Sheffield United are supporting The Laurie Cunningham Memorial Dinner, a special event to mark the development of black football in Sheffield.
The event will celebrate the history of black football from Arthur Wharton, who was the first black player to play in the English First Division back in February 1895, when he played for Sheffield United at Sunderland, up to the present day.
Arthur and Laurie are just two of the reasons why Sheffield, the birthplace of football, has played such an important part in the development of the game, and in particular the contribution of black players, both at professional and grassroots level.
Another early Sheffield milestone took place in April 1880, when the world’s first black amateur player, Andrew Watson, played for Glasgow against Sheffield at Bramall Lane.
The forthcoming Laurie Cunningham Memorial Dinner will take place at Sheffield United’s Millennium Suite, on Saturday 16th May 2009.
The dinner is a joint venture between The Hub African Caribbean Centre and Football Unites, Racism Divides, and guests of honour include Paul Elliott MBE, Howard Gayle, Brian Deane, Tony Agana and Keith Cunningham, brother of Laurie, who became the first black player to represent England at Under 21 level at Bramall Lane in April 1977.
Laurie Cunningham will probably always be best remembered as one of West Bromwich Albion's so-called Three Degrees, along with Brendon Batson and Cyrille Regis, in the late 1970's. Although he never played for the Baggies against the Blades, he did appear at Bramall Lane for Orient in a 1-1 draw on 20th November 1976.
In addition, the dinner is a chance to mark the contribution of local black footballers and administrators at grassroots level, several of whom were privileged to meet Laurie when he visited The Hub African Caribbean Centre for a coffee with the youth workers and young footballers, immediately after the 1977 game at Bramall Lane.
Tickets for the event, priced at £25, are available by contacting either Ishaaq Heywood at The Hub on 0114 255 3538 or Howard Holmes at Football Unites, Racism Divides on 0114 255 3156.
Any further enquiries about the event should also be directed to Howard Holmes.
