The bad old days

[Bladesway]

Surely it shouldn't be an issue or a need for discussion.
Why is his colour an issue?? He is a footballer - full stop!!

Based on that assumption the song they were so badly trying to crowbar into the headline is drawing attention to the colour of someone, which you would say is a bad thing?

My wife is a woman, am I being sexist?

 

[Bladesway]

It must be a matter of interpretation. Perhaps black players were a novelty in the 1990's. I don't base this on moral offence, more on the issue of the highlighting the colour of his skin as if this was some kind of novelty. I have to say that I thought things had moved on by then, so when I said previously about judging by the values of that time, I think even then in the 1990s this is a bit racist.

I'm afraid it was still quite a novelty. If you remember when Deane came back to the lane for Leeds he received racist chants from some sections of the crowd.

When Fenerbache came over the other season there was racist chanting from a large section in the South Stand.

Sadly it still exists.

 

[Swanseablade]

Based on that assumption the song they were so badly trying to crowbar into the headline is drawing attention to the colour of someone, which you would say is a bad thing?

My wife is a woman, am I being sexist?

As I said, it was in a football magazine & that should have been the focus. But it was a different era, I accept that.
The OP is titled "The bad old days" I am just stating my view, if that's ok?

No you're not being sexist.
If you put an article in Top Gear magazine & the headline was "Wife can drive" then that might be different....

You have a wife?
I always presumed you were a woman (apologies for the deliberate sexism).

 

[super_pig]

Being ginger is not a matter of race. Being Scottish is and I feel sure there are some who would be offended for the suggestion that being Scottish was in some way demeaning and part of an insult, whether or not the offence was meant. Your argument seems to be that as YOU are not offended to be defined primarily by your skin colour then it can't be racist. Have you ever been defined by your skin colour or nationality above any other aspect?

Being Scottish is a matter of nationality not race. the Scots are made up of many races not all ginger people are Scottish.. moi for example.

 

[South London Blade]

But it was a different era

Being honest, it wasn't acceptable in the 90s either.

 

[Swanseablade]

Being honest, it wasn't acceptable in the 90s either.

I never said it was acceptable.

 

[South London Blade]

I never said it was acceptable.

I know you didn't and I wasn't having a go at you, so sorry if it came across as such.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Being Scottish is a matter of nationality not race. the Scots are made up of many races not all ginger people are Scottish.. moi for example.

Nationality, skin colour, race, amongst other descriptors are classed as components of racism. Although not the ginger hair. I come from a long line of gingers myself, there's a fleck in my wee beard.

 

[Grecian2000]

Well I'm deeply offended.

"Deane machine of Elland Road"?

Fuck off Shoot,

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I don’t think the article is intended to be “racist” as such but it’s clumsy at best. It was a different time and we have moved forward from there.

I have heard racism at the matches (albeit rare). Blades fans singing “small town in Asia” at Bradford and a few individual shouts of “you black cunt” when a black player does something the fans don’t like (mainly at Jonathan Forte for being rubbish).

It’s disappointing to hear and it’s a sign that despite us moving forward, there is still a way to go.

Even on this very board on the "Unclean from South Barnsley" thread we’ve got comments about “ting tong ladyboys” because of a Thai owner going largely unchallenged.

 

[Jon Bon]

its not racist ,I used to eat jam that had a gollywog on it , doesnt make me a racist

Jon Bon still has the gollywog guitarist badge - which he calls BB King - and the gollywog cricketer badge - which he calls Clive Lloyd.

Jon Bon is neither a racist nor a member of the woolly PC Brigade.

 

[Jon Bon]

The title is demeaning and cringeworthy.

Imagine if this picture were entitled "Ivory In Ebony"...

Window Licker in Ebony would be more appropriate...

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Sorry to hear that. I can only go by my own experience, which has pretty much been shouts of "Gerritupfront", rather than racism. But time moves on and I would like a atmosphere that welcomed any fans who turned up whatever their background. #unitedtogether

Well said, HillmortonBlade.

As someone from an ethnic minority, I have unfortunately had a few racist comments directed at me at football matches in the past. Even more unfortunately (and much to my dismay) some of them by fellow Blades. These took place in the late 1980s when I became a regular at BDTBL. Thankfully, things have vastly improved since then, but we need to continue moving forward towards an inclusive atmosphere.

At the time I questioned myself why I continued to support the Blades, but the answer was clear - I loved the club. Having been brought up within touching distance of BDTBL and hearing the beckoning roar of the crowd, I was inexorably drawn to the place. Becoming a Blade was a natural progression.

As I said, things are so much better now than they used to be, but there's clearly still work to do.

I can safely say that the moments of sheer unbridled joy and shared euphoria on the big match occasions far, far outnumber the few moments I'd rather forget.

UTB

 

[Bladesway]

Adrian Littlejohn had a chant which most of the ground sang (yes it used to happen) which referred to him being black as coal. Now I understand why he left for Plymouth.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Adrian Littlejohn had a chant which most of the ground sang (yes it used to happen) which referred to him being black as coal.

Yes, you're right. Sung to the tune of Robin Hood Riding Through The Glen.

 

[JJ Sefton]

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Well said, HillmortonBlade.

As someone from an ethnic minority, I have unfortunately had a few racist comments directed at me at football matches in the past. Even more unfortunately (and much to my dismay) some of them by fellow Blades. These took place in the late 1980s when I became a regular at BDTBL. Thankfully, things have vastly improved since then, but we need to continue moving forward towards an inclusive atmosphere.

At the time I questioned myself why I continued to support the Blades, but the answer was clear - I loved the club. Having been brought up within touching distance of BDTBL and hearing the beckoning roar of the crowd, I was inexorably drawn to the place. Becoming a Blade was a natural progression.

As I said, things are so much better now than they used to be, but there's clearly still work to do.

I can safely say that the moments of sheer unbridled joy and shared euphoria on the big match occasions far, far outnumber the few moments I'd rather forget.

UTB

Just come across this thread and your post. I do hope things have changed for the better in the last 5 years but i suspect they haven't.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Just come across this thread and your post. I do hope things have changed for the better in the last 5 years but i suspect they haven't.

I think things are getting better, slowly but surely. Mind you, with the lockdown, there's zero racism at football grounds

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I think things are getting better, slowly but surely. Mind you, with the lockdown, there's zero racism at football grounds

Well that's very true.