"Whites vs Blacks: How Football Changed a Nation" BBC Two

[knowingeye]

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b084fmgv

BBC 2 17.01.18. 23.15hrs and after on iplayer

On the 16 May 1979, an extraordinary game of professional football took place that if played today, would very possibly cause uproar, mass protest and a media frenzy. As part of Len Cantello's testimonial at West Bromwich Albion, an all-white team took on a side comprised solely of black players - 'whites against blacks'.

For the white team, it was nothing more than a lighthearted gimmick, but for the black players it represented so much more. It was a game they had to win. Racism was rife and black people were far from welcome on the pitch, in the stands or in the boardroom.

In this film, presenter Adrian Chiles journeys across England to discover the truths, taboos and real meaning behind this remarkable game. He uncovers rarely seen footage and reunites players from both teams, including Ally Robertson, Tony 'Bomber' Brown, Cyrille Regis and Brendan Batson.

Today, around 30 per cent of English professionals are black. They are role models and superstars, some earning in excess of £100,000 a week. On the surface, everything seems rosy, but how far have we really come? Through encounters with stars like Ian Wright, Les Ferdinand and Dion Dublin, Adrian contrasts the attitudes and conflicts that swirled around that infamous game with the reality of being a black player in the modern era.

[spitthedog]

Jan 17, 2018 16:57:21 GMT knowingeye said:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b084fmgv

BBC 2 17.01.18. 23.15hrs and after on iplayer

On the 16 May 1979, an extraordinary game of professional football took place that if played today, would very possibly cause uproar, mass protest and a media frenzy. As part of Len Cantello's testimonial at West Bromwich Albion, an all-white team took on a side comprised solely of black players - 'whites against blacks'.

For the white team, it was nothing more than a lighthearted gimmick, but for the black players it represented so much more. It was a game they had to win. Racism was rife and black people were far from welcome on the pitch, in the stands or in the boardroom.

In this film, presenter Adrian Chiles journeys across England to discover the truths, taboos and real meaning behind this remarkable game. He uncovers rarely seen footage and reunites players from both teams, including Ally Robertson, Tony 'Bomber' Brown, Cyrille Regis and Brendan Batson.

Today, around 30 per cent of English professionals are black. They are role models and superstars, some earning in excess of £100,000 a week. On the surface, everything seems rosy, but how far have we really come? Through encounters with stars like Ian Wright, Les Ferdinand and Dion Dublin, Adrian contrasts the attitudes and conflicts that swirled around that infamous game with the reality of being a black player in the modern era.

Thanks for posting, looking forward to this!

[raythesailor]

Well spotted. I have it on record

In those days I was Refereeing to a reasonable level. It was quite noticeable on reflection that there were very few Black players around and then all of a sudden they began to explode onto the scene from the late seventies onwards.

Hopefully many posters on here may watch/record it and it would be good to hear comments and memories.

[Deleted]

Thanks for posting, got it recording.

[silsdenstokie]

Seen it before, really good, think Georgie Berry is interviewed on it

[knowingeye]

Fascinating commentary of troubled times

[chayzenbacon]

I've read several articles today about racism on the terraces in the 70s but I was there every week at home and most weeks away from home and whilst bad things happened I think the picture being painted is significantly worse than the reality.

There were racist comments/shouts from individuals, which sadly we still get today though it's less prevalent.

There were also a few monkey chants which don't happen these days, or on the very odd occasion that they do the perpetrators rightly are hauled out, arrested, prosecuted and shamed on the front page of national newspapers.

However - and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, I honestly don't remember a single racist chant from any crowds home or away.
I've read that "nigger, nigger, lick my boots" was chanted and also "pull that trigger, shoot that nigger". I don't recall hearing anything like that and I don't know anyone who would have taken part in such a chant. Do any other old-timers recall hearing such chants?

I do remember what a fantastic player Cyrille Regis was and I remember that he was universally respected. For the overwhelming majority of football fans the fact that he was black was a complete non-issue.

Yes there was more racism in those days but sadly you can't even say that there is no racism today either. It just wasn't as bad as it's being painted by the media, the British people were decent then as they are decent now. So please bear this in mind whilst watching/reading, you're being played (as always by TV in particular).

I abhor racism by the way, just in case some people's understanding of the english language isn't good enough to work that out from what I've said above.

[Gods]

Who won the game, just out of curiosity ?

[Veritas]

Jan 18, 2018 14:11:56 GMT chayzenbacon said:

I've read several articles today about racism on the terraces in the 70s but I was there every week at home and most weeks away from home and whilst bad things happened I think the picture being painted is significantly worse than the reality.

There were racist comments/shouts from individuals, which sadly we still get today though it's less prevalent.

There were also a few monkey chants which don't happen these days, or on the very odd occasion that they do the perpetrators rightly are hauled out, arrested, prosecuted and shamed on the front page of national newspapers.

