Profile of Brendon M. Batson on Famous Like Me

Brendon M. Batson, MBE (born February 1, 1953) was an English association footballer.

Born St Georges, 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. In all, he made 10 appearances for Arsenal before moved to Cambridge United. When maverick Cambridge manager Ron 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. The Three Degrees, as they became known, in reference to the contemporary vocal trio of the same name, challenged the established racism of English football and marked a watershed that allowed a generation of footballers to enter the game who would previously have been excluded by their ethnic background.

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 awarded the MBE for services to football in 2000.

Bibliography

• Bowler, D & Bains, J (2000) Samba in the Smethwick End: Regis, Cunningham, Batson and the Football Revolution ISBN 1840181885

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