'I was the only black kid in my school'
Paul Parker has detailed the shocking racist abuse he received throughout his school years in Essex.
The former Manchester United full-back is the latest guest on UTD Podcast, and told hosts Sam Homewood and David May all about his time at the club from 1991 and 1996 in an engaging chat.
But perhaps the most striking thing in the discussion was Parker's memories of his time within the English education system.
The ex-England international believes that his tough experiences made him into the person he is today, but anyone listening to the episode could be forgiven for feeling angry at what the youngster had to go through.
UTD Podcast: My experience with racism Video
UTD Podcast: My experience with racism
Paul Parker bravely discusses growing up with racism and how he broke down barriers by playing football…
“Essex was tough,” he admitted. “I grew up in Rainham. We came out of east London, and we went to Rainham because my mum wanted us to move away from the community. She wanted us out of there, so she took us to Rainham, a predominantly white area. There weren't many black families around.
“We'd come out of Forest Gate – a big West Ham area. It's still no different now. Maybe it's got even tougher from when we moved out, when I was about four.
“When it came to senior school, my sister went to a school around the corner [in Rainham] which wasn't too bad. There was a mix of black people and Indian people in there. But I'd go to a school in Hornchurch.”
Parker explained that the problems really started at senior [or secondary] school, where he was the only black student for a lengthy period.
“It was under the three-mile barrier [from his home], which meant I didn't get a bus pass,“ Paul explained. "That meant I was jumping on the buses and then jumping off to get free rides to get closer and save the walk.
“I was the only black kid in the school for quite a while, so I learned to run pretty quick when the bell went to leave school. We were right next to Hornchurch Aerodrome, which Douglas Bader used to fly in and out of. The easiest way to get home safely was to go across the aerodrome.
“The people that chased me had Dr Marten boots and short hair. It was difficult to run across there in the mud. I would have been about 11 or 12. I was quite quick; I used to do cross country for my district and my county as well. It was only when I became a professional footballer that I started to hate long runs!
“I used to run across there to avoid them,” he continued. “It was muddy, so I avoided them and they didn't get hold of me to do whatever they might have talked about... what they wanted to do to me. I'd get home and my mum would wallop the hell out of me because my trousers were filthy! I'd then have to try and dry them and wear them the next day.”
Sadly, the situation continued for some time, with Parker admitted such 'chases' were regular events. He says that things only started to improve when his talents were realised.
“It made me what I am, I believe,“ he stated. “I don't mean quick and a good runner! I just mean as a person. It toughened me up, I didn't back down to anything. I accepted when there was a crowd that I had to run, I had to get away, but it made me more able to accept things and how to deal with things.
“I went through quite a lot in school. It changed as time went on. My brothers came in – my little brother came in two or three years later, then my other brother comes in. In certain ways, I broke down barriers and made it easier for my brothers. The reason why I broke down barriers was because I was a sportsperson. They suddenly saw that I could win things.“
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