"Black" Players

[Flyingkiwi]

I'm not 100% sure where this should be (Team/General Football) but no matter.

A while back, I was thinking about when I first went to Elm Park to watch RFC in the early to mid 1970's. I was thinking about some of the great names of that era, Bowman, Friday, Death, etc, and it struck me that I could not remember one "black" player in the Reading team of that era. Certainly, I remember several from later, (Gilkes, Shaka, etc) and in modern times, quite a lot, but I've no idea who the first was. Somebody tell me please.

Secondly, up until this season, CCTV hasn't had the rights to show Premier League games (or any English football) but they have had live Bundesliga and French 1st division football. A number of the French teams have black goalkeepers and some of them are pretty damn good but I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of black goalkeepers I can remember playing in England that have been even reasonably proficient at the trade.

Then today, up pops this article in The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009 ... footballer Arthur Wharton, first black professional footballer in England, a goalkeeper and I have never heard of him.

[Schards#2]

Andy Allayne - full back mid 70's

[exileinleeds]

Walter Tull was the first outfield black player. Played iirc correctly for Spurs- ended up at Northampton - there is a monument to him at their ground.
Was also the first ever officer in the British Army.

Killed in WW1.

Bit of a hero of mine, hence my secondary support when we got to the prem of the Cobblers.

[Deathy]

Andy Allayne - full back mid 70's

Alleyne.

My dad and uncle went to school and played football with Andy Alleyne in what was then the equivilant to Reading's reserve team.
By coincidence I also went to school and played for Little Heath with his son Adrian.

[Four Of Clubs]

My dad and uncle went to school and played football with Andy Alleyne in what was then the equivilant to Reading's reserve team.
By coincidence I also went to school and played for Little Heath with his son Adrian.

... doesn't he have another son Anthony, ex-Burnham, Thatcham & Newbury more recently of Kintbury and now @ Milton Utd - forward, excellent scoring record - or is that a nephew?

Also fairly certain many years ago his Mum used to work in the same office as me.

Andy's claim to fame (or infamy) was a belting og - or so my mate tells me - was mid 70's shortly before I came back to the area.

[Deathy]

My dad and uncle went to school and played football with Andy Alleyne in what was then the equivilant to Reading's reserve team.
By coincidence I also went to school and played for Little Heath with his son Adrian.

... doesn't he have another son Anthony, ex-Burnham, Thatcham & Newbury more recently of Kintbury and now @ Milton Utd - forward, excellent scoring record - or is that a nephew?

Also fairly certain many years ago his Mum used to work in the same office as me.

Andy's claim to fame (or infamy) was a belting og - or so my mate tells me - was mid 70's shortly before I came back to the area.

Not sure about Anthony. He isn't in Adi's friends list on Facebook anyway.

Regarding Andy Alleyne's claim to fame, older posters may be better placed to comment, but my old man always used to talk about how he scored from about the halfway line once.

It is a huge family though, the Alleyne's.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Seem to recall a Biscuitmen v Bradford game

Andy Alleyne (himself/or a member of whose family once owned the house that I now live in) for us,

Ces Podd (whose name that gave immense mirth to a spotty kid) for them

[bobbybottler]

Was also the first ever officer in the British Army.

Was also the first ever black officer in the British Army

[Flyingkiwi]

Andy Allayne - full back mid 70's

Alleyne.

My dad and uncle went to school and played football with Andy Alleyne in what was then the equivilant to Reading's reserve team.
By coincidence I also went to school and played for Little Heath with his son Adrian.

OK. Any relation to the cricketer Mark Alleyne?

I have an old team photo from around about 1975 at home somewhere, and I distnctly recall there being one, if not two, black members of the squad (now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure there were at least two) but couldn't put a name to either face.

I was still fairly young in 1975.

[Stooper]

Seem to recall a Biscuitmen v Bradford game

Andy Alleyne (himself/or a member of whose family once owned the house that I now live in) for us,

Ces Podd (whose name that gave immense mirth to a spotty kid) for them

Still a legend at Bradford City, according to my Bantam old man.

[Four Of Clubs]

Regarding Andy Alleyne's claim to fame, older posters may be better placed to comment, but my old man always used to talk about how he scored from about the halfway line once.

... that's the very fellah - over-hit back pass - sailed over Deathy's - the Keeper not you head - my mate seems to think it was against Stockport?

... so maybe Anthony is a cousin or summink?

... though he'd be about the right age to be the son of the lady who worked as a temp in our office back in the 90's.
...and I was almost certain she was Andy's wife - think I found an old team photo for her too.

... then again maybe her son was Adrian?

[Jackson Corner]

Didn't the Alleynes live down the Wokingham road in Earley? Was Steve Richardson Readings second black player?

[papereyes]

Walter Tull was the first outfield black player. Played iirc correctly for Spurs- ended up at Northampton - there is a monument to him at their ground.
Was also the first ever officer in the British Army.

I think there's a word missing.

There was actually a half decent drama about him on BBC 4 last year.

Then today, up pops this article in The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009 ... footballer Arthur Wharton, first black professional footballer in England, a goalkeeper and I have never heard of him.

Really? iirc, he died a penniless, syphillitic wretch.

[rabidbee]

Walter Tull was the first outfield black player.

Strictly speaking, 'mixed race'. Did you enjoy the BBC4 dramatisation?

[exileinleeds]

Walter Tull was the first outfield black player.

Strictly speaking, 'mixed race'. Did you enjoy the BBC4 dramatisation?

Didn't see it, unfortunately. Pretty incredible story.

Thanks to those who pointed out that I missed the word "black" when referring to him in the British Army.

[Slinky]

My dad and uncle went to school and played football with Andy Alleyne in what was then the equivilant to Reading's reserve team.
By coincidence I also went to school and played for Little Heath with his son Adrian.

... doesn't he have another son Anthony, ex-Burnham, Thatcham & Newbury more recently of Kintbury and now @ Milton Utd - forward, excellent scoring record - or is that a nephew?

Also fairly certain many years ago his Mum used to work in the same office as me.

Andy's claim to fame (or infamy) was a belting og - or so my mate tells me - was mid 70's shortly before I came back to the area.

Not sure about Anthony. He isn't in Adi's friends list on Facebook anyway.

Regarding Andy Alleyne's claim to fame, older posters may be better placed to comment, but my old man always used to talk about how he scored from about the halfway line once.

It is a huge family though, the Alleyne's.

Anthony was in my year at school and lived in fords Farm if that helps. Not sure what his dad (or maybe unlce) was called though!

[bobbybottler]

... though he'd be about the right age to be the son of the lady who worked as a temp in our office back in the 90's.

Was that Mo?

If so, what office are you talking about?

[Four Of Clubs]

... though he'd be about the right age to be the son of the lady who worked as a temp in our office back in the 90's.

Was that Mo?

If so, what office are you talking about?

Yup Maureen was her name - BT Offices Greyfriars - don't think she was there very long - used to employ quite a lot of Agency staff back then.

[bobbybottler]

... though he'd be about the right age to be the son of the lady who worked as a temp in our office back in the 90's.

Was that Mo?

If so, what office are you talking about?

Yup Maureen was her name - BT Offices Greyfriars - don't think she was there very long - used to employ quite a lot of Agency staff back then.

Your suspicion is correct, that is his Mum - she worked at Energis for a while as well.