Summary
IT was in March, 1973, that I was shaken for the first time by the bitterness of racial abuse at a football ground. Derby County were playing Arsenal at Highbury and Tony Parry, a black player signed from Hartlepool United, went on as a substitute. The source surprised me. It was not shouted from the terraces but came almost conversationally from an elderly couple with season tickets next to the press box.
In those days, the report for the Football Special was dictated over the telephone. We always hired the instrument from Hayters, the agency that covered all London clubs, and the Telegraph was allocated the same seat every year, at the end of a row next to the Arsenal supporters. I had exchanged pleasantries with this couple several times over three seasons. They were smartly dressed, probably pensioners and had a good knowledge of all things to do with the Gunners.See the full content of this document
Extract
Issues
Parry's appearance changed my view of them. The sheer bile that came from the husband, loud enough for me to hear even while making sure the copy taker in the office was c...
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