1st black player to play for SUFC

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

So there may have been a black player some time ago but by and large the emergence of black players for SUFC seems to have come about in 1985 with Welch and Cadette. Why was it so late? Given our geographic position it feels astonishing. I can remember in the latter seventies that I heard a number of different supporters (cough, bigots) stating categorically that our club will never have black players and if it did they would be hounded out by the supporters. I am not subscribing to a conspiracy here but it is odd that we were so late coming to the party. Any thoughts or recollections?

You have to realise that before the Seventies there was hardly any black players in our football leagues. When Clyde Best made his debut for Spam in 1969, everyone seemed a little shocked. There was outrage at Upton Park, as even some of his own supporters would boo or give him monkey chants etc. At Arsenal in the Seventies even the black and white crowd were seperated. The black and half cast supporters went in the East Paddock near the North Bank, by their own choosing. More black players came into the game, more because they had played it at school and seen it on the tele, rather than they had followed in their fathers footsteps. Nearly all the West Indians that emigrated here were into Cricket and knew nothing of football. So this next generation took up the game and black players became more of a common site year after year. Of course, as the black population multiplyed, then more came into the game. Why Southend didn't sign one before 1985(Yet to be confirmed) I don't know. Yes I did hear monkey chants at Roots Hall. But it was more to put the opposing black players off, rather than racist. I know that is wrong and sounds wrong. Yes there were a few real racists, but not many. Was the club racist in any way? I don't think so, and never heard anything to suggest it.

 

[RHB]

I remember Albert Johanneson playing for Leeds early 60s. He started with them in 1961 and lasted a decade. Going back a bit further there was Charlie Williams. He turned professional, and signing for Doncaster Rovers in 1948, aged 19. For those you old enough to remember he went on to have a career as a professional comedian and game show host.

 

[onceknownasrab]

I remember Albert Johanneson playing for Leeds early 60s. He started with them in 1961 and lasted a decade. Going back a bit further there was Charlie Williams. He turned professional, and signing for Doncaster Rovers in 1948, aged 19. For those you old enough to remember he went on to have a career as a professional comedian and game show host.

Oh that Charlie Williams. I had not realised he was a footballer in his early life. Alreet flower! :smile:

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Everton did not have a black player until 1994 (Daniel Amokachi) so I would imagine there were other clubs who were fielding black players later then we were.

Good spot. That amazes me though.

I went to see Everton play in the late 1980's and quite a few times the chant of 'Everton are white' was sung by a large proportion of the crowd.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Would the club know who it was .

The club have very few historical records.
Even if they did I doubt in the 1960's there was a box on an employment form asking for ethnic identity or whatever its called.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

So there may have been a black player some time ago but by and large the emergence of black players for SUFC seems to have come about in 1985 with Welch and Cadette. Why was it so late? Given our geographic position it feels astonishing. I can remember in the latter seventies that I heard a number of different supporters (cough, bigots) stating categorically that our club will never have black players and if it did they would be hounded out by the supporters. I am not subscribing to a conspiracy here but it is odd that we were so late coming to the party. Any thoughts or recollections?

Not quite the same and his name has been mentioned before in similar threads on here and that is Bud Houghton who played for us in the late 1950's was of Anglo/Indian mixed race.

As mentioned by TSNB I don't think we were that late in signing black players. In the mid 80's I cant remember many visiting teams having more than one black player.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

I remember Albert Johanneson playing for Leeds early 60s. He started with them in 1961 and lasted a decade. Going back a bit further there was Charlie Williams. He turned professional, and signing for Doncaster Rovers in 1948, aged 19. For those you old enough to remember he went on to have a career as a professional comedian and game show host.

I remember Williams being on the pitch (with a microphone) before a Donnie v Southend match at the old ground (Belle Vue? and that was a right old dump of a place) - possibly mid 1990s with that appalling goalie (whose name I can never remember) appearing for us. We lost and lost badly I think.

Isn't it nice to have players who have links to their local club?

 

[Mick]

I remember Williams being on the pitch (with a microphone) before a Donnie v Southend match at the old ground (Belle Vue? and that was a right old dump of a place) - possibly mid 1990s with that appalling goalie (whose name I can never remember) appearing for us. We lost and lost badly I think.

