October is Black History Month in the UK, and Arsenal are of course celebrating their connections within the black community and the large number of black players we have celebrated in our history.
I started supporting Arsenal at a time when racism was really being tackled for the first time. We still saw inflatable bananas in the crowds and a lot of abuse aimed at black players. England had still only capped a handful of black players, with Viv Anderson the first less than a decade earlier while a Nottingham Forest player. John Barnes was really the only black player in the England team when I started watching. Even Ireland had Paul McGrath and Chris Hughton!
Viv was coming to an end of his time at Arsenal when I started supporting, but we also had a Rolls-Royce of a midfielder in Paul Davis. He was the big brother to a new generation coming through - David Rocastle, Michael Thomas and Gus Caeser. I didn't know any black people, there were none in my primary school, you didn't see many around town. It was only the rare trips to Central London, Lewisham and the likes that you saw anyone other than White or Indian people.
At such a young age I didn't understand racism, didn't really know about it. I did see a magnificent winger with exceptional skills and the scorer of some great goals play in the number 7 shirt of Arsenal. "Rocky" was an instant hero. Skin colour didn't matter, shirt colour and the badge was far more important.
Thomas was always a favourite too, but on May 26th 1989 he made himself a legend in a moment never to be forgotten. The same season Davis made a massive mark in a different way, as a kid watching him spark Glenn Cockerill out was something probably that shouldn't have been celebrated as much as it was!
Ian Wright came in 1991 and established himself as a fan favourite and hero to many. The number of black players in an English team was still a minority, with Rocastle and Thomas leaving in the early 90s meaning Wrighty and Kevin Campbell were the exception to a largely white squad.
Fast forward to 96 and Arsene Wenger. English football had moved on quite a bit, and foreign players were far more prominent. However, at Arsenal, Wrighty was still "the black player" in a squad that was mainly white players. England had still only capped ~30 black players.
Before Wenger even arrived, Patrick Vieira was brought to Arsenal. The French youngster born Senegal quickly established himself in the Arsenal XI and the hearts of Arsenal fans. He became the Arsenal captain, taking the armband from Tony Adams.
Following Vieira to Highbury were the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Kanu, Lauren, Kolo Toure, Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell. In 2002 Arsenal became the first team to field 9 black players in a starting line up in the PL: Lauren, Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira, Gilberto Silva, Sylvain Wiltord, Thierry Henry and Kanu playing alongside David Seaman and Pascal Cygan.
Now, Bukayo Saka stands as the face of Arsenal. The England winger came through the academy and has established himself as a key man, our starboy. An inspiration to a generation of Arsenal fans. Alongside him are key players such as William Saliba, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey and the new generation headed by Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis Skelly.
It is quite mad to think just 40 years a black player in an English football team was a rarity. Racism was rife, barely discouraged and almost celebrated. David Rocastle was the 11th black player capped by England, back in 1988, the 1004th overall. 280 players later Noni Madueke became the 114th black player to play for England. Arsenal were one of the leading lights in bringing through a multi-racial team, but of course not the only team.
Black History Month Arsenal...
posted on 9/10/24
I remember Batson from WBA. Didn't know he'd played for Arsenal too.
posted on 9/10/24
Good article DJ.
However, there needs to be major differentiation made between abusing footballers because of their race & the degree of diversity in football teams.
In my experience of academy football I would say in this country there is positive discrimination in favour of black players for various reasons.
Look at France. Which despite the insane immigration into that country, is for now still majority white.
How can it be that the majority population is virtually absent from their national team ?
Why is there not a push to include more white players in their team?
posted on 9/10/24
comment by Peks - Comanche Moon (U6618)
posted 2 minutes ago
Good article DJ.
However, there needs to be major differentiation made between abusing footballers because of their race & the degree of diversity in football teams.
In my experience of academy football I would say in this country there is positive discrimination in favour of black players for various reasons.
Look at France. Which despite the insane immigration into that country, is for now still majority white.
How can it be that the majority population is virtually absent from their national team ?
Why is there not a push to include more white players in their team?
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what percentage of those black players in the france squad were born in france however ...
posted on 9/10/24
this guy is such a wum
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comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted on 18/5/24
Think it is more poor black families where the mum adds her name to her kids cos the father has long left.
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comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted on 18/5/24
Don't know which one of our comments is more racist.
posted on 9/10/24
Not sure your point. That is true of many Arsenal academy players, such as Ainsley Maitland, who had "Niles" added on as it was his mothers surname and Brooke Norton-Cuffy pka Brooke Norton.
posted on 9/10/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 hours, 3 minutes ago
Not sure your point. That is true of many Arsenal academy players, such as Ainsley Maitland, who had "Niles" added on as it was his mothers surname and Brooke Norton-Cuffy pka Brooke Norton.
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Wright-Phillips?
posted on 9/10/24
Hope it goes well DJ
posted on 9/10/24
Brilliant piece DJ
Now, as you know, I’m no Arsenal fan. But one of my best mates from childhood was a massive Arsenal fan, and in the 90’s would invite me along to some games at Highbury on his ‘Junior Gunner’ membership.
Think it was aboot £3 for a ticket!!
Got to see UTD play, and I think we lost that game. But what struck me, was how friendly the fans were, great atmosphere.You had a great team then, but the love yer fans had, for the Black players was amazing.
I only went to aboot 5 games, but enjoyable experiences the lot of them. Now my mate did everything he could to sway me from my love of Man Utd, but it was never gonna happen, maybe that’s why he stopped inviting me..
but as much as we have banter on here, I will always have those memories, and respect for Arsenal, cos seeing the love and the way Arsenal football club treated those black players, was a pretty defining moment for little old me..
posted on 9/10/24
comment by Peks - Comanche Moon (U6618)
posted 7 hours, 19 minutes ago
Good article DJ.
However, there needs to be major differentiation made between abusing footballers because of their race & the degree of diversity in football teams.
In my experience of academy football I would say in this country there is positive discrimination in favour of black players for various reasons.
Look at France. Which despite the insane immigration into that country, is for now still majority white.
How can it be that the majority population is virtually absent from their national team ?
Why is there not a push to include more white players in their team?
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They just pick the best French players. If none of them are white, so be it.
posted on 10/10/24
comment by Peks - Comanche Moon (U6618)
posted 20 hours, 36 minutes ago
Good article DJ.
However, there needs to be major differentiation made between abusing footballers because of their race & the degree of diversity in football teams.
In my experience of academy football I would say in this country there is positive discrimination in favour of black players for various reasons.
Look at France. Which despite the insane immigration into that country, is for now still majority white.
How can it be that the majority population is virtually absent from their national team ?
Why is there not a push to include more white players in their team?
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You're basically calling for DEI in football for white players, if they are not good enough, they are not good enough. We complain when ethnic minorities are doing it in other arenas, but yet you're calling for it in football. You can't have it both ways, it's either a meritocracy or not
I really can't see a situation in football where a player is better and you pick the black person just because they are black.