The match was arranged as a testimonial for West Brom midfielder Len Cantello.
Brendon Batson says he and other players jumped at the opportunity to play in a black versus white testimonial match in 1979
At the time racism towards black players from the terraces was rife, but Batson said the match helped strengthen the bond between black players in the English game at the time. “There were lads turning up on the night that we hadn’t known at all. We had the nucleus of the team, but I always remember Noel Blake, who was only 18 at the time, he just wanted to be part of the scene. So it was really a novelty idea to bring as many people in as possible for Lenny Cantello.
The black team featured Batson and his Baggies team-mates Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis, collectively nicknamed ‘The Three Degrees’ in reference to the 70s black female soul trio, along with other star names from the time like Wolves duo George Berry and Bob Hazell. “It was just accepted as a testimonial game, something different. We had a black team, it was a chance to see black players playing together, and that was it. There was no thought about the social impact uppermost in our minds, it was just going to be something different and a bit of fun.”
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