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Forty years on - How Viv Anderson became England's first black player

In an exclusive interview, the former Arsenal and Manchester United defender discusses the racism he endured on his path to the to top

Viv Anderson reckons his moment of English footballing history 40 years ago wouldn’t have happened under modern-day parameters.

“It wouldn’t be played today because half of the pitch was hard and the other side was soft," he tells Goal, "so I wore rubber soles first half and studs second half!”

It was against Czechoslovakia on Wednesday, November 29, 1978 that the full-back changed the face of the England national team for good as its first-ever black player.