More than a game: the legacy of football’s Black pioneers

In visits to Capital City College’s Tottenham and Enfield campuses this October, researcher and historian Bill Hern gave informative talks about the lasting legacy of the Black football pioneers who broke down barriers and inspired change on and off the pitch.

Bill has always had an interest in and deep respect for Black history. “I am a historian, and I love all sorts of history”, says Bill. “I love Black history because there’s a lot to discover. I love football, but not many teams knew who their first black player was or didn’t care, but this is something I think is important to highlight.”

A powerful example of this history can be found close to home, as near our Tottenham campus is the world-famous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, home to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspurs, who welcomed their first Black player in 1909. Walter Tull, the grandson of an enslaved man from Barbados, played as half back and inside forward for the team for two years.

In 2020, Bill co-authored the book Football’s Black Pioneers, in which he explores the story of the first black player to represent each of the Football League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspurs’s Walter Tull and Arsenal FC’s centre-forward Brendan Batson, who signed with the club aged 17.

As Bill says, these clubs are just a few miles away from CCC’s campuses and “have a really important part to play in black football history”, and proudly champion their former players’ legacies.

Bill’s visit also opened up important conversations about modern-day racism in football. When asked what can be done to tackle racism in the sport, Bill was clear: “It’s not a football problem, it’s a society problem. Zero tolerance is really important and we need to make sure we always take action. We’ve seen examples of racist behaviour from crowds, which is totally unacceptable, and it must be challenged every time.”

For many students, the session was more than just a history lesson – it was a spark of inspiration and encouragement.

Pedro Mongo, who is studying Level 3 Sport Extended BTEC, said: “I really liked the presentation because it highlighted the Black pioneers of sport. As a Black person myself, hearing about the people who came before me and how they had to fight to reach the professional stage really inspired me. It made me want to learn more about the history and how long people have been fighting to be treated equally.”

Reflecting on his visit, Bill said he was impressed by the college and its students: “I was absolutely delighted to be invited to come and speak. The students were engaged and curious, and I hope they’ve gone away having learned something. These stories are very relevant today – when they hear one of [the players’] names in the future, I hope they’ll remember what we discussed.”

The inspirational talk was a reminder that understanding the past is essential to building a better tomorrow, and the skill and determination of football’s Black pioneers continue to inspire new generations not only to pursue their dreams, but also to challenge injustice, and in doing so, build a fairer future for all, on and off the football pitch.

Discover how we’re championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and explore our courses in history and our sports academies.

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