Black footballers - help needed

On the Left Wing · Dec 5, 2014

I am helping with a research paper on the history, integration and impact of black footballers in British professional football.
There is plenty of statistical information, but looking for my primary source stuff... such as first hand accounts and memories.
The first black footballer I can remember as a kid was Albert Johanneson, who played for Don Revie's Leeds in the 1960s. Then a little later Cyril Regis at West Brom.
Any info or memories - certainly from the 50s, 60s and early 70s would be gratefully appreciated... cheers!

Tom Hark Preston Park · Dec 5, 2014

Got fond memories of West Ham's stocky striker Clyde Best from the early seventies when I first moved south of the border. Reckon you could do a lot worse than focus a big chunk of your research on his becoming a firm fans favourite at a club not exactly known for its liberal views at the time.

Stat Brother · Dec 5, 2014

It would be rude to not mention Walter Tull.

This thread makes me wonder who was the Albion's first black player?, anyone know.

PILTDOWN MAN · Dec 5, 2014

Stat Brother said:
It would be rude to not mention Walter Tull.

This thread makes me wonder who was the Albion's first black player?, anyone know.

Chris Ramsey?

midnight_rendezvous · Dec 5, 2014

Stat Brother said:
It would be rude to not mention Walter Tull.

This thread makes me wonder who was the Albion's first black player?, anyone know.

Was teaching a pupil at my school about Tull just the other day.

Beach Hut · Dec 5, 2014

Brendon Batson, Laurie Cunnigham, George Berry all good players.

Remember Ron Atkinson called then the "Three Degrees" when I think it was Batson, Regis and Cunningham at West Bromwich Albion

Stat Brother · Dec 5, 2014

midnight_rendezvous said:
Was teaching a pupil at my school about Tull just the other day.

He should be mandatory learning for all of us.

mr sheen · Dec 5, 2014

Paul Reaney? Never viewed as black when playing, would be now though

Gwylan · Dec 5, 2014

PILTDOWN MAN said:
Chris Ramsey?

Pretty sure it was Viv Busby - unless we had a black player going way back.

The first one I really remember was Ces Podd for Bradford City: he played for them for years and became a bit of a cult up there. He was about the same time as Clyde Best - for a time they were the only two regular black players in English football

vegster · Dec 5, 2014

Tom Hark said:
Got fond memories of West Ham's stocky striker Clyde Best from the early seventies when I first moved south of the border. Reckon you could do a lot worse than focus a big chunk of your research on his becoming a firm fans favourite at a club not exactly known for its liberal views at the time.

Another vote for Clyde Best, He was the first I remember. He had to even win his own teams fans over at West Ham which took some doing.

AZ Gull · Dec 5, 2014

Stat Brother said:
It would be rude to not mention Walter Tull.

This thread makes me wonder who was the Albion's first black player?, anyone know.

Very disappointed in you, Stat. Didn't you bother reading [MENTION=12839]Goldstone Rapper[/MENTION]'s excellent blog posts?

Dave Busby - Albion's First Black Footballer

Gwylan · Dec 5, 2014

AZ Gull said:
Very disappointed in you, Stat. Didn't you bother reading [MENTION=12839]Goldstone Rapper[/MENTION]'s excellent blog posts?

[URL="http://thegoldstonewrap.com/2014/01/14/dave-busby-albions-first-black-footballer/]Dave Busby - Albion's First Black Footballer[/URL]

Dave Busby - that was it. Don't know where I got Viv from

Tom Hark Preston Park · Dec 5, 2014

vegster said:
Another vote for Clyde Best, He was the first I remember. He had to even win his own teams fans over at West Ham which took some doing.

Especially as Alf Garnett was banging on about 'c**ns' on the only wholly state-funded TV station of the time. While wearing a West Ham scarf. Jeez!

In fact scrub the book. Just write the Clyde Best Story. Before somebody else does...

Mackenzie · Dec 5, 2014

Gwylan said:
Dave Busby - that was it. Don't know where I got Viv from

Viv Anderson maybe.

Gwylan · Dec 5, 2014

Here's an interesting site

http://spartacus-educational.com/Fblack.htm

Fascinating to hear about Jack Leslie, picked for England only to find the offer withdrawn as "they'd forgotten he was a coloured boy". Imagine that happening now

AZ Gull · Dec 5, 2014

Gwylan said:
Dave Busby - that was it. Don't know where I got Viv from

Viv Busby is also a former footballer (although no connection to Albion).

Gwylan · Dec 5, 2014

AZ Gull said:
Viv Busby is also a former footballer (although no connection to Albion).

So he is ... and white too :dunce:

Reminds me of the bloke who told my father, while watching Lancashire that he always mixed up David and Clive Lloyd. My dad said it was easy to tell them apart as Clive wore glasses

Rogero · Dec 5, 2014

Googled it. Arthur Wharton was the first about 1900.

vegster · Dec 5, 2014

Tom Hark said:
Especially as Alf Garnett was banging on about 'c**ns' on the only wholly state-funded TV station of the time. While wearing a West Ham scarf. Jeez!

In fact scrub the book. Just write the Clyde Best Story. Before somebody else does...

Alf Garnett was not so bad as he was bigoted against almost everything, wherein lay the only real gag, Love Thy Neighbour was far worse.

Barrel of Fun · Dec 5, 2014

Gwylan said:
Pretty sure it was Viv Busby - unless we had a black player going way back.

The first one I really remember was Ces Podd for Bradford City: he played for them for years and became a bit of a cult up there. He was about the same time as Clyde Best - for a time they were the only two regular black players in English football

It seems that way. Having looked through the team photos from the beginning, it appears Dave Busby was the first in '74 for one season and our next black player was Chris Ramsey in 1981.

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Black footballers - help needed

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