Random question that popped into my head - who was the first non UK born Albion player?

Norman Potting

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Nov 5, 2006

13,971

Sussex, Sussex not by the sea and actually nearer

• Feb 7, 2016

• #1

For many years now the fact that most clubs have some non UK born players is very much the norm. But who was the first Albion player not to originate from one of the "home" nations? I saw the light and started following the Albion in January '83 and the first one I can recall is the legendary Hans "is Evil" Kraay (even though he only made 23 appearances according to Wikipedia). But was he the first?

 

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BensGrandad

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Jul 13, 2003

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Haywards Heath

• Feb 7, 2016

• #2

The first I can recall is Denis Foreman in the 50s a South African who also played cricket for Sussex

 

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severnside gull

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May 16, 2007

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By the seaside in West Somerset

• Feb 7, 2016

• #3

I suspect you might have to go back to the club's early days. Bound to be someone born somewhere else in the British Empire who turned out in the stripes.

Edit: mention of Denis Foreman is interesting. I never saw him play for Albion but I did see him play for Sussex Martlets in the very early 1960's. Although David Busby is usually credited with being Albion's first black player in the early 70's I can definitely confirm that Foreman was not "white" but rather what was then termed "Cape coloured" so predates Busby for that honour by 20+ years.

 

Last edited: Feb 7, 2016

Norman Potting

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Nov 5, 2006

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Sussex, Sussex not by the sea and actually nearer

• Feb 7, 2016

• Thread starter
• #4

Thanks BG �� interesting article from 2012 in the Telegraph about him, unfortunately tablet won't let me attach link. Possibly may still be around and I am sure he had some interesting tales to tell

 

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BensGrandad

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Haywards Heath

• Feb 7, 2016

• #5

Norman Potting said:

Thanks BG �� interesting article from 2012 in the Telegraph about him, unfortunately tablet won't let me attach link. Possibly may still be around and I am sure he had some interesting tales to tell

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Think he was presented amongst others at The Amex last season or early this.

 

Eeyore

Colonel Hee-Haw of Queen's Park

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Apr 5, 2014

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• Feb 7, 2016

• #6

Moshe Gariani may have been our first non UK (or Ireland) international. Although he only played one match for us.

 

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Gwylan

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Jul 5, 2003

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Uffern

• Feb 7, 2016

• #7

Mr Albion himself, Charlie Webb, was born in Ireland (and was an Irish international) but Ireland was part of the UK when he was born

 

KZNSeagull

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Nov 26, 2007

19,819

Wolsingham, County Durham

• Feb 8, 2016

• #8

severnside gull said:

I suspect you might have to go back to the club's early days. Bound to be someone born somewhere else in the British Empire who turned out in the stripes.

Edit: mention of Denis Foreman is interesting. I never saw him play for Albion but I did see him play for Sussex Martlets in the very early 1960's. Although David Busby is usually credited with being Albion's first black player in the early 70's I can definitely confirm that Foreman was not "white" but rather what was then termed "Cape coloured" so predates Busby for that honour by 20+ years.

Click to expand...

First non-white South African to play first class cricket in England as well, 8 years before Basil D'Oliveira.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cr...South-African-to-play-cricket-in-England.html

 

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Gwylan

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Jul 5, 2003

31,339

Uffern

• Feb 8, 2016

• #9

Had a look through Carder and Harris's book and found the answer. If you take Ireland out of the reckoning, then the first one was Maltese-born George Leach, a forward who played in the 1904/05 season.

If you want the first non-Commonwealth/Empire player, it was one Felix Bojar, a Polish left back, who played for the Albion in the war years. He was closely followed by his compatriot Bishek Szajna-Stankowski.

If you want the first peacetime non-Commonwealth player, my guess is Wilf Smith but I haven't look at the C&H book to confirm that

 

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BensGrandad

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Jul 13, 2003

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Haywards Heath

• Feb 8, 2016

• #10

I was basing this on personal recollection as opposed to going through the history books.

 

8ace

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Jul 21, 2003

23,811

Brighton

• Feb 8, 2016

• #11

Gwylan said:

If you want the first non-Commonwealth/Empire player, it was one Felix Bojar, a Polish left back, who played for the Albion in the war years.

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Could do a job

 

Prince Monolulu

Everything in Moderation

Oct 2, 2013

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The Race Hill

• Feb 8, 2016

• #12

BensGrandad said:

I was basing this on personal recollection as opposed to going through the history books.

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Facts is facts, whether from a sturdy tome or the reliable recesses of the mind.

 

S

severnside gull

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May 16, 2007

24,540

By the seaside in West Somerset

• Feb 8, 2016

• #13

Gwylan said:

If you want the first non-Commonwealth/Empire player, it was one Felix Bojar, a Polish left back, who played for the Albion in the war years. He was closely followed by his compatriot Bishek Szajna-Stankowski.

Click to expand...

Lots of local RAF bases had Polish pilots & ground crew and (HMS) King Alfred housed the navy bomb disposal squad which contained a number of Poles. Suspect our players came from those sources.