EDUCATOR. HISTORIAN. CONSULTANT.
Howard - John - Mark - Michael - David - Philip - Stanley - Paul - Rigobert - Aboubacar - Djimi
The First11
Liverpool
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Howard Anthony Gayle was born in Toxteth on May 18th 1958 to Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean parents. The Liverpool winger had already made his senior debut whilst on-loan at Fulham in January 1980.
His Liverpool debut against Manchester City in a 3-0 win at Maine Rd. In 1981 he became a European Cup winner, as he played against Bayern Munich in the semi-final en route to Liverpool winning the final.
John Charles Bryan Barnes was born in Kingston Jamaica on November 7th 1963 to Jamaican and Trinidadian parents. Signed from Watford, he made his Liverpool debut against Arsenal in a 2-1 win at Highbury on August 15th 1987.
He became a club legend and made 407 appearances scoring 108 goals between 1987 and 1997. He is Liverpool's first Black goalscorer.
Mark Everton Walters was born in Birmingham on June 2nd 1964 to Jamaican and Nigerian parents. His career began with Aston Villa and he was signed from Glasgow Rangers.
His Liverpool debut came when he replaced Steve MacMahon in a 2-1 win against against Oldham Athletic August 17th 1991. He made 124 appearances and scored 19 goals between 1991 and 1995.
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Michael Lauriston Thomas was born in Lambeth on August 24th 1967 to Jamaican parents. He was signed from Arsenal who had beaten Liverpool to the 1989 title. Thomas was the goalscorer at Anfield on that night.
He made his Liverpool debut against Tottenham Hotspurs in a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane on December 18th 1991. He made 163 appearances and scored 12 goals between 1991 and 1998.
David Benjamin James was born in Welwyn Garden City on August 1st 1970 to English and Jamaican parents. Signed from Watford, he made his debut against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on August 16th 1992.
He became the Premier League's first Black goalkeeper and went onto make 277 appearances between 1992 and 1999.
Philip Andrew Babb was born in Lambeth on November 30th 1970 to Irish and Guyanese parents. The left-footed central defender was signed from Coventry City.
His Liverpool debut came against Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 17th 1994. He went onto make 170 appearances and scored 1 goal between 1994 and 1999, with his last appearance coming on May 16th 1999.
Stanley Victor Collymore was born in Staffordshire to English and Barbadian parents. Signed from Nottingham Forest for £8.5 million, he made his Liverpool debut against Sheffield Wednesday in a 1-0 win at Anfield on August 19th 1995.
He made 81 appearances and scored 35 goals between 1995 and 1997.
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince was born in Ilford London to parents from Trinidad and Tobago. He was signed on July 16th for £4.2 million after spending two seasons with Inter Milan.
He made his Liverpool debut against Wimbledon in a draw at Selhurst Park. He made 81 appearances and scored 17 goals between 1997 and 1999 with his final appearance on May 16th 1999.
Rigobert Song Bahanag was born in Nkenglicock, Cameroon on July 1st 1976. The central defender played in France and Italy in his early career and was signed from Salernitana for £2.7 million.
He made his Liverpool debut against Coventry City at Highfield Rd on January 30th 1999 and made 38 appearances between 1999 and 2000. His last appearance came on September 23rd 2000 before he moved to West Ham United.
Aboubacar Sidiki Camara (known as Titi) was born in Conakry, Guinea in 1972. He played in France in his early career and was signed for £1.5 million from Marseille in 1999.
He made his Liverpool debut on August 7th 1999. It came against Sheffield Wednesday in a 2-1 win at Hillsborough, and he scored the winner on 84 minutes. He made 37 appearances and scored 10 goals between 1999 and 2000.
Djimi Traoré was born in Saint-Ouen, France in 1980 to Malian parents. His early career saw him play for Laval in France before he was signed by Gerard Houllier. He made his Liverpool debut against Hull City in a 5-1 League Cup win at Boothferry Park on September 14th 1999. He went onto make 141 appearances and scored 1 goal between 1999 and 2006. His final appearance came on April 29th 2006.