Sol Campbell

Sol Campbell

Becoming a footballer wasn't like an instant choice for me. I thought I might get involved in computers or something. I set my mind on education. But then I started to get into different teams, and climbed up the ladder, as it were.

I joined Spurs when I was 14. I think playing my professional career at a diverse team like Spurs has meant that I haven't experienced the racism that many other black players have. This has got a lot to do with the diverse heritage of the pioneers - players like Garth Crooks, Ossie Ardiles, and Ricky Villa.

But still, I've experienced things from crowds that were really unpleasant. You get comments flying around, and you turn around but you just can't respond. What are you gonna do? I mean - there's thousands of people there!

Really, it's just incredible how some people think. Like, you'd be playing against a geezer - he'd be black - and their fans would be saying racist stuff to me! It's like saying 'you're all right but they're not'. It's disgusting. It does your head in. But I think slowly a lot of people are changing. It's better than it was 5 years ago.

Captaining Spurs, and of course as a black player representing my country, you're under a lot of pressure. You know, people like to jump on the bandwagon, so you wanna do well, you wanna prove 'em wrong. So it's hard, 'cos you feel like you've gotta be even better than the rest.

The fact is, racism is still around. But, everyone's gotta get on together. You might not like everyone, but you've gotta work together as a team. If someone on your own team is saying stuff, you gotta have stern words with them. Talk to the manager. We all have a responsibility to sort it out. Don't keep your mouth shut.
THOSE DAYS IN THE CLOSET ARE LONG GONE!!