Black and Blue

One man's story of how racism can destroy a career and a life- and how to fight back.

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Paul Canoville's story is one of extreme racist bigotry, shattering career-ending injury, a decline into drug abuse, battles against cancer, family tragedy and a determination to beat the odds. Canoville was Chelsea's first black first-team player, making his debut in 1982. But as he warmed up on the touchline, his own supporters began chanting "We don't want the nigger!" The racist bile continued whenever he played, but within a year he had won over the terraces with his explosive pace and skill. Canoville fell out with the Chelsea board and moved to Reading in 1986, where injury suddenly ended his career at the age of 24. This started a downward spiral including a string of broken relationships, the death of his baby in his arms, two-bouts of life-threatening lymph cancer and an attempt to blank out the bigotry of the terraces through drug abuse, ending up on the streets. But Canoville fought back. In this explosive and shocking story, Paul finally explains why, despite everything, he is more positive than ever and has remained a fervent Chelsea fan all his life. This is a story of hope - eventually - overcoming adversity. >