10 minute read
Arsenal’s Paul Davis still a general
ARSENAL LEGEND Paul Davis is currently Senior Coach Developer at the Football Association and has worked with young managers like Steven Gerrard, Mikel Arteta and Frank Lampard.
As a player, he made 447 appearances for the Gunners, winning two league titles, a League Cup and FA Cup double in 1993 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994. He has just penned his first book, Arsenal and After, with the help of Tom Watt, an experienced football journalist and writer.
Davis spoke to the Voice of Sport’s Rodney Hinds about the book and his life and career in football.
RH: When and why did your thoughts turn to writing a book?
PD: When I finished playing, fans would often come up to me and say, ‘what’s going on, when you writing a book?’ I would just dismiss it, because it’s not what I did, it wasn’t something on my mind.
Over the years, as things develop, people asked questions, like what happened there? And other questions kept on coming up from people. Why did you leave?
As time went on, I started to think, well, yeah, maybe I should be documenting some of these. My family, my two boys, didn’t really see my career and then they were asking questions about it, too. Then it was my partner. She just said, ‘you’ve got a story to tell, people want to hear it’.
It was a combination of things over the years and, as time went on, I said, ‘well, let’s try and document my football story’, but also wanting to talk about my parents, and where I came from, family and that side of it as well.
A big part is the racism, because I’ve been involved in the game for such a long time. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen a lot. Just to document my side of what I’ve seen and my opinions on stuff.
I just felt it was right to put things in my words, and the idea was just for it to be in my words. There is no kind of angle in trying to paint a picture of anybody or any situation. have been because of football. In the book I talk about how I came back to get educated, getting degrees and stuff.
RH: How did the opportunity with Arsenal come about?
PD: I was pretty slim as a 12-year-old, and back then clubs were just looking for big strong guys, and I wasn’t one of those. I wasn’t getting picked up and I was getting so anxious about it. I thought it wasn’t going to happen for me.
Fortunately, Arsenal saw me in a district game and took a chance on me at 13/14 and I started going into training with them.
They kind of saw something then and they kept me there until just before school-leaving age. They took me on as an apprentice, and that was my first big break because they decided to take me on. I remember them coming around to see me where we lived in Stockwell.
Mum didn’t really know anything about it and how it all worked and she wasn’t sure really. I said to her, ‘you know this is my chance?’ She just went with it.
I became a professional at 17, and then my debut was at 17 as well. So it all happened pretty quickly after that.
RH: What sort of salary would you have been on at that time, Paul, can you remember?
PD: As an apprenticeship, something like £18 per week. That was useful for mum to look after us. I always felt I needed to get the most from my talents, always fought for my contracts, always fought hard to get what I was deserving of.
RH: When did the love affair with Arsenal and with football start?
PD: I talk about Clyde Best in the book, that’s when he was the only black player I saw on TV, so he’s a massive inspiration for me. Watching him on Match of the Day around 1971. It was about the same time that Arsenal won the FA Cup in 1971, that’s what made me support them. So, that was my first kind of intro.
Then there was the 1970 World Cup with Pele and Brazil. That was the hook really. My schoolwork didn’t really live up to where it should
Legend Davis still has key role to play
IN FULL FLOW: Paul Davis, main image, in his prime at Arsenal; inset, below: Davis is now Senior Coach Developer at the FA and tells his story in his new book
you were the second, is that right?
PD: Yes. Brendan only played about six or seven games, he wasn’t there that long, he wasn’t there when I was there. So I was quite conscious of that.
RH: How did you handle the racism at the time?
PD: It was definitely tough, and I had to challenge some of the comments. It was hard because you’re there on your own and trying to challenge it, but still trying to make your own path in the game.
I was constantly trying to work out how to navigate these situations that you’d be placed in. Somebody might say something, and you know it’s not right and do you challenge it then or do you leave it? Then Chris Whyte got into the squad and, for me, it helps you because you feel there is someone there that is understanding of where you’re coming from and how you’re feeling.
RH: Explain the special relationship between yourself, David Rocastle and Michael Thomas
PD: Those guys came later. Chris Whyte and Raphael Meade were the original guys, and they didn’t have such a long time at Arsenal as ‘Rocky’ and Michael did. There was also Kevin Campbell and Andy Cole, who were there for a while. ‘Rocky’, Michael and me were from the same part of south London, Rocky was from Peckham and Michael came from Battersea. The connection we built was strong. You have to be strongminded to get through to that stage anyway. They could look after themselves, and they did, but I think it’s good when you’ve got somebody there that’s come through that’s similar to you.
Those guys had great careers and we got on well. PD: Well, for the future, I’m 60 now. Who knows? I’m in the game. I want to support football. I want to support the players, I want to support the game. I’ve got a lot to offer from my experience. I want to stay in the game.
