ITV are showing two programmes dealing with racism in football tonight . First is an hour long new documentary from 22-45pm by Robbie Lyle a lifelong Arsenal fan who's love of the game has been marred by some high profile incidents of racism. The second programme follows on at 23-45pm and ends at 00-35am and is the concluding part of Ian Wrights two part documentary " Out of their skin", which charts the inspiring rise of black footballers in the game and the racist abuse they faced as a result. I've seen it before. If I remember correctly Viv Anderson recalls the time he was warming up ready to go on as a sub for Forest, when the crowd started throwing apples and bananas at him, at which point he went back and sat in the dugout. Cloughie looked at him and said " get back out there and bring me an Apple and two bananas." Both programmes are worth a watch.
Wrighty got racially abused at Oakwell in 1994 during the coca cola cup tie. He refused to come out, warm up and sign autographs during our premiership season. Got a book of autographs for the entire Arsenal double winning team. I asked Tony Adams if he was coming out and he told me why he wasn't. I was gutted, growing up always wanted to be him. Quick, powerful, could score any type of goal. Best striker England never had. Graham Taylor either didn't pick him or put him on the wing. Only ever given a proper chance against San Marino away (scored 4 I think) and under Hoddle against Italy away, where he had a great game defending from the front. Helped us qualify that night, hit post late on.
I remember Winston Campbell getting pelted with bananas at The Baseball Ground. Some folk have more money than sense, bananas were expensive back then.
Quite right although if you only had a penny you'd have more sense than somebody who throws bananas at a black player.
I remember feeling utter disgust at the time. I also remember a conversation with a Wednesdayite who said "Wensdi will niver sign a black player" the day before we sold them Tony Cunningham....
I also remember feeling the same way when we played Sheffield United in an FA cup replay at Oakwell back in the late '80s.
Managed to watch the film by Robbie Lyle " Football fans under their Skin" which highlighted how prevalent racism was and still is in today's game. At some points it was truly horrendous. One Chelsea fan recounted the time his Dad took him to a match and fellow Chelsea supporters were chanting racist comments at them and at one point started spitting at his Dad. Robbie showed a film clip taken in a car probably on a Smart phone. It shows a young lad probably four or five years old wearing a Police outfit and he is actively being encouraged to sing a racist song by a woman sat next to him, who then proceeds to sing along with him. Not in the least bit surprised to hear that they are Millwall supporters, but for a grown woman to encourage a young child to make obscene racist comments and then post them online is abhorrent. What makes it even worse, is that despite numerous complaints, Google are yet to remove the item from their platform. After the programme, I typed " Child in car Millwall racist comments" in my search box and it came up. The Director of " Kick it out" was involved in the programme. Why he hasn't done something about that clip is beyond me.
Not sure best striker England neve had. He did get capped unlike Jimmy Greenoff, the best English player to never be capped.
Totally agree that something should have been done to the parents , I seem to recall someone posted it on here and all responses to it were of disgust . The tale of the Chelsea fan going with his dad and being spat on etc by the clubs fans hit a nerve with me. He told how his dad had looked forward to taking him and how his mam had kitted him a scarf and hat . And that his dad had stood there holding his hand while being abused and spat at and he never took him again . That was actually heartbreaking and I don’t mind admitting it brought a tear to my eye . The cruelty of some people is mind boggling .
Same here mate. Those two replay matches against Sheff Utd (early 1990) were the worst abuse/chanting I've ever heard at Oakwell, dished out by a significant number to Brian Deane and Tony Agana primarily. It still disgusts me to think about it now and was utterly shameful.
The guy recounting the story was very tearful as well. You have to admire his Fathers dignity for not reacting. Imagine having to stand in front of your impressionable little lad wiping other people's saliva using your hanky off your hair, skin and clothing.? Some people really are the lowest of the low. Shame on every one of them.
I still talk about this,John Dennis was incredibly ashamed and embarrased,as 99% of us were and wrote a letter to Ian Wright apologising for the behaviour of Barnsley supporters. In the 1960s I remember Bradford city players getting racially abused, as a boy I thought it was disgusting. I have spent the rest of my fighting this cowardly behaviour in Oakwell and elsewhere since.I saw the first programme, it was amazing what was considered acceptable in the 1980s.
The Robbie Lyle episode- I find it strange he goes to meet black football fans from other clubs and meets one of the most notorious football hooligans in the uk ( Cass pennant) Surely he could have find black fans who don’t write books about kicking people’s heads in
Carol " Cass" Pennant was born in Doncaster. As a Hammers fan, he openly admits being involved in the notorious " Inter City Firm" but as an anti- racism activist, he now describes himself as a reformed football hooligan who writes about football and is heavily involved in the " Kick it Out" movement.
