[Football] The Laurie Cunningham story

[Icy Gull]

Just saw this on the BBC Sport site.

Well worth a read, especially for those of a certain age who remember his skill and sadly the racism from the terraces at the time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58822497

 

[Perfidious Albion]

That brought back some memories. Cunningham was indeed a flair player, on his day he had the beating of anybody.
It makes you realise how football has changed, WBA challenging for the title ? The league was much more open before the Sky money came in.
Bats on, Regis and Cunningham... what a trio to have in your team....

 

[Icy Gull]

That brought back some memories. Cunningham was indeed a flair player, on his day he had the beating of anybody.
It makes you realise how football has changed, WBA challenging for the title ? The league was much more open before the Sky money came in.
Bats on, Regis and Cunningham... what a trio to have in your team....

Indeed, odd and a shame that Ron Atkinson was fired for racism as a pundit when he was at the forefront of playing black players too.

 

[Frankworthington]

Was there when he made his international debut against Wales in 1079

Very sad

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Was there when he made his international debut against Wales in 1079

Very sad

1079? Did he come over with William the Conqueror?

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

ITV showed a really good documentary about him a few years ago. It doesn’t appear to be on their on demand service but is on daily motion. Well worth a watch for people like me who were too young to remember his West Brom days and the impact he had on the game clearly.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xywddi

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Read this earlier on and was shocked to be reminded of all the throwing banana stuff, even worse about the National Front people waiting at grounds to spit on black players as they arrived at grounds. Makes me all the more supportive of the take the knee thing, and why I am pleased to see it applauded.

Also read from the Guardian this morning an article about Michael Johnson and a new podcast of his about Black People in Sport and Politics, about how Tommie Smith and John Carlos were vilified in the US after the black power salute in the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. Johnson only realised it from his research in to things like their stride patterns.

I have enormous respect for Michael Johnson in every respect, as an athlete, a pundit and a human being. What some of his predecessors in sport, like Smith and Cunningham have been through is horrendous, shameful, hateful.

I remember the simple wisdom of my mother in the 60s (she died in 1970 so it must have been in the 60s) who used to say “we’re all the same under the skin”. I just don’t “get” racism.

 

[smillie's garden]

Didn't remember that he was on loan to Man U when we played them in '83 final.

 

[Frankworthington]

1079? Did he come over with William the Conqueror?

Lol

That was 1066.Sorry typing error!!

 

[Fat Boy Fat]

Was there when he made his international debut against Wales in 1079

Very sad

I was there when his great great great great, etc., grandson played against Wales in 1979.