However - and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, I honestly don't remember a single racist chant from any crowds home or away.
I've read that "nigger, nigger, lick my boots" was chanted and also "pull that trigger, shoot that nigger". I don't recall hearing anything like that and I don't know anyone who would have taken part in such a chant. Do any other old-timers recall hearing such chants?

I do remember what a fantastic player Cyrille Regis was and I remember that he was universally respected. For the overwhelming majority of football fans the fact that he was black was a complete non-issue.

Yes there was more racism in those days but sadly you can't even say that there is no racism today either. It just wasn't as bad as it's being painted by the media, the British people were decent then as they are decent now. So please bear this in mind whilst watching/reading, you're being played (as always by TV in particular).

I abhor racism by the way, just in case some people's understanding of the english language isn't good enough to work that out from what I've said above.

You are correct about one thing your memory is playing tricks on you, I was there throughout the 70's and heard plenty of racist chanting at Stoke and many other grounds.

[bigcashprizes]

Jan 17, 2018 17:31:03 GMT silsdenstokie said:

Seen it before, really good, think Georgie Berry is interviewed on it

Yeah... There’s a bit about when George was playing for Wolves (might’ve been against Arsenal?), and he was getting dog’s abuse for being black. So he jumped in the crowd and decked someone! Good old George 🙂

[BristolMick]

Jan 18, 2018 14:11:56 GMT chayzenbacon said:

I've read several articles today about racism on the terraces in the 70s but I was there every week at home and most weeks away from home and whilst bad things happened I think the picture being painted is significantly worse than the reality.

There were racist comments/shouts from individuals, which sadly we still get today though it's less prevalent.

There were also a few monkey chants which don't happen these days, or on the very odd occasion that they do the perpetrators rightly are hauled out, arrested, prosecuted and shamed on the front page of national newspapers.

However - and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, I honestly don't remember a single racist chant from any crowds home or away.
I've read that "nigger, nigger, lick my boots" was chanted and also "pull that trigger, shoot that nigger". I don't recall hearing anything like that and I don't know anyone who would have taken part in such a chant. Do any other old-timers recall hearing such chants?

I do remember what a fantastic player Cyrille Regis was and I remember that he was universally respected. For the overwhelming majority of football fans the fact that he was black was a complete non-issue.

Yes there was more racism in those days but sadly you can't even say that there is no racism today either. It just wasn't as bad as it's being painted by the media, the British people were decent then as they are decent now. So please bear this in mind whilst watching/reading, you're being played (as always by TV in particular).

I abhor racism by the way, just in case some people's understanding of the english language isn't good enough to work that out from what I've said above.

What about a packed Boothen End belting out "I'd rather be a Paki than a Scouse" in a game v Liverpool?

BM

[PotterLog]

Jan 18, 2018 14:11:56 GMT chayzenbacon said:

I've read several articles today about racism on the terraces in the 70s but I was there every week at home and most weeks away from home and whilst bad things happened I think the picture being painted is significantly worse than the reality.

There were racist comments/shouts from individuals, which sadly we still get today though it's less prevalent.

There were also a few monkey chants which don't happen these days, or on the very odd occasion that they do the perpetrators rightly are hauled out, arrested, prosecuted and shamed on the front page of national newspapers.

However - and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, I honestly don't remember a single racist chant from any crowds home or away.
I've read that "nigger, nigger, lick my boots" was chanted and also "pull that trigger, shoot that nigger". I don't recall hearing anything like that and I don't know anyone who would have taken part in such a chant. Do any other old-timers recall hearing such chants?

I do remember what a fantastic player Cyrille Regis was and I remember that he was universally respected. For the overwhelming majority of football fans the fact that he was black was a complete non-issue.

Yes there was more racism in those days but sadly you can't even say that there is no racism today either. It just wasn't as bad as it's being painted by the media, the British people were decent then as they are decent now. So please bear this in mind whilst watching/reading, you're being played (as always by TV in particular).

I abhor racism by the way, just in case some people's understanding of the english language isn't good enough to work that out from what I've said above.

There are hundreds if not thousands of testimonies from players and people involved in the game at the time.. many featured in this documentary. You yourself said you've just read several articles about it, presumably with first-hand accounts and sources?

Your argument here is basically that because you can't remember it, everybody else is "being played". What do you think is more likely, that hundreds of players, fans, journalists etc are involved in a conspiracy to exaggerate the scale of the problem, or that one old codger 's memory has got little bit foggy over the decades?

[PotterLog]

Jan 18, 2018 15:05:09 GMT BristolMick said:

Jan 18, 2018 14:11:56 GMT chayzenbacon said:

I've read several articles today about racism on the terraces in the 70s but I was there every week at home and most weeks away from home and whilst bad things happened I think the picture being painted is significantly worse than the reality.

