First Black player in the LOI.

**red bellied** · 14/10/2007, 9:34 PM

Reckon Sligo Rovers first black player was in the 82/83 season was called Mick Grahman and he was from the Sheffield area. He scored the the all important equalising goal in the first game against Cobh in 1983 cup semi final. Think there was a different black lad that could of played for Rovers before that?

Thats Mick on the left 1983! keep scrolling down to the end of the page.

**kdjaC** · 14/10/2007, 9:52 PM

1981-1982
St Patrick's Athletic

Gwan guess who

Think Bohs had a black player in the 70s not sure tho.

kdjac

**shelbourne1904** · 14/10/2007, 10:50 PM

Ray something Drogheda 1969

**pineapple stu** · 14/10/2007, 11:04 PM

Honestly can't remember a black player at UCD.

**LukeO** · 14/10/2007, 11:36 PM

Darky Keogh?

And I'm not being racist by calling him that. That's what he was known as everywhere.

**Patrick Dunne** · 14/10/2007, 11:41 PM

An iconic figure who apparently played for Sligo Rovers (briefly) in the 1960s.

According to Eamon Sweeneys tome about the Bit O'Red, he was one of the worst players to play for Shhhligo.

**Risteard** · 15/10/2007, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by kdjaC

1981-1982
St Patrick's Athletic

Gwan guess who

Ooh?
Aah?

**CollegeTillIDie** · 15/10/2007, 7:16 AM

pineapple stu

UCD had a Nigerian student played in the FAI Cup runs during the mid 1950's played in the same team as Brian Lenihan (RIP). Cannot spell or pronounce the name. We also had Native Canadian Sammy Saundh who played for us in the 1981/82 season on loan from the Vancouver Whitecaps. He didn't get irony though. Sammy Saundh was a very slightly built winger standing 5 foot 5.
Regular encouragements from the sideline included '' Come on Sammy Use your height! Come on Sammy through your weight around !''

**shelbourne1904** · 15/10/2007, 8:18 AM

Originally Posted by LukeO

Darky Keogh?

And I'm not being racist by calling him that. That's what he was known as everywhere.

You'right Ray Keogh.....but I never the other name!!!

**oriel** · 15/10/2007, 8:31 AM

Dundlak had a great striker called Benny Laryea, season 1984/85 - he played the full season too, scored over 10 league goals if i recall correctly - was a cult figure - really popular player - went back to England for the next season, think he played div 4 with torquay - then driffted to non lge.

**pineapple stu** · 15/10/2007, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

Ooh?
Aah?

Curtis Fleming?

**Sam_Heggy** · 15/10/2007, 12:49 PM

Mukendi would have played for Derry and Harps in the 80's AFAIK.

**Jerry The Saint** · 15/10/2007, 1:16 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Curtis Fleming?

In 1981

He's aged tremendously well - looks a lot better than Felix

**drummerboy** · 15/10/2007, 1:18 PM

A lad called Tony Owens played for Home Farm back in the mid 70s.

**ghBohs** · 15/10/2007, 1:21 PM

Originally Posted by red bellied

Thats Mick on the left

Thanks for the directions RB. I'd never have picked him out of the team line up.

**Jerry The Saint** · 15/10/2007, 1:34 PM

Originally Posted by red bellied

Thats Mick on the left 1983! keep scrolling down to the end of the page.

Can't believe you missed this guy

Paddy "black" Rooney

Black Rooney was a full back who played for Rovers in their Junior days from 1932 to 34. He won a Leinster Senior League winners medal and an Intermediate Cup winners medal. In that time he scored four goals for the club. He left in 1934 to join Athlone Town although he returned to Rovers in 1937

**pete** · 15/10/2007, 4:07 PM

Paul McGrath first LOI black player?

Not sure who the first City player was as many loan players from the UK in the early 90s. Probably the first I noticed was Jason Kabia who despite being largely useless won more than his fair share of free kicks. We certainly had our fair share of useless non-black players too.

IMO there was a stage in Irish football when people thought players better than they actually were just because they were black. This was a time when not many foreign black people in this country especially outside urban areas & Dublin in particular. Possibly all foreigners were thought be better as could not have Irish professional footballers.

**gufct** · 15/10/2007, 4:23 PM

Didnt Clyde Best play for Pats under Barry Bridges was it.

**Knappagh Red** · 15/10/2007, 4:42 PM

1950's=Patrick Dunne;790279]An iconic figure who apparently played for Sligo Rovers (briefly) in the 1960s.

According to Eamon Sweeneys tome about the Bit O'Red, he was one of the worst players to play for Shhhligo.[/quote]
Ojo appeared in the 1950's I would think he was the first black player to play in the league almost 30 years before a little team from Galway joined. I can understand why you can't spell Sligo because of your Irish language hangover that the rest of the country dumped 100 years ago, and ye call us backward!

**Patrick Dunne** · 15/10/2007, 9:55 PM

Anyone who describes their own language and culture as a "hangover" is backward.

Back on topic. GUFC signed three Bajan internationals in the 1990s, they were our first non-Caucasian players.