Caoimhin O’Muraile ✒ writes on racism in the sport of soccer.

The Child Is Black
The Child Is White
Together we Learned to Read and Write.

Today racism in society a growing scourge as racist abuse is growing. Not only on the football terraces, or seating, but in society generally. After the Euro football final, England versus Italy, once again this sickness raised its ugly head. Marcus Rashford suffered much online racist abuse after missing a penalty as were Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after they too missed from the spot. 

This kind of totally unwarranted abuse of young black players is a disgrace to society and the game of football. It is my opinion the abuse is organised, pre-match, by far-right organisations like Britain First and the English Defence League, both of whom targeted James McClean for refusing to wear an imperialist token, the poppy. 

Racism in football, certainly in England raised its head back in the early eighties when the far-right involved themselves on the terraces. That is my recollection as back in the sixties and early to mid-seventies the concept did not, in any major form exist. I can recall back in the late seventies when West Bromwich Albion had a small host of black players - Cyrille Regis, Justin Fashanu, Laurie Cunningham and Brendan Batson - racism gathering momentum, but was usually drowned out by fans who appreciated these players ability. However, and unfortunately as the generation gap appeared the new “kids on the block” were taken in by these far-right groups, primarily then the National Front. The sickness began to flourish and what was once attacking an opposition player, as well as our own, for the team they played for or because they were playing crap on an off day, became a racially motivated issue. It was not always that way.

Back in the sixties two of the first black players to make their mark on the English game were Albert Johansen for Leeds and Clyde Best for West Ham United. Johansen was the first black player to play in an FA Cup Final in 1965, and although his performance was below par no racist abuse from either Leeds or Liverpool fans was aimed at him. Albert was a great player in his day and the final was an off day and the kind of crap aimed at Rashford today was not even thought of. Clyde was a little unlucky in one sense because he played in the shadow of his Irish namesake George who held all the fame, but nevertheless my memories of the young Trinidadian was he was a great asset to West Ham United, views [though I was very young, formative years] shared by the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and West Ham Manager, Ron Greenwood. I remember getting Clyde Best in a packet of bubble gum card.

As kid I grew up on a council estate in York and during the sixties a black kid was almost unheard of on our estate. Then Alex arrived, a great kid and my best mate. I still have a photo from 1965 of us both. And although people were curious as nobody had seen a black person apart from Pele on football cards racism or racist and anti-black abuse was unheard of. Alex would come to ours for beans on toast and me to his for the same. How things were to change within twenty years in society. Back in the sixties a song was out in the charts called “Black and White” with the opening lyrics:

Together we learn to read and write, 
A child is black, a child is white 
The whole world looks upon the sight, 
A beautiful sight

Everyone played together.

In the early eighties Leeds United had a young black player called Terry Connor but by this time the sons and grandsons who had applauded Albert Johansen had been influenced by the National Front and another sinister group, the British Movement. The racism suffered by Terry Connor was beyond belief and the Leeds fans of the sixties must have been sick. If Connor scored a goal an element of Leeds fans refused to recognise the goal and if the score was 1-0 to Leeds, due to Terry Connors goal, elements of the home fans would say it was 0-0. 

At Upton Park, home of West Ham United, racism was on the rise with the NF making huge gains among their fans, who had obviously forgotten the days of Clyde Best. Their fathers too must have been sickened by what was happening. What went wrong in society? Well one finger of blame could be aimed at Enoch Powel with his “rivers of blood” speech in 1968, but this had no impact to my memory on the terraces. After Powel came people like Martin Webster and John Tyndall - Tyndall been a self-styled Nazi - and many others claiming to be “British Patriots” giving Nazi salutes.

