Whites v Blacks: How Football Changed a Nation
Adrian Chiles looks into an extraordinary game of professional football that took place in May 1979, where an all-white team took on a side comprised solely of black players.
On 16 May 1979, an extraordinary game of professional football took place that, if played today, would very possibly cause uproar, mass protest and a media frenzy. As part of Len Cantello's testimonial at West Bromwich Albion, an all-white team took on a side comprised solely of black players - 'whites against blacks'.
For the white team, it was nothing more than a lighthearted gimmick, but for the black players it represented so much more. It was a game they had to win. Racism was rife, and black people were far from welcome on the pitch, in the stands or in the boardroom.
In this film, presenter Adrian Chiles journeys across England to discover the truths, taboos and real meaning behind this remarkable game. He uncovers rarely seen footage and reunites players from both teams, including Ally Robertson, Tony 'Bomber' Brown, Cyrille Regis and Brendan Batson.
Today, around 30 per cent of English professionals are black. They are role models and superstars, some earning in excess of Β£100,000 a week. On the surface, everything seems rosy, but how far have we really come? Through encounters with stars like Ian Wright, Les Ferdinand and Dion Dublin, Adrian contrasts the attitudes and conflicts that swirled around that infamous game with the reality of being a black player in the modern era.
Last on
Clips
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"We could hear every racial chant"
Duration: 01:15
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"I was more Malcolm X than Martin Luther King"
Duration: 01:00
Music Played
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UB40
25%
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Gary Numan
Cars
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UB40
Reefer Madness
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The Specials
Ghost Town
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Ernest Ranglin
Surfin'
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Tina Charles
I Love To Love
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The Police
Walking On The Moon
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Harry J. Allstars
Liquidator
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New Order
World In Motion
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New Order
World In Motion
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Adrian Chiles |
Writer | Adrian Chiles |
Executive Producer | Narinder Minhas |
Production Manager | Lauren Armstrong |
Participant | Laurie Rampling |
Participant | Ally Robertson |
Participant | Tony Brown |
Participant | John Wile |
Participant | Brendan Batson |
Participant | Cyrille Regis |
Participant | Bob Hazell |
Participant | George Berry |
Participant | Joy Hazell |
Participant | Maureen Berry |
Participant | Nigel Bromage |
Participant | Keith Cunningham |
Participant | Nicky Brown |
Participant | John Deol |
Participant | Mantei Deol |
Participant | Naydeep Deol |
Participant | Vernon Hodgson |
Participant | Ian Wright |
Participant | Dion Dublin |
Participant | Jason Roberts |
Participant | Les Ferdinand |
Production Company | Sugar Films |
Broadcasts
- Sun 27 Nov 2016 21:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Wales
- Sun 27 Nov 2016 21:10Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two Wales
- Wed 4 Jan 2017 02:05
- Wed 17 Jan 2018 23:15
- Thu 5 Jul 2018 22:00