Viv Anderson was the first black player to represent the senior England team. Born in 1956 in Nottingham, Anderson's playing career started at Nottingham forest and he went on to play for Arsenal, Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday. A gifted full back, Anderson was a vital part of Brain Clough's double European cup-winning Forest team of 1979 - 1980.
Anderson then moved to Arsenal in 1984 for a fee of £250,000, and soon added to his own silverware collection by winning the league cup final against Liverpool in 1987. Following this, he moved to Manchester United where he was new manager Alex Ferguson's first signing. During his early years at Old Trafford, Anderson was a an integral part of Alex Ferguson's team, but eventually fell out of favor and left on a free transfer in 1991 to join Sheffield Wednesday.
Viv Anderson went on to represent England on 30 different occasions, scoring two goals. He now works as a goodwill ambassador for the Football Association, and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Viv Anderson became the first black player to appear in a full international for England, making his senior debut against Czechoslovakia in 1978. He went onto play for England 30 times during an impressive career. Viv won almost all the big cups including the European Cup 1979, 1980; European Supercup 1979 and played for Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Manchester United (he was Alex Ferguson's first signing in 1987) Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, and Middlesbrough during his distinguished career, before he become assistant manager to Bryan Robson at Middlesbrough. The first black player in the football league was goalkeeper Arthur Wharton, who made his debut for Rotherham Town (as they were then known) in season 1893-94. Born in Trinidad, he was more than a footballer. He was an AAA champion over 100 yards and a racing cyclist, too.
The first black player to represent England in a full international was the then Nottingham Forest European cup winning full back Viv Anderson.
Anderson represented England in an international friendly played at Wembley against the Czech Republic in November nineteen seventy eight.
Former Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and current glasgow Rangers central defender Ugo Ehiogu became the first black player to captain England's under twenty ones in an international, when the defender captained the side against Holland at Portsmouth's ground Fratton Park in April nineteen ninety three.
When former Liverpool and Inter Milan player Paul Ince captained England in Boston, where England played the USA in June nineteen ninety three, he became the first black player to captain the full England side.
The first black player to play in a home International was Welshmen Eddie Parris, who reperesented Wales when they played Northern Ireland in Belfast December nineteen thirty one.
Laurie cunningham was the first black player to represent england at any level playing for the you-21s in april 1977.viv Anderson was the first to play at senior level in a friendly late 78. Cunningham played his first senior game in a friendly may 79 but was the first to play in a competitive game in june 79.
