal and shout.”

“What we need to make sure now is that the officials know the protocol and how to deal with incidents like this.”

“Do referees know how to deal with this? Racist abuse is a criminal offence and the guy that was shouting abuse at me was just yards from a steward. If he had run on the pitch, I’m sure they would do something then.”

Other players have drawn the line at racism and walked off the pitch when abused and Brown wouldn’t rule that out in the future, but hoped officials would deal with it before that was the case:

“Would I walk of the pitch? If nothing was being done, then yes. I am not there to be abused and if the referees and stewards don’t do anything about it, then I will have no choice.”

Both Bristol Rovers and Dartford fans were quick to criticise the mindless fan that abused Brown and the goalkeeper is grateful for the support he has receieved:

“Everyone has been brilliant towards me and it has been overwhelming. I’m extremely grateful and they are sick and tired of racism.”

“It is now down to the authorities to back the fans and deal with it swiftly. It doesn’t take long to deal with these things.”

A lot of talk in the press recently has been around the lack of black managers in the professional game and Brown believes comments made by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho haven’t helped the situation:

“I am doing my coaching badges and I’m striving to be as good as, if not better than Mr Mourinho as he is someone to look up to. He is an intelligent man, so when he comes out with such ignorant comments, it’s deeply saddening.”

“I believe you should get jobs on merit, but because you are from an ethnic minority, we are not even getting the opportunity to knock on the door and apply for jobs.”

“The Rooney rule isn’t forcing anything on anyone, all we are saying is let us have a conversation. There are some coaches from an ethnic background that are more qualified than some managers in the Football League.”

“All we are saying is let us have an interview and then make your decision. You might be pleasantly surprised!”

“I think a lot of it comes down to the lack of diversity on Boards. When you have an all white Board that are in their seventies and eighties, it’s always going to be an uphill task.”

With racism still rife in the game, Brown was left to reflect on whether he would ever see it stamped out of the game in his lifetime:

“This has been going on for years, long before I was born and I can’t ever seeing it change. All the time you have things the way they are, then I can’t see it changing, but that won’t stop me.”

“I stand up for what I believe in and have three great kids that look up to me. They are black and they will come across racism in their lives, so it is important that I stand up and show the courage to stand up against racism.”

“All we can keep doing is trying to knock down the big barriers.”

“As individuals we can only do so much, but as one voice we need to say there needs to be change.”

On a lighter note, Brown is enjoying his time at Dartford and glad to be playing football on a regular basis once again:

“Despite what happened in the Bristol Rovers game, it was a great advert for Conference football.”

“We have been playing well all season and even though we are part time, we are holding our own. We have got a great spirit in the changing room and they are a great bunch of lads.”

“This might be a turning point for the club as the league is becoming more professional and maybe at some point Dartford will need to make that change.”

“I’m enjoying being at Dartford and Tony Burman has been great with me, so have the fans.”