There were racist comments/shouts from individuals, which sadly we still get today though it's less prevalent.

There were also a few monkey chants which don't happen these days, or on the very odd occasion that they do the perpetrators rightly are hauled out, arrested, prosecuted and shamed on the front page of national newspapers.

However - and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, I honestly don't remember a single racist chant from any crowds home or away.
I've read that "nigger, nigger, lick my boots" was chanted and also "pull that trigger, shoot that nigger". I don't recall hearing anything like that and I don't know anyone who would have taken part in such a chant. Do any other old-timers recall hearing such chants?

I do remember what a fantastic player Cyrille Regis was and I remember that he was universally respected. For the overwhelming majority of football fans the fact that he was black was a complete non-issue.

Yes there was more racism in those days but sadly you can't even say that there is no racism today either. It just wasn't as bad as it's being painted by the media, the British people were decent then as they are decent now. So please bear this in mind whilst watching/reading, you're being played (as always by TV in particular).

I abhor racism by the way, just in case some people's understanding of the english language isn't good enough to work that out from what I've said above.

What about a packed Boothen End belting out "I'd rather be a Paki than a Scouse" in a game v Liverpool?

BM

There's been racist chanting from Stoke fans inside the last ten years

[StokeTudoGuy]

I get the historical relevance, but I can't wait for the day as a species we stop pushing stuff like this.

The day we see people as just people and stop categorizing will be a good day.... If it ever comes.

[staffsvilla]

Jan 18, 2018 14:11:56 GMT chayzenbacon said:

I've read several articles today about racism on the terraces in the 70s but I was there every week at home and most weeks away from home and whilst bad things happened I think the picture being painted is significantly worse than the reality.

There were racist comments/shouts from individuals, which sadly we still get today though it's less prevalent.

There were also a few monkey chants which don't happen these days, or on the very odd occasion that they do the perpetrators rightly are hauled out, arrested, prosecuted and shamed on the front page of national newspapers.

However - and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, I honestly don't remember a single racist chant from any crowds home or away.
I've read that "nigger, nigger, lick my boots" was chanted and also "pull that trigger, shoot that nigger". I don't recall hearing anything like that and I don't know anyone who would have taken part in such a chant. Do any other old-timers recall hearing such chants?

I do remember what a fantastic player Cyrille Regis was and I remember that he was universally respected. For the overwhelming majority of football fans the fact that he was black was a complete non-issue.

Yes there was more racism in those days but sadly you can't even say that there is no racism today either. It just wasn't as bad as it's being painted by the media, the British people were decent then as they are decent now. So please bear this in mind whilst watching/reading, you're being played (as always by TV in particular).

I abhor racism by the way, just in case some people's understanding of the english language isn't good enough to work that out from what I've said above.

The two chants you've quoted I heard belted out regularly during the 70's/80's both by our fans and against our players (mainly at London grounds with notable mentions to Leeds and Everton) , our coloured fans undoubtedly had their hardest times on Merseyside, contrary to small heath's claims we've always had,even in the 70's a large "black" % of support which made the racist chanting by our fans as ridiculous as it was disgusting

[mrcoke]

Jan 18, 2018 14:11:56 GMT chayzenbacon said:

I've read several articles today about racism on the terraces in the 70s but I was there every week at home and most weeks away from home and whilst bad things happened I think the picture being painted is significantly worse than the reality.

There were racist comments/shouts from individuals, which sadly we still get today though it's less prevalent.

There were also a few monkey chants which don't happen these days, or on the very odd occasion that they do the perpetrators rightly are hauled out, arrested, prosecuted and shamed on the front page of national newspapers.

However - and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, I honestly don't remember a single racist chant from any crowds home or away.
I've read that "nigger, nigger, lick my boots" was chanted and also "pull that trigger, shoot that nigger". I don't recall hearing anything like that and I don't know anyone who would have taken part in such a chant. Do any other old-timers recall hearing such chants?

I do remember what a fantastic player Cyrille Regis was and I remember that he was universally respected. For the overwhelming majority of football fans the fact that he was black was a complete non-issue.

Yes there was more racism in those days but sadly you can't even say that there is no racism today either. It just wasn't as bad as it's being painted by the media, the British people were decent then as they are decent now. So please bear this in mind whilst watching/reading, you're being played (as always by TV in particular).

I abhor racism by the way, just in case some people's understanding of the english language isn't good enough to work that out from what I've said above.

I am getting on as well, but I do remember the racist chants. I think it is unfair to single out particular clubs being worse than others.

What I also remember that the racism was focused on the opposition players. In the same way that "their players are dirty" but our players are "hard but fair", the fans views were very biased towards their own team. Often the opposition's none white players were insulted because that was all the tiny racist minds could think up.