RH: Is the management door shut for you now?
PD: Never say never in football, but you know when you’re 60…
RH: Your beloved Arsenal are improving under Mikel Arteta, who wrote the foreword for your book. Share a little about your relationship with him.
PD: My relationship with Mikel came through coaching. He wanted to do his coaching badges and he did it through the PFA and I was his tutor. He understands the game.
I always wanted him to do well and felt that he could do well, so I’m kind of biased.
I think they’re going in the right direction, he’s doing a decent job and I like him.
The squad now seems stronger, looks like we can score more goals. So, yeah, I’m optimistic and looking forward to getting down to the Emirates Stadium and watching some games. I’ve still got two season tickets!
AIMING HIGH:
Deon Barrett is on track to climb Mount Everest after recently scaling 12 peaks in just four days
Climb every mountain...
Deon Barrett has his sights set on becoming the first black Englishman to tackle the world’s highest peak. By Rodney Hinds
AUK ATHLETE has climbed 12 mountains in just four days as he starts his bid to become the first black Englishman to summit Everest.
Deon Barrett, from Surbiton, South West London, scaled Snowdon, Moel Hebog, Ekkidir Fawr, Foel Grach, Yr Elen, Carnedd Llewelyn, Carnedd Dafydd, Pen yr Ole Wen, Y Garn, Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr and Tryfan between October 6-10.
Despite gruelling weather conditions and often treacherous terrain, the 31-year-old covered 53.86 miles and climbed combined heights of 21,087ft to complete the challenge – meaning he is now on track to tackle 29,030ft Everest
And not only does he hope to become the first black Englishman to do so, but he also hopes to encourage other black people to embrace the outdoors – for their physical and mental wellbeing.
“For me, as a black person, not seeing many people of colour on the mountains, it never really sunk in until a white friend of mine said ‘you’re the only black person here’ – that was the first time I really paid attention to it,” he said.
“However, when you’re out in the countryside, walking or climbing, these so-called boundaries rarely exist. Everyone is out and about for their own reasons, but all with the common purpose of being outdoors.
“You give a nod or a ‘hello’ when you’re outdoors. There’s a camaraderie there and colour is irrelevant.”
Deon also hopes to equal the achievement of one of his greatest heroes, South Africa’s Sibusiso Vilane, who made history on 26 May 2003 when he became the first black Affrican to reach the top of the world’s highest mountain. I’m sure we’ll see more and more black climbers,” said Deon. “But for now, though, I think the focus should be on mental health, and how mental health among black people needs to switch towards using the outdoors for well-being.
“Being able to step out of your own everyday life and being able to press the reset button is crucial. You need that time, that safe haven – a place where you can have a tranquil state of mind.
“The outdoors is definitely the key.”
To support Deon or for more information visit www.truenorthproject.co.uk
Supporting Future Leaders Nationally
Images by Lewis Patrick
BCA Chair’s Future Leaders Awards & Campaign
40 years of Excellence in Black Arts, Culture and Heritage
Over 40 years ago, Black Cultural Archives was founded in the wake of the Brixton uprisings of the 1980s, to tackle racial injustice. Using the power of education, its founder Len Garrison, together with local community activists, worked to collect, protect, and promote the breadth of contributions Black people had made to British life.
Over the years Black Cultural Archives has created a treasure trove of information, to inspire generations to build a future where history can tell a more inclusive story, where everyone’s place in society is recognised, valued and respected.
Now located in the heart of Brixton, South London, at 1 Windrush Square, Black Cultural Archives is proud to be one of the oldest black-led organisations of its kind in the UK, working towards a more tolerant, and equitable society.
Although much has changed since the 1980s, we believe our work today is just as urgent. We believe that the time is now, to connect Black History to the realisation of empowered Black Futures. That’s why for Black History Month, BCA focuses on Black Futures, and has launched the ‘40x40 Future Leaders campaign’ conceived and developed by our Chair, Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE|DL. Together with Black Britain and Beyond, our Chair identifi ed an exciting group of African and Caribbean heritage Future Leaders from across the UK.
The initiative commissioned local photographer Lewis Patrick to take their portraits in their communities. The resulting 40 + plus portraits, curated by Sherece Rainford from Gallery OCA which are now featured in the Black Cultural Archives as part of their Black Futures Season throughout Black History Month. These portraits are also featured in a national billboard campaign with the support of Clear Channel.
BCA hopes that Future Leaders identifi ed will become prominent ambassadors for BCA, to further assist our aims to inspire all cultures to learn more, do more, and be more, in building a more inclusive and tolerant society.
Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE|DL Chair, Black Cultural Archives
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