Isn't it nice to have players who have links to their local club?

Hmmm .... never played at Doncaster in the 90s and until that wretched play-off match never lost there by more than two goals.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Hmmm .... never played at Doncaster in the 90s and until that wretched play-off match never lost there by more than two goals.

The play-off match was at the new ground and this was at the old ground. I could well be wrong about the date ..... I shall have to don my deerstalker and see what's what .............:sherlock:


The new ground (Stadium Way) opened in 2006/7 so it was before then and I think the goalie was Emberson and the phrase we "lost badly" means we were ***** on that day.

 

[AndyT]

At Arsenal in the Seventies even the black and white crowd were seperated. The black and half cast supporters went in the East Paddock near the North Bank, by their own choosing.

Is there a source for that 'Seventies' and a date during that decade, as I went to Arsenal quite a few times as a lad and never witnessed that, particularly?

 

[LCBB72]

You have to realise that before the Seventies there was hardly any black players in our football leagues. When Clyde Best made his debut for Spam in 1969, everyone seemed a little shocked. There was outrage at Upton Park, as even some of his own supporters would boo or give him monkey chants etc. At Arsenal in the Seventies even the black and white crowd were seperated. The black and half cast supporters went in the East Paddock near the North Bank, by their own choosing. More black players came into the game, more because they had played it at school and seen it on the tele, rather than they had followed in their fathers footsteps. Nearly all the West Indians that emigrated here were into Cricket and knew nothing of football. So this next generation took up the game and black players became more of a common site year after year. Of course, as the black population multiplyed, then more came into the game. Why Southend didn't sign one before 1985(Yet to be confirmed) I don't know. Yes I did hear monkey chants at Roots Hall. But it was more to put the opposing black players off, rather than racist. I know that is wrong and sounds wrong. Yes there were a few real racists, but not many. Was the club racist in any way? I don't think so, and never heard anything to suggest it.

John Charles who played before Clyde Best was very highly thought of by the West Ham fans , when Clyde Best played West Ham had a few black supporters on there North Bank .

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

John Charles who played before Clyde Best was very highly thought of by the West Ham fans , when Clyde Best played West Ham had a few black supporters on there North Bank .

I didn't say all West Ham supporters were racist, but there was definitely an element. I remember my spam supporting friends telling me about it. I also remember reading about the vocal abuse Clyde Best was getting from some of his own fans, although most held him in high regard. I think it was the Daily Mirror at the time, I will try and find it. I did find this.....
In the 1960s, West Ham United players Clyde Best, who is black and from Bermuda, and Ade Coker were subjected to "monkey chants" and had bananas thrown at them during West Ham's games. Best had blamed this on the influence of the National Front on the football terraces and at West Ham.

In the 1980s, racism in football in England was rampant. Paul Canoville was abused by his own fans when he warmed up for Chelsea before making his debut. Garth Crooks was regularly subject to racist chants and banners from opposing fans during his time at Spurs. Cyrille Regis endured monkey chants from Newcastle United fans on his away début for West Bromwich Albion and was later sent a bullet in the mail following his call-up to the England squad. In 1987 John Barnes was pictured back-heeling a banana off the pitch during a match for Liverpool against Everton, whose fans chanted "Everton are white"

 

[blake]

I well remember our own Richard Cadette being subjected to monkey chants by Hartlepool supporters at Roots Hall. It was continuous through the match. To add insult to injury the Echo then praised those supporters for cheering on their team in contrast to the Southend supporters who were quiet throughout. This prompted me to write to Hartlepool complaining about their racist supporters and to the Echo suggesting that instead of praising the Hartlepool supporters they should have been condemning them. Needless to say Hartlepool didn't reply and the Echo published only an edited version of my letter.

 

[rigsby]

I well remember our own Richard Cadette being subjected to monkey chants by Hartlepool supporters at Roots Hall. It was continuous through the match. To add insult to injury the Echo then praised those supporters for cheering on their team in contrast to the Southend supporters who were quiet throughout. This prompted me to write to Hartlepool complaining about their racist supporters and to the Echo suggesting that instead of praising the Hartlepool supporters they should have been condemning them. Needless to say Hartlepool didn't reply and the Echo published only an edited version of my letter.

