Results tagged “soccer” from Birmingham Mail - Veron Graham

Congratulations to Paul Ince on becoming the first Black British manager of a premiership team in taking over at Blackburn Rovers. I for one couldn't be happier now that the man dubbed 'The Guv'nor' on the field is now at the helm of a leading soccer club.

Our airwaves and newspapers have been awash with coverage about this - most welcoming his appointment, some even saying that Paul getting this job proves that there isn't any racism in football.

I suggest that the truth lies somewhat short of that. The dearth of Black managers in British football has to be down to the 'r-word.' Still Ince, who was the first Black player to captain the English national team, has to be commended for a number of reasons. Firstly, for having the guts to take a job at the lowest level of professional football in England, League Two Macclesfield Town. He saved them from what looked like certain relegation; next he leads MK Dons to promotion and cup glory.

I still believe that a Black person operating in most professional fields in Britain has to be somewhat better than his/ her white counterparts but Ince has showed that hard work, success and talent can still pay off.

Gwarn Guv'nor!

You don't have to talk about football for long without hearing about the excessive wages the top players are on. However when you see injuries like that poor Eduardo Da Silva of Arsenal sustained the other day, it bears mentioning that there is flip side to taking in all that fame and fortune.

The man's foot was partially severed from his leg at the ankle in a triple break!

As an ex-boxer, I've long had contempt for the way some players fall and roll around like big girl's blouses after the slightest touch but footballers really put themselves on the line each time they cross that white line.

Having said that, do these soccer stars deserve our sympathy or are these injuries just an occupational hazard which every working person faces?