Leading so-called constitutional political figures like British Foreign Secretary Priti Patel do little to stop the racist garbage either at football grounds or anywhere else. Perhaps they are hedging their bets in case the far-right ever gain significant influence in the parliamentary system. The fact is that all football fans, and indeed all in society must stand behind every black and Asian player, in fact all from different ethnic groups like James McClean irrespective of which team they play for. The days of terrace fanaticism, misguided in some ways it may have been - though I still maintain we were young and overenthusiastic - during the sixties and seventies has given way to a far more sinister concept, one which has little to do with football.

On a more positive note, with the rise of right-wing politics on the terraces came a left-wing, anti-fascist movement. This fortunately gave a counterbalance to the fascist right - and not it was not an excuse to go to a game for as scrap - but the terraces could not be left to the fascists and racists to take over. The NF did not succeed at mamy grounds, Tottenham, for example, having a large Jewish support gave the fascists the boot. So not everything was negative but it is certainly raising its ugly head again, despite campaigns like “give racism the boot”. But, fortunately, the racists are still a minority and let's keep it that way, ultimately eliminating even the minority.

Caoimhin O’Muraile is a Dublin 
based Marxist and author. 

Black, White ➖ Together We Learned To Read And Write

Caoimhin O’Muraile ✒ writes on racism in the sport of soccer.

The Child Is Black
The Child Is White
Together we Learned to Read and Write.

Today racism in society a growing scourge as racist abuse is growing. Not only on the football terraces, or seating, but in society generally. After the Euro football final, England versus Italy, once again this sickness raised its ugly head. Marcus Rashford suffered much online racist abuse after missing a penalty as were Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after they too missed from the spot. 

This kind of totally unwarranted abuse of young black players is a disgrace to society and the game of football. It is my opinion the abuse is organised, pre-match, by far-right organisations like Britain First and the English Defence League, both of whom targeted James McClean for refusing to wear an imperialist token, the poppy. 

Racism in football, certainly in England raised its head back in the early eighties when the far-right involved themselves on the terraces. That is my recollection as back in the sixties and early to mid-seventies the concept did not, in any major form exist. I can recall back in the late seventies when West Bromwich Albion had a small host of black players - Cyrille Regis, Justin Fashanu, Laurie Cunningham and Brendan Batson - racism gathering momentum, but was usually drowned out by fans who appreciated these players ability. However, and unfortunately as the generation gap appeared the new “kids on the block” were taken in by these far-right groups, primarily then the National Front. The sickness began to flourish and what was once attacking an opposition player, as well as our own, for the team they played for or because they were playing crap on an off day, became a racially motivated issue. It was not always that way.

Back in the sixties two of the first black players to make their mark on the English game were Albert Johansen for Leeds and Clyde Best for West Ham United. Johansen was the first black player to play in an FA Cup Final in 1965, and although his performance was below par no racist abuse from either Leeds or Liverpool fans was aimed at him. Albert was a great player in his day and the final was an off day and the kind of crap aimed at Rashford today was not even thought of. Clyde was a little unlucky in one sense because he played in the shadow of his Irish namesake George who held all the fame, but nevertheless my memories of the young Trinidadian was he was a great asset to West Ham United, views [though I was very young, formative years] shared by the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and West Ham Manager, Ron Greenwood. I remember getting Clyde Best in a packet of bubble gum card.

As kid I grew up on a council estate in York and during the sixties a black kid was almost unheard of on our estate. Then Alex arrived, a great kid and my best mate. I still have a photo from 1965 of us both. And although people were curious as nobody had seen a black person apart from Pele on football cards racism or racist and anti-black abuse was unheard of. Alex would come to ours for beans on toast and me to his for the same. How things were to change within twenty years in society. Back in the sixties a song was out in the charts called “Black and White” with the opening lyrics:

Together we learn to read and write, 
A child is black, a child is white 
The whole world looks upon the sight, 
A beautiful sight

Everyone played together.

