Judging by the response from our INBOX after I said I was going to explore that ever topical subject racism, I thought Id better get it out of the way. Incidentally any apologies to those who have suggested I actually CONDONE racist chanting should be sent to the usual address.
The beginning of the 1996/97 season, George Graham has been in charge for a handful of matches. We are away at Leicester. Clearly the rebuilding work is in progress, but a Leeds team patched up by unknown kids and old heads like Ian Rush are struggling on a sunny, late September day.
I’m sat in the Leicester kop, there are quite a few Leeds fans around me as always is the case on Awaydaze, Leicester are leading 1-0 and knowing that their team have no chance of equalising, some of the Leeds fans decide to bait the home supporters with the chant “You’re just a town full of Paki’s” – a vile reference to Leicester’s multicultural population.
I was disgusted. There were a couple of Asian, Leicester supporters sat around me who genuinely looked hurt and bewildered by the chanting coming from the Burnmoor Street End. Leeds fans, who had battled with the constant tag of racists for years were in for a right rubber-hosing from the likes of self-righteous pillocks like David Mellor on 606 etc.
Even worse, we did not have a leg to stand on in our defence.
The sad thing is, the majority of Leeds fans and Yorkshire folk are not racist. It is fair to say that Leeds fans have had more than their fair share of issues concerning racist chanting down the years, but as long back as 21 years ago the problem was identified by a group of Leeds fans who went on to produce the anti-racist fanzine “Marching Altogether” which was given out freely at matches for several seasons.
The goalscorer that day was Emile Heskey, the big, burly and black Leicester born forward, who on several occasions was linked with a move to Leeds. One “Sunsport/Star” scoop alleged that Heskey had snubbed a £10m transfer to Elland Road, because on one visit he had been baited with chants of “You black bastard” by the home-fans.
I was at that game, I seem to remember that Heskey, despite his hulking frame spent most of the afternoon falling to the ground under the slightest challenge. To add insult to injury, on one occasion, the wet-sponge man was despatched and what the Leeds fans were singing to him was “You SOFT bastard!” and there was no reference to his colour.
During our 3-1 defeat at Filbert Street in December 2000, Lucas Radebe complained he had been abused by someone sitting in the Main Stand, who made an obscure insult for his benefit that only a South African would understand. I often thought this
was evidence that racism comes in differing form. Just because the comments made by Leicester fans to Radebe were more insidious than the vile filth chanted by some of the Leeds fans in September 1996, does it make it any better? I think not When we think of racists, we tend to think of shaven-headed, knuckle-dragging, badly educated thugs! Im sure academic racists exist and have an extended vocabulary of insults beyond the average pisshead out on a Friday/Saurday night abusing curry house waiters and taxi-drivers!
Nevertheless, the Radebe story got very little press compared to the Heskey story, which was obviously the result of him falling over and damaging his hearing on the umpteenth occasion he went to ground that afternoon!
TOMORROW: THE MARTIN O’NEILL SAGA!