REVIE'S REVELATION

In 1978, on November 28th, David Miller, an Old Carthusian footballer, Cambridge University Blue and England Amateur International, wrote in his Daily Express sports' column about Viv Anderson's planned debut for England's international side, the first "black" player to represent England in a full international. With Liverpool's Phil Neal injured, Anderson stepped up at full back and helped England beat Czechoslovakia at Wembley 1-0 on the 29th. 92,000 witnessed this and Steve Coppell scored the only goal.

Team: Shilton, Anderson, Cherry, Thompson, Watson, Wilkins, Keegan, Coppell, Currie, Woodcock (sub Latchford), Barnes.

Viv Anderson MBE, was born in Nottingham in 1956 and played for Forest from the age of 18. Having won the First Division with Brian Clough, he became an England regular (30 caps, 2 goals). He also played for: Arsenal, Man Utd, Sheff Wed, Barnsley and Middlesbrough = 594 apps (38 goals). He has not been employed in football since retiring from being assistant manager at Middlesbrough.

Previously, Don Revie had been manager of the England side for 29 internationals and won 14 of them. His job was worth a massive £25,000 per annum. A secret meeting with the UAE FA about him taking over their national team for more money (surely that was the only attraction?), put Revie in the news along with his proposed salary of £340,000 tax free in six years. A letter of explanation in the Royal Mail, to the English FA, from the UAE, arrived on the FA's doorstep, after their offices had closed, so the first the FA heard about this exchange was the next day, when the "stiff shirts" read it in the national press. Revie was the main subject in the tabloids' back pages (and front).

Ron Greenwood, a safe bet, took on the job at short notice, from September 1977. In May 1979, Laurie Cunningham made his debut and became the first black player to play for England in a "competitive" tie against Wales in the Home Championship-a fascinating 0-0 draw at Wembley. Cunningham soon was on his way to Real Madrid.

In 1979 England played Northern Ireland in "back to back" matches in February 1979 and then in May. It was the first time that England had played a country twice in a row in completely different competitions. England won 4-0 at Wembley in the European Championships qualifications (1980) and then in Belfast in the Home Championship 2-0 win.

He handed over to Bobby Robson after July 1982.