In the early eighties Leeds United had a young black player called Terry Connor but by this time the sons and grandsons who had applauded Albert Johansen had been influenced by the National Front and another sinister group, the British Movement. The racism suffered by Terry Connor was beyond belief and the Leeds fans of the sixties must have been sick. If Connor scored a goal an element of Leeds fans refused to recognise the goal and if the score was 1-0 to Leeds, due to Terry Connors goal, elements of the home fans would say it was 0-0. 

At Upton Park, home of West Ham United, racism was on the rise with the NF making huge gains among their fans, who had obviously forgotten the days of Clyde Best. Their fathers too must have been sickened by what was happening. What went wrong in society? Well one finger of blame could be aimed at Enoch Powel with his “rivers of blood” speech in 1968, but this had no impact to my memory on the terraces. After Powel came people like Martin Webster and John Tyndall - Tyndall been a self-styled Nazi - and many others claiming to be “British Patriots” giving Nazi salutes.

Leading so-called constitutional political figures like British Foreign Secretary Priti Patel do little to stop the racist garbage either at football grounds or anywhere else. Perhaps they are hedging their bets in case the far-right ever gain significant influence in the parliamentary system. The fact is that all football fans, and indeed all in society must stand behind every black and Asian player, in fact all from different ethnic groups like James McClean irrespective of which team they play for. The days of terrace fanaticism, misguided in some ways it may have been - though I still maintain we were young and overenthusiastic - during the sixties and seventies has given way to a far more sinister concept, one which has little to do with football.

On a more positive note, with the rise of right-wing politics on the terraces came a left-wing, anti-fascist movement. This fortunately gave a counterbalance to the fascist right - and not it was not an excuse to go to a game for as scrap - but the terraces could not be left to the fascists and racists to take over. The NF did not succeed at mamy grounds, Tottenham, for example, having a large Jewish support gave the fascists the boot. So not everything was negative but it is certainly raising its ugly head again, despite campaigns like “give racism the boot”. But, fortunately, the racists are still a minority and let's keep it that way, ultimately eliminating even the minority.

Caoimhin O’Muraile is a Dublin 
based Marxist and author. 

6 comments:

  1. Caoimhin

    I think you may be too nostalgic about terrace and football culture generally in the 1960s and 1970s. Albert Johannesen was horribly abused by fans of clubs like Stoke and Swansea according to his biography. He was also racially abused as a form of sledging by Everton players in 1964 and by Liverpool players in the tunnel at Wembley in the 1965 Cup Final.

    His below par performance in that Final set him on the road to alcohol abuse which led to his lonely death in a Leeds high rise flat in 1995. Difficult though it is for me to say this, Don Revie as his manager was not sympathetic to or cognisant of the racism he suffered and which so fatally undermined Albert's self-esteem. It was Billy Bremner who stuck up for Albert and that is one reason why King Billy will always signify LUFC.

    Credit has to be given to anti-racist groups, often supported by Trades Councils, at Leeds, West Ham and other clubs for ridding the terraces of the scourge of the far right.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I remember Clyde Best very well but not Albert Johannesen. Barry, that completely changed my view of Billy Bremner. Well done BB.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "....targeted James McClean for refusing to wear an imperialist token, the poppy. "

    It was his right not to wear it and explain why, but he can't expect to avoid criticism when he's posting selfies wearing German shirts before the England v German game while he plies his trade in England! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  4. Barry

    I remember Albert Johansens death under tragic circumstances regards alcohol. An old Leeds fan found him dead which he felt strongly enough about, if my memory serves me correct, to highlight the horrors of alcohol abuse among players at the time. Was it the Quarrihill flats Albert was found in a state? I'm not sure, it may have been Manni gham Lane, but wherever it was tragic. Billy Bremner, perhaps the least said the better as rumours crossed the penninies, though he did stand up for Albert, but there is a shadow apart from that support? I only saw Albert Johansen once and that was when he played for Yok City in 1970. I could give an opinion on Don Revie shared by many and maybe offensive to the TPQ blog. Only to say what kind of bloke wears a false beard to leave the England, or any other, job to join the UAE? After Englands defeat at Wembley against Poland I think, the headlines read "THE DONS DILLEMA" which should come as no surprise as to why he left, but why the disguise?

