This is the programme from Ray Daniel’s debut game for Hull City. Founded in 1904, Hull were one of the last of the established clubs to field a black player.
Ray was a versatile player, during his three seasons with Hull he wore the 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11 shirts.
He was born in exotic Luton but is the only one of the first black players featured in ‘Football’s Black Pioneers’ whose heritage can be traced to the Caribbean island of St Lucia, his parents were both born there and migrated to England in 1960.
Strangely, Ray features in the programme’s ‘Visitors Quiz’ where, following seven WBA related questions, question 8 was ‘With which Third Division club did Ray Daniel, Tigers’ new signing, spend a short loan spell in season 1983/84?’ The answer? Gillingham. Less strangely, he features in the report of Hull’s pre-season friendlies: ‘it was pleasing to see newcomer Ray Daniel score his first goal for the Tigers’ (in a 6-2 win over neighbours, Scunthorpe United).
On the opposing team that day, the name of Carlton Palmer stands out. The programme describes him as ‘a highly rated man of colour’. Carlton was in the early stages of a long career that saw him make a total of 712 appearances in all competitions (he also won 18 full England caps). He made his final Football League appearance for Mansfield Town on 6th August 2005.