EDUCATOR. HISTORIAN. CONSULTANT.
Dennis - Remi - Paul - Laurie - Vivian - Paul - David - Paul - Dion - John - Andrew
The First11
Manchester United
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Dennis Allen Walker was born in Northwich, Cheshire to Irish and Afro-Iranian parents. He became part of the second wave of ‘Busby Babes’ and the right-sided midfielder could also play as a forward.
He made his senior debut in the last fixture of the 1962-63 season, when he was selected to start in place of Bobby Charlton (rested for the upcoming FA Cup final. He became Manchester United’s first Black footballer.
Remi Mark Moses was born in Manchester to English and Jamaican parents. He signed for West Bromwich Albion as an apprentice and the midfielder made his senior debut in 1980.
He moved back to Manchester when signed for £500,000 by Ron Atkinson in 1981. He made his debut when he replaced Sammy McIlroy against Swansea City in a 1-0 win at Old Trafford. In total he made 199 appearances, scoring 12 goals between 1981 and 1988.
Paul McGrath was born in Middlesex to Irish and Nigerian parents but he spent the majority of his childhood in Ireland. His talent saw him sign for St Patricks Athletic where he became Irish Player of the Year.
He was signed for £30,000 in March 1982 and aged 22, he started against Bradford City in the Milk Cup on November 10th at Valley Parade. He was Player of the Match in United’s 1985 FA Cup final and made 199 appearances scoring 16 goals between 1982 and 1989.
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Laurie Paul Cunningham was born in London to Jamaican parents. The winger joined Leyton Orient where he made his senior debut at the age of 18. He joined Manchester United on-loan from Real Madrid.
On April 19th 1983, he replaced Norman Whiteside against Everton at Goodison Park. He became The Reds 4th Black footballer and made 5 appearances, scoring once during his loan period.
Vivian Alexander Anderson was born in Nottingham to Jamaican parents. He joined Nottingham Forest as an apprentice and made his senior debut in 1974. He moved to Arsenal in 1984 and arrived in Manchester three years later for a £250,000 fee.
He made his Manchester United debut on August 15th 1987. Sir Alex Ferguson started the former England right back against Southampton in a draw at The Dell. He went onto make 69 appearances and scored 4 goals before joining Sheffield Wednesday.
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince was born in London to parents from Trinidad and Tobago. At 21 he moved to Manchester United for £1 million and he made his debut on September 16th 1989 against Millwall, in a 5-1 win at Old Trafford.
Ince was instrumental in United’s first Premier league title win which was repeated in the 1993-94 season. The central midfielder also won 2 FA Cups, the League Cup, the European Cup Winners Cup, and the European Super Cup. In total he made 281 appearances scoring 29 goals between 1989 and 1995.
David Lloyd Wallace (Danny) was born in London to Jamaican parents. He became an apprentice with Southampton and made his senior debut in 1980 aged 16 and 314 days (Saints youngest player).
He signed for Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson gave him his debut on September 20th in the League Cup against Portsmouth. The goalscoring forward struck the winner in a 3-2 win at Fratton Park. He went onto make 71 appearances between 1989 and 1993.
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Paul Andrew Parker was born in West Ham, London to Jamaican parents. He made 185 appearances after making his senior debut in 1982 and the right back made his Manchester United debut at Old Trafford on August 17th 1991.
He started against Notts County on the opening day of the 1991-92 season. In his second season he became a league title winner, making history as the Premier League’s first winner from Jamaican ancestry. He won 2 Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup. He made 146 appearances between 1991 and 1996.
Dion Dublin spent his youth career as a striker at Norwich City but he signed for Division 4 Cambridge United in 1988 which is where he made his senior debut. He signed for United in July 1992 and made his debut on August 15th at Bramhall Lane.
His first goal was the matchwinner against Southampton, but 2 games later he suffered a broken leg at Old Trafford. Despite missing matches, Dublin was awarded a Premier League title medal for the 1992-93 season, and made 17 appearances in two seasons at Old Trafford.
John Andrew O’Kane was born in Nottingham to Irish and Barbadian parents. He was wanted by Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough but instead signed for Manchester United and lived in digs with David Beckham near The Cliff training ground.
His first team debut came in his second year as a professional when he replaced Gary Neville in 2-1 League Cup win at Port Vale. On September 21st 1994 he became the club’s 10th Black player. He went onto make 7 appearances between 1994 and 1998.
Andrew Alexander Cole was born in Nottingham to Jamaican parents. He attended the FA’s National School of Excellence as a schoolboy, and joined Arsenal upon leaving in 1988. He was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1995 January transfer window and made his debut on January 22nd 1995 at Old Trafford.
He started in a 1-0 over Blackburn Rovers and went onto win 5 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups and the 1999 UEFA Champions League. He made 275 appearances and scored 121 goals between 1995 and 2001.