Brendon Batson
Encyclopedia
Brendon Martin Batson, MBE
(born February 1, 1953) is an English
former association footballer.
Born in St. George's
, Grenada
, Batson's family moved to England when he was nine. Until then he had never even seen a game of football and a teacher at this school, on watching his early efforts and reflecting on his birthplace opined "Well, perhaps cricket
is your game". However, he was signed as a schoolboy by Arsenal
, and was the first black
player to play for the Gunners' first team. In all, he made 10 appearances for Arsenal before moving to Cambridge United
in 1974. He spent four years at Cambridge, captaining the side to the Fourth Division Championship under manager Ron Atkinson
in 1976-77. When Atkinson moved to West Bromwich Albion
in 1978, he attracted Batson to follow him and to team up with fellow black players Cyrille Regis
and Laurie Cunningham
. Never before had an English team simultaneously fielded three black players. Although not by any means the first black footballers to play professionally in England, the Three Degrees (a reference to The Three Degrees
contemporary vocal trio of the same name) were an integral part of their acceptance in the English leagues.
A cultured defender, Batson's career was cut short by a serious playing injury in 1982, following which he developed into an able and active administrator at the Professional Footballers Association. He was capped three times for the England B
team.
He was awarded the MBE for services to football in 2000.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born February 1, 1953) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former association footballer.
Born in St. George's
St. George's, Grenada
St. George's, population 89,018 , with an agglomeration of 4,500 people , is the capital of Grenada, . The city is surrounded by a hillside of an old volcano crater and is on a horseshoe-shaped harbor....
, Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
, Batson's family moved to England when he was nine. Until then he had never even seen a game of football and a teacher at this school, on watching his early efforts and reflecting on his birthplace opined "Well, perhaps cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
is your game". However, he was signed as a schoolboy by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, and was the first black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
player to play for the Gunners' first team. In all, he made 10 appearances for Arsenal before moving to Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
in 1974. He spent four years at Cambridge, captaining the side to the Fourth Division Championship under manager Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
in 1976-77. When Atkinson moved to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in 1978, he attracted Batson to follow him and to team up with fellow black players Cyrille Regis
Cyrille Regis
Cyrille Regis, MBE is a French-born English former footballer. His professional playing career spanned 19 years, where he made 610 league appearances and scored 159 league goals, most prolifically at West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City.-Early life:Regis was born in Maripasoula, French Guiana,...
and Laurie Cunningham
Laurie Cunningham
Laurence Paul "Laurie" Cunningham was an England international footballer. When he joined Real Madrid, he became the first English player in the club's history....
. Never before had an English team simultaneously fielded three black players. Although not by any means the first black footballers to play professionally in England, the Three Degrees (a reference to The Three Degrees
The Three Degrees
The Three Degrees are an American female vocal group. Formed in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,, the group has always been a trio though there have been a number of personnel changes and a total of fourteen women have represented the group so far. The original members were Fayette Pinkney,...
contemporary vocal trio of the same name) were an integral part of their acceptance in the English leagues.
A cultured defender, Batson's career was cut short by a serious playing injury in 1982, following which he developed into an able and active administrator at the Professional Footballers Association. He was capped three times for the England B
England B national football team
England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. At times they have played other nations' full teams; they have also played matches against 'B' teams from other football associations...
team.
He was awarded the MBE for services to football in 2000.