EDUCATOR. HISTORIAN. CONSULTANT.
Lawrence - Vivian - Robert - Cyrille - Luther - Garth - Vincent - Justinus - Remi - Daniel - Garry
The First11
Under 21's
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Lawrence Paul Cunningham made his England U21's debut on April 27th 1977. The Leyton Orient player made history at the age of 21, becoming the first Black footballer to play for England U21’s.
He scored the winner against Scotland on his U21's debut. He later on made his Three Lions debut as a West Bromwich Albion player, starting against Wales at Wembley stadium.
He went onto win 6 senior caps between 1979 and 1980.
Vivian Alexander Anderson was 18 years of age when he made his debut for England U21's.
On March 3rd 1978 he started and scored in a 2-1 win against Italy at Maine Road in Manchester.
This was his only cap at this level, as he moved onto senior duties and became the very first Black footballer to represent the Three Lions. He won 6 senior caps between 1979 and 1980.
Robert Joseph Hazell made his U21's debut on September 19th 1978. The defender started in a 2-1 win against Denmark.
He was born in Kingston Jamaica and after moving to Birmingham he became a professional for Wolves, the team he played for at the time of his England U21's debut.
It was his sole U21's cap but he also won caps at youth level and for England B.
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Cyrille Regis made his U21's debut on September 19th 1978. He was born in French Guiana and was a West Bromwich Albion player at the time of his England U21's debut.
He made 6 appearances at this level and scored 3 goals. He went onto make his senior England debut on February 23rd 1982, when he replaced Trevor Francis against Northern Ireland at Wembley.
He won 5 senior caps between 1982 and 1987.
Luther Loide Blissett OBE made his England U21's debut on February 6th 1979. He started against Wales in a 1-0 win at Vetch Field.
He made 4 appearances for the 21's before making his senior debut for the ThreeLions. He made history as he became the first Watford player to win a senior England cap.
He won 14 senior caps between 1982 and 1984 is the first Black footballer to score a hat-trick for England men.
Garth Anthony Crooks made his England U21's debut on November 20th 1979. He started in a 5-0 win against Bulgaria and scored a hat-trick.
Born in Stoke to Jamaican parents, he made 4 appearances and scored 3 goals.
Vincent Mark Hilaire made his England U21's debut on November 11th 1979.
The Crystal Palace winger started against Bulgaria in a 5-0 win and he also scored one goal.
He made 9 appearances and scored 1 goal between 1979 and 1982.
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Justinus Soni Fashanu made his England U21's on April 16th 1980.
The Norwich City starlet started against East Germany at Bramhall Lane.
He made 11 appearances and scored 5 goals between 1982 and 1984 whilst representing Norwich City and Nottingham Forest.
Daniel Joseph Thomas made his England U21's debut on February 25th 1981.
He started against the Republic of Ireland in a 1-0 win. He later became a 2-time winner of the U21’s European Championships in 1982 and 1984.
Thomas won 7 U21's caps and went onto make his senior England debut on June 12th 1983, winning 2 senior caps.
Garry Lindsey Thompson made his England U21's debut on April 28th 1981.
He was 20 years old when he started against Romania in a 3-0 win at the County Ground in Swindon. Remi Moses was also in the starting line-up.
Thompson won 6 U21's caps and scored 3 goals between 1981 and 1982.
Remi Mark Moses made his England U21's debut on November 18th 1980. He started in a 5-0 win against Switzerland at Portman Rd.
He went onto win 8 caps at this level whilst playing in the West Bromwich Albion first team.