HIBERNIAN manager Jack Ross has encouraged youngsters to stamp out racism.

The Easter Road side joined forces with education charity Show Racism the Red Card to deliver an anti-racism message to youngsters at Ross High School.

Each S2 pupil was offered a virtual workshop with Hibs stars, who shared their experiences of working towards a multi-cultural society based on equality, understanding and respect.

The former Scotland B cap was backed by club captain David Gray, who said the players adopted the same approach instilled by their manager, looking outwards to learn and understand each teammate’s values to help them gel and work effectively together.

Hibs legend Mickey Weir, alongside former Hearts star Derek Ferguson, who were among the first volunteers for Show Racism the Red Card after experiencing racial hatred during their careers, compared the football changing room to the classroom. They highlighted the importance of respect, tolerance and understanding in creating a successful environment to learn and work together positively.

Meanwhile, Hibs midfielder Charlotte Potts, who joined the Easter Road club – who train at East Mains on the outskirts of Ormiston – from Sunderland, emphasised the importance of being aware and having a positive headspace when working with others, and insisted that not meaning to say something unkind was not an acceptable excuse.

The sporting stars spoke to more than 80 pupils on the final day of the virtual event and were well received by the school’s guidance team, who arranged the event, and headteacher Paul Reynolds.

The workshops were led by Chris Priestley, who has previously worked with Hibs, Hearts, Rangers and Celtic, as well as Scottish Rugby, in his role of freelance anti-discrimination educator.

The S2 pupils learned about racism, bias, stigma, judgement, slurs, stereotypes and microaggressions, with a view to raising their awareness and challenging racism together.

David Russell-Fitzgerald, principal teacher of guidance at the secondary school, said: “There was also a really clear distinction between banter and bullying behaviour.”