FORMER Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop revealed how vile racist abuse left him ‘scared for his life’ – before the thugs asked for an autograph.
The former Newcastle star, 51, was targeted when filling up his car with petrol outside St James’ Park 25 years ago as teh Toon challenged for the title.
Shaka Hislop opened up on the time he was racially abused filling his car up with petrolCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He felt ‘frozen with fear’ as the youths hurled the abuse at the 6ft 4ins stopper – and then they realised who he was.
Hislop said: “When you are in front of it, you are scared, genuinely, for your life. No exaggeration.
“It is such a shuddering experience.
“Then, as they got closer, one recognised who I was, and they started singing my name and wanted autographs.”
The incident had a lasting impact on Hislop, whose Toon side fell away in the second half of the season to miss out on the Premier League title.
The ex-Reading, West Ham and Portsmouth man, who was born in Hackney, East London but played internationally for Trinidad and Tobago, explained how the experience drove him to join the fight to end racism.
He has used his profile in football and spent the last 25 years playing his part in eradicating racism and teaching the next generation.
Hislop partnered with Ged Grebby, now Show Racism The Red Card’s chief executive.
The charity was set up in January 1996, a month after the petrol station incident, and has now reached one million children.
The ex-Newcastle goalkeeper added: “I was a black footballer worthy of the most vile racist abuse from 50 yards away, but worthy of having my name sung from 50ft away.
“I felt the need to do something. I understood how highly footballers were regarded about town and how that platform could be used to challenge the stereotypes and have a discussion about race.
“It started with school visits. My team-mate John Beresford joined me, and we talked of our experiences and what we had learned sharing dressing rooms with people from all over the world.”
When we got involved in this work, it’s a promise to our children to build a better world. I felt I had failed on my promise.
Shaka Hislop
Now living in the United States, Hislop works as a presenter for ESPN and continued: “I have gone through every emotion over the past year.
“The George Floyd murder hung very heavily. When we got involved in this work, it’s a promise to our children to build a better world. I felt I had failed on my promise.
“Recently my friend Leroy Rosenior said to me, ‘Shaka, you can’t feel it like that. See this as a relay. We’re running the third leg. It is up to us to deliver the baton to our kids in the best position, and give them the courage and confidence to run the final leg.’
“That was empowering. It shed me of the guilt I was feeling. We went into Boston and joined a Black Lives Matter march.
“You see the youth and diversity of the crowd, and the energy, and that is when I recognised what Leroy was saying.”
Hislop is now living in the United States where he works as a presenter for ESPN
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
