Thursday,
October 9, 2003 14:41 BST
Southampton's Black Footballers |
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| George
Lawrence in action at The Dell |
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As part of Black History Month, there's a chance to see a special
exhibition celebrating the contribution black footballers have made
to the game in Southampton. |
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Exhibition
Organiser Jazz Bhatti looks back at some of the black players
who have graced The Dell and St Mary's.
The first black player to play professional football for Southampton
was Alf Pious Charles, who played five reserve games scoring two goals
in Jan/Feb 1937.
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| Alf
Pious Charles |
Although
Alf was the first black player to feature for Saints, it was not until
40 years later when a consistent level of black players broke into
the first team.
Tony Sealy began the trend and played for Southampton between 1977/78
before moving onto to Crystal Place. Rueben Agboola then followed
suit playing between 1980-1985. Rueben is now managing the Sporting
View Public House, at the Southampton Sports Centre.
George Lawrence - was next to follow and infact arrived at the same
time as Danny Wallace. George enjoyed two spells at the club where
he affectionately known as 'Chicken George'.
George is the current ambassador of the Racism Just Ain't Saintly
campaign, and regularly visits the St Mary's Stadium to help promote
the anti-racism campaign created by Southampton Football Club and
Southampton City Council.
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| Danny
Wallace |
During
the 1988/89 season Saints created history by becoming the first club
to include three brothers - Danny, Rodney and Raymond Wallace - in
a Division One match.
Thereafter many black players have featured for Southampton including,
Ken Monkou, Ulrich Van Gobbel, Carlton Palmer, Hassan Kachloul, and
Luis Boa Morte.
Today Southampton has many black players at the club, and they are
all very much involved in the aim for success by the Saints.
The current crop of players includes: Darren Kenton, Leandre Griffit,
Agustin Delgado, Yoann Folly, and Fitz Hall.
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| Craig
David at Saints |
The
'Racism just ain't Saintly' campaign got the backing of Saints
fan Craig David during his homecoming visit to the St Mary's Stadium:
"It's important to try and take out the minority of people who
make comments to the majority which are unwarranted. In my own
way, as someone who can influence many, I think we can make a
change."
Football, like society, has evolved and the game in general has
become more accommodating for black Players. Southampton leads
the way with initiatives to help promote football to all communities
and with the 'Racism Just Ain't Saintly' campaign will continue
to celebrate the diversity of our national game.
The exhibition is supported by Kick Racism out of Football, Southampton
FC and the City Council.
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Black
Footballers Exhibition
BBC Broadcasting House and
Southampton
Civic Centre
13th - 17th October 2003
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