White boy, Black hero

Yesterday afternoon I went to the pleasant little cafe in Abington Park, Northampton. It was crowded because of the showers, and among the throng was a young boy in a Chelsea shirt.

I looked to see which player's name he had on the back of it. It was Sturridge.

Not so long ago, it would have been remarkable to see a white boy declare that his hero was a black sportsman. Today it is so commonplace that we do not remark upon it.

My impression is that this change happened over a very few years in the 1990s and was greatly helped by the influx of overseas stars into the Premiership.

But whatever the cause, it is a reminder that we do make progress.

Later. You can always be fogeyish if you want to be. The shirt was black with orange trim and all the right logos. It must be a change strip.

The days when your Mum bought a plain blue shirt, sewed a 7 on the back and you were Charlie Cooke are long past.