A message from the authors of this book:
We are David Gleave and Bill Hern, authors of Football’s Black Pioneers, we have been supporting our respective teams (Crystal Palace and Sunderland) for a combined total of more than 100 years, we have the grey hairs to prove it!
During our time watching the game many things have changed. One of the most visible changes has been the rise of black footballers. We were both supporters during the 1970s and 1980s when racism on the terraces was widespread and often vicious. Starting in the 1990s attitudes towards black players gradually improved and openly racist comments diminished. Our fear is that racism is returning to the terraces.
We believe the time is right to remind ourselves of the contribution that black players have made to our game and to acknowledge the pioneers so that they are not forgotten. Many of the great black players of today have recognised that they owe a debt of gratitude to the pioneers who experienced the most vile abuse simply because they were black.
It’s the colour of the shirt that matters, not the colour of the skin.
FOOTBALL'S BLACK PIONEERS
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