[mt]

Jan 18, 2018 15:19:12 GMT PotterLog said:

Jan 18, 2018 15:05:09 GMT BristolMick said:

What about a packed Boothen End belting out "I'd rather be a Paki than a Scouse" in a game v Liverpool?

BM

There's been racist chanting from Stoke fans inside the last ten years

Racist chanting scum shouldnt be named as «Stoke fans».

[GoBoks]

Jan 17, 2018 16:57:21 GMT knowingeye said:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b084fmgv

BBC 2 17.01.18. 23.15hrs and after on iplayer

On the 16 May 1979, an extraordinary game of professional football took place that if played today, would very possibly cause uproar, mass protest and a media frenzy. As part of Len Cantello's testimonial at West Bromwich Albion, an all-white team took on a side comprised solely of black players - 'whites against blacks'.

For the white team, it was nothing more than a lighthearted gimmick, but for the black players it represented so much more. It was a game they had to win. Racism was rife and black people were far from welcome on the pitch, in the stands or in the boardroom.

In this film, presenter Adrian Chiles journeys across England to discover the truths, taboos and real meaning behind this remarkable game. He uncovers rarely seen footage and reunites players from both teams, including Ally Robertson, Tony 'Bomber' Brown, Cyrille Regis and Brendan Batson.

Today, around 30 per cent of English professionals are black. They are role models and superstars, some earning in excess of £100,000 a week. On the surface, everything seems rosy, but how far have we really come? Through encounters with stars like Ian Wright, Les Ferdinand and Dion Dublin, Adrian contrasts the attitudes and conflicts that swirled around that infamous game with the reality of being a black player in the modern era.

C’mon! What kind of generalization is “They are role models “????

Regardless of skin color, some people are role models and some are pathetic. From a purely footballing point of view, I would vehemently oppose Berahino or Kitson being held up as role models of what a footballer should be.

[generationex]

I missed the start - is it correct that Crooks wasn’t interviewed at all?

Rather odd as he played in the game and works for the BBC if so?

[GoBoks]

I was an aspiring freelance news photographer in South Africa in the mid 70s, when some bright spark in government circles decided that seeing as how SA was banned from competing in international soccer, they would organize their own internal competition......... the teams for this glittering showcase of SA football talent?

SA Whites
SA Blacks
SA Coloreds (people of mixed race)
SA Indians

Talk about genius - it was obviously not present when this was conceived. I was on the field behind the goal at the final between SA Whites and SA Blacks. The Whites scored a controversial opening goal and the stands absolutely erupted. Gallon bottles of wine (I hope) being hurled onto the pitch, a very thin blue line trying to keep 25,000 angry fans from jumping over a 3ft high fence about 15 feet from me. Suffice to say, I never saw the rest of that game and turned my interest in photography to weddings and portraits!

[thegrassyknoll]

Jan 18, 2018 14:43:29 GMT Gods said:

Who won the game, just out of curiosity ?

3-2 to Cyrille's lot. It was played with a lot more effort than the normal testimonial. (I was at the game)

[sheffieldstokie82]

Thanks for this, fascinating story!

[durbanscircus]

Jan 18, 2018 14:11:56 GMT chayzenbacon said:

I've read several articles today about racism on the terraces in the 70s but I was there every week at home and most weeks away from home and whilst bad things happened I think the picture being painted is significantly worse than the reality.

There were racist comments/shouts from individuals, which sadly we still get today though it's less prevalent.

There were also a few monkey chants which don't happen these days, or on the very odd occasion that they do the perpetrators rightly are hauled out, arrested, prosecuted and shamed on the front page of national newspapers.

However - and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, I honestly don't remember a single racist chant from any crowds home or away.
I've read that "nigger, nigger, lick my boots" was chanted and also "pull that trigger, shoot that nigger". I don't recall hearing anything like that and I don't know anyone who would have taken part in such a chant. Do any other old-timers recall hearing such chants?

I do remember what a fantastic player Cyrille Regis was and I remember that he was universally respected. For the overwhelming majority of football fans the fact that he was black was a complete non-issue.

Yes there was more racism in those days but sadly you can't even say that there is no racism today either. It just wasn't as bad as it's being painted by the media, the British people were decent then as they are decent now. So please bear this in mind whilst watching/reading, you're being played (as always by TV in particular).

I abhor racism by the way, just in case some people's understanding of the english language isn't good enough to work that out from what I've said above.

The Chant "Nigger Nigger Lick my Boots" was a Birmingham City Chant, I heard it many times. Originated from the Crown Skins who drank in a pub of that name behind New Street- they stood on the Tilton in the last years of the 1970s....they were put in their place by the emergence of the Zulus from about 1982- and that c*ap was consigned to the dust bin of history

[dadger]

Just watched it I was there in the 70s I feel fucking ashamed

[estrangedsonoffaye]

Very powerful image.