Monkey hangers making monkey noises. Should have steamed in to them :winking:

 

[Kevin Hogg]

I do not think we were particularly slow (by FL standards at the time) in embracing black players. WHU were deffo ahead of the game with Clyde Best and Ade Coker in the early 70's. Then Orient had Laurie Cunningham, WBA had Cyril Regis etc.
I went to Wembley on the night Viv Anderson became the first black player to play for England ..as late as 1978.

 

[buffalowolf]

Not quite the same and his name has been mentioned before in similar threads on here and that is Bud Houghton who played for us in the late 1950's was of Anglo/Indian mixed race.

As mentioned by TSNB I don't think we were that late in signing black players. In the mid 80's I cant remember many visiting teams having more than one black player.

I remember Bud Houghton ,he followed aftre Roy Hollis back in the late 50s,decent player too.

 

[Jai]

The play-off match was at the new ground and this was at the old ground. I could well be wrong about the date ..... I shall have to don my deerstalker and see what's what .............:sherlock:


The new ground (Stadium Way) opened in 2006/7 so it was before then and I think the goalie was Emberson and the phrase we "lost badly" means we were ***** on that day.

That was August 2003, we lost 2-0, it was early season and we were dire.

 

[Jai]

I didn't say all West Ham supporters were racist, but there was definitely an element. I remember my spam supporting friends telling me about it. I also remember reading about the vocal abuse Clyde Best was getting from some of his own fans, although most held him in high regard. I think it was the Daily Mirror at the time, I will try and find it. I did find this.....
In the 1960s, West Ham United players Clyde Best, who is black and from Bermuda, and Ade Coker were subjected to "monkey chants" and had bananas thrown at them during West Ham's games. Best had blamed this on the influence of the National Front on the football terraces and at West Ham.

In the 1980s, racism in football in England was rampant. Paul Canoville was abused by his own fans when he warmed up for Chelsea before making his debut. Garth Crooks was regularly subject to racist chants and banners from opposing fans during his time at Spurs. Cyrille Regis endured monkey chants from Newcastle United fans on his away début for West Bromwich Albion and was later sent a bullet in the mail following his call-up to the England squad. In 1987 John Barnes was pictured back-heeling a banana off the pitch during a match for Liverpool against Everton, whose fans chanted "Everton are white"

What puzzles me about west ham is it is a very multicultural area but their support seems to be predominantly white. Something not quite right about that. Can only think black and asian fans feel intimidated going along? They also seem to target their marketing in the Essex corridor rather than their own doorstep which is odd.

I for one wish they'd stick to their own area rather than leafleting homes in Benfleet/Leigh/Rochford with season ticket offers. Not that anyone sensible would be muggy enough to take them up in that car crash of a stadium.

 

[Kevin Hogg]

What puzzles me about west ham is it is a very multicultural area but their support seems to be predominantly white. Something not quite right about that. Can only think black and asian fans feel intimidated going along? They also seem to target their marketing in the Essex corridor rather than their own doorstep which is odd.

I for one wish they'd stick to their own area rather than leafleting homes in Benfleet/Leigh/Rochford with season ticket offers. Not that anyone sensible would be muggy enough to take them up in that car crash of a stadium.

From my very rare visits to other stadiums and from seeing people wearing club merchandise - it appears that Arsenal have a high proportion of black supporters compared with Chelsea, Spurs or Spammers.
However, WHU's ex-"Top Man" Cass Pennant is black.

 

[Kevin Hogg]

What puzzles me about west ham is it is a very multicultural area but their support seems to be predominantly white. Something not quite right about that. Can only think black and asian fans feel intimidated going along? They also seem to target their marketing in the Essex corridor rather than their own doorstep which is odd.

I for one wish they'd stick to their own area rather than leafleting homes in Benfleet/Leigh/Rochford with season ticket offers. Not that anyone sensible would be muggy enough to take them up in that car crash of a stadium.

Jai, it is a free country and no trade barriers between Essex and East London. Of course WHU will promote themselves in what sadly is a hotbed of support - Essex. They would be insane not to. Do you expect them to market themselves in Bucks or Berkshire?

Is up to Southend United to promote themselves as the local community club and galvanise pride and support from our area.
Business is business!