There was a book published last year about football’s black pioneers which says that John Charles was the first black player to represent England 10 years before?
The Football Association are recognising Benjamin Odeje as the first black man to ever represent England, Sportsmail can reveal.
Odeje has waited over half a century for the FA to acknowledge his position as the first-ever black footballer to feature in an international fixture for England at any level - but his 51-year wait is coming to an end.
Sportsmail has learned that following internal discussions, the FA has agreed to formally invite Odeje, who came through the ranks at Charlton during the late 1960s and 1970s, as a special guest to England’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Germany later this month.
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The Football Association are recognising Benjamin Odeje as the first black man to ever represent England, Sportsmail can reveal.
Odeje has waited over half a century for the FA to acknowledge his position as the first-ever black footballer to feature in an international fixture for England at any level - but his 51-year wait is coming to an end.
Sportsmail has learned that following internal discussions, the FA has agreed to formally invite Odeje, who came through the ranks at Charlton during the late 1960s and 1970s, as a special guest to England’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Germany later this month.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11195379/FA-recognise-Benjamin-Odeje-black-man-represent-England-51-year-wait.html