Forty years ago, Luther Blissett became the first black footballer to score for England . This week he told Senior Harrodians about his career and his ongoing battle with racism as part of Harrodian's PSHE study of the topic
It takes athleticism, skill and dedication to make it to the top in the hugely competitive world of professional football. A quick flick through Luther Blissett's 'show reel' on YouTube is enough to tell you that the Jamaican-born, Willesden-raised striker who starred in Graham Taylor's Watford side of the 1980s had all those ingredients in abundance. But as Mr Blissett explained to a packed audience of Harrodians who gathered for a special joint Equality, Diversity, Inclusivity (EDI)/PSHE event in the Theatre this week, back then he was one of only a handful of black players in the Football League. In order to make it, he told pupils, he also had to overcome the poisonous barrier of racism. 'Every professional footballer faces injuries in their career. Mine included a fractured skull and a shattered kneecap,' he told his audience. 'I don't remember the pain of any of those physical knocks but it still hurts in the pit of my stomach to remember the name calling that I went through.'
'Every professional footballer faces injuries in their career. Mine included a fractured skull and a shattered kneecap. I don't remember the pain of any of those physical knocks but it still hurts in the pit of my stomach to remember the name calling.'
Luther Blissett
Fortunately, Mr Blissett had the personal courage, resilience and strength of character to stand up to the abuse that was then par for the course for black footballers almost every Saturday afternoon. Five years after his Watford debut he became the first black footballer to score a goal for England, notching a hat trick at Wembley on his debut and then joined the select band of English footballers who have played for AC Milan and ending his career as a Watford legend and the club's greatest ever goal scorer.
Watch an interview in which Luther Blissett discusses racism
In the years since, Luther Blissett has emerged as a powerful voice in the campaign to drive discrimination of all kinds out of football. He explained his own strategies for deailing with everyday racism to onstage interviewers, Mr Rohit Benjamin, who leads Harrodian's EDI Group and Andy Woodward, Deputy Head of Senior School, then provided answers to specific questions from members of the audience. His personal experience will provide valuable insights for Senior pupils who are examining the issue of racism in their PSHE lessons during the next few weeks.