Albert Johanneson
Encyclopedia
Albert Louis Johanneson was one of the first high-profile black
players, of any nationality, to play top-flight football in England
.
.
In 1965, Johanneson earned his berth to the Football Association Challenge Cup (F.A Cup) Final played at Wembley Stadium. While Leeds lost the match to Liverpool, and Johanneson regrettably did not play his best, he made history by becoming the first black person to feature in the final of the world-renowned football competition.
Over following seasons, a spate of injuries and the emergence of Eddie Gray left Johanneson on the sidelines, and he made only 10 further starts for Leeds before manager Don Revie
released him in 1970. Later that year, Johanneson joined York City
, scoring three goals in 26 appearances before retiring.
Life after football did not treat the South African well, and he became somewhat of a recluse, painfully suffering from a severe addiction to alcohol. Johanneson died alone of meningitis and heart failure in 1995. He is remembered fondly by Leeds' fans of the 1960s for using his distinctive natural prowess to illuminate the grimness that attached itself to the club's early successes.
He is also viewed as a courageous pioneer with regard to the racial discrimination he humbly endured from spectators who believed that monkey chants and the throwing of bananas at his feet. In the words of footballing legend, George Best
within whose era he played: "Albert was quite a brave man to actually go on the pitch in the first place, wasn't he? And he went out and did it. He had a lot of skill. A nice man as well. . .which is, I suppose, the more important thing, isn't it? More important than anything."
As part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup celebration taking place in South Africa, Johanneson is featured in an exhibition examining the history of South African footballers in the United Kingdom. The exhibit was researched by the Sheffield-based Football Unites, Racism Divides
organisation and is hosted by the historic District Six Museum in Cape Town.
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
players, of any nationality, to play top-flight football in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Career
Johanneson, a skilful and swift left winger, was recommended to Leeds United by a South African schoolteacher and joined the club in April 1961. He stayed there for nine years working diligently at his game, and by the 1963-64 season had established himself as a powerful attacking force providing 13 league goals, which assisted in Leeds' promotion from the Second DivisionFootball League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
In 1965, Johanneson earned his berth to the Football Association Challenge Cup (F.A Cup) Final played at Wembley Stadium. While Leeds lost the match to Liverpool, and Johanneson regrettably did not play his best, he made history by becoming the first black person to feature in the final of the world-renowned football competition.
Over following seasons, a spate of injuries and the emergence of Eddie Gray left Johanneson on the sidelines, and he made only 10 further starts for Leeds before manager Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
released him in 1970. Later that year, Johanneson joined York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
, scoring three goals in 26 appearances before retiring.
Life after football did not treat the South African well, and he became somewhat of a recluse, painfully suffering from a severe addiction to alcohol. Johanneson died alone of meningitis and heart failure in 1995. He is remembered fondly by Leeds' fans of the 1960s for using his distinctive natural prowess to illuminate the grimness that attached itself to the club's early successes.
Personal life
In 1963, Johanneson married Jamaican-born pharmacist, Norma Comrie. Together they had two children: Yvonne, born in 1963, and Alicia, born in 1966. The couple's marriage lasted 11 years, ending in divorce in the 1980s.Johanneson in Popular Culture
Today, Johanneson is hailed by many as having helped pave the way for the scores of black players that make up the ranks of the British premiership, especially those of South African heritageHe is also viewed as a courageous pioneer with regard to the racial discrimination he humbly endured from spectators who believed that monkey chants and the throwing of bananas at his feet. In the words of footballing legend, George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
within whose era he played: "Albert was quite a brave man to actually go on the pitch in the first place, wasn't he? And he went out and did it. He had a lot of skill. A nice man as well. . .which is, I suppose, the more important thing, isn't it? More important than anything."
As part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup celebration taking place in South Africa, Johanneson is featured in an exhibition examining the history of South African footballers in the United Kingdom. The exhibit was researched by the Sheffield-based Football Unites, Racism Divides
Football Unites, Racism Divides
Football Unites, Racism Divides is a youth and social inclusion project and charity based in Sheffield, England which uses football as a tool to 'break down barriers created by ignorance or prejudice'...
organisation and is hosted by the historic District Six Museum in Cape Town.