Читать книгу No Win Race. A Story of Belonging, Britishness and Sport онлайн

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England attributed their failure to a crisis of identity because they were trying so hard to hold on to the idea of Empire as the bonding force for the team. But this conception was now dated. Imaginary. The past. The English team no longer reflected England’s imagined self. And that’s what really hurt.

My PE teacher and cricket coach in secondary school clearly did not, in my view, see blackness and Britishness as compatible. A stout, flushed-face man, more darts player than athlete, he often verbally abused pupils with his breathy, sour tones. I found him intimidating. I did not join the school football team in my first year because of his constant shouting and bullying. When, for the first time, he umpired one of our cricket matches, I had been captain. I dropped an easy catch. ‘Why the hell were you made captain, Beardwell?’ he shouted. Always called me that, Beardwell, with a dismissive tone.

He assumed I supported the West Indies. So, he would mock me and every other black kid during PE lessons when they lost. Can’t remember ever saying I had been a West Indies fan. Thank God for Viv. It seemed like every time this teacher found fault, Viv, even in his later years, would do something to shut him up. In the 1987 World Cup, the West Indies lost their first match against England. This teacher prowled around making scornful comments. He’d probably call it banter. But it was offensive. Often discriminatory. But I had little option but to take it. I mean, who could I complain to? And what would they really do about it?