    When Albert Johanasen signed for York City my memory in 1970 was him hitting the ball hard and nearly knocking a fans head off. This was nothing to do with any racial abuse but the lad in the small crowd shouted "fucking hell Albert hope you shoot like that on target" not a mention of colour of skin.

    Perhaps the point I'm making is the evil racist common today was more a point of, equally bad, individuals as oppossed to a mob then. Perhaps individual attitudes laid the seeds for todays racism which is sad.

    The trade unions, various left organisations, including and importantly AFA have and are trying to counter this racist disease. Condem a player by all means for his performance but not skin colour.

    As somebody who has been through all stages of fanaticism on the terraces, including our (Man Utd) pitch invasion i 1974 against City to the fights outside St. Andrews, as misguided as they may have been, those fights were about teams and scarves not skin colour.

    If Don Revie and, I really respected Bill Shankly, did nothing to stop fledgling racism I was unaware but will bow to your judgement.

    Just thinking back something springs to mind on Match of the Day back in the early seventies which would aupport your claim about the 1965 FA Cup Fimal.

    As elements of Liverpool may have held sectarian ideas, Everton fans on the Gwladys Street End had a song "Everton are white". Celtic fans, today a credit to anti racism have not always been that way. Man Utd likewise but at Old Trafford the racists were drowned out, until the eighties when their voices became louder. Yet they never travelled away in numbers with United.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Caoimhin

      The Poland defeat happened under Alf Ramsey.

      Revie's last match was the defeat by Scotland at Wembley.

      He was a brilliant club manager but totally unsuited to international team management. He was a flawed man but his insecurity around money was rooted in his childhood experience of poverty in Middlesbrough in the 1930s with his father who waS A joiner being frequently unemployed with the indignity of the means test that that would have entailed.

      It was in the 60s that football firms and the associated terrace rivalry developed as part of youth culture. If there was no obvious racism on the terraces, then certainly was not the case on the outside. Albert recalls being casually called a "n____r" at Heathrow Airport when arriving from South Africa.

      Delete
  5. Steve

    Fair comment providing that criticism is about selfies wearing German shirts before England played Germany. Of course he cannot expect to avoid criticism. England hammered West Germany in 66, and it was great at the time. A brilliant win.
    For James McClean to take selfies of himself wearing a German shirt is, at best, foolish and at worst provocative. That, however does not lower his right not to wear a poppy, after all it is the British Army, not the German who are occupying the six counties, and they who gunned down civillians in Ballymurphy and Derry. So he has every right not to wear a poppy which is a symbol of imperialism and tbeir wars, for the record I would not wear one myself. That said, how would he have felt if Nazi Germany and the SS were parading the streets? This is not to justify in any way the occupation of the North, but people in England with similar views to those of the Third Reich, and there are an increasing number, which is fucking worrying, would point at such symbolosm and claim Ireland or elements of Irish people suppprted Nazi Germany. Its clmplex and he should know better, no question, because he's making a political statement about the poppy while not clarifying his position will cast doubts over his motives. He should perhaps say, look this poppy sybolises war and glory for those who gunned down civllians in my native city. So to expect me to wear a poppy to commemorate and rememver those who killed in cold blood is an insult to my integrity.

    One reason I am not a lover of international football, so many gestures can be misinterpreted like James McClean sporting a German shirt. I'll give him the benefit but only just, I wonder if Stoke fans will be so understanding?

    Stick to your guns James no Imperialist poppy, but lets not forget German Imperialism, after all it was Carson who had tea with the Kaiser long before Casements trip to Germany! Catch yourself on James right gesture, no poppy but bad stragedy wearing a German shirt, why not wear an Ireland top? After all we were neutral.

    ReplyDelete