Not sure that's correct, he talks openly about being abused as a kid. I asked him to do me a favour when I was at the London Broncos and he came and spoke in one of the lounges for me when someone else had pulled out. Spoke openly about growing up as one of the only black kids in his area and his neighbour having a dog called ni***r. That went down as you would expect in a room full of posh west London people!!
He was the only black kid, along with his brother and sister. He never had too much trouble, though his home life was tough. His dad was well known in the area, as was his godfather. His uncle who did a lot of djing was very popular.
Yes, I cringed when I heard it but Liam handled it so well, pretty much like everything else in the press conference.
There was good enough reason he didn't get too much trouble. He didn't shy away from it himself. Few years younger than me, and I never played. But it was pretty clear at about 7 he was head and shoulders above anyone even his age group in Driff at football.
Head and shoulders above everyone in a bigger area than that. Only one anywhere near him was a lad who played for Shiptonthorpe.
I grew up in Driffield at the same time as the Woodhouse's.Their back garden backed on to my Grannys and they were very well thought of by my Mother's family,especially my Mother's youngest sister who was a very close friend to both of them. I never once heard or saw any racism directed to them or their sister,they were tough lads and were woven into the community, from memory they were the only coloured people in Driffield.Made no difference at all,they were Driff lads and ran with the local scooter mob. I left before Curtis came along but I've met him a few times in the Falcon(His Mother runs it).He's a nice lad and went to school with several of my cousins. Driffield ,like other places,changed when the next generation came along and there were a few mouthy twats when I used to visit so I suppose it's possible that he was subject to a bit of abuse but I'm sure he dealt with it...
Honestly feel that he could have made so much more of his football career if it wasn't for the 'distractions'. Classic case of you can take the lad out of Driff, but you cant... yadda, yadda.... ... always seemed a bit torn between his football and his boxing once he felt he'd made it as a player - or realised he'd never play for Man U or Liverpool and win stuff.
Justin Walker is someone I had never heard of, when it was said he played or Scunny I thought maybe Daw's would know him from there, and he should know him as Daws was at Scunny before he joined us, so they were there at the same time. Maybe that is the familiar face being referred to.
It didn't strike me as being the case, as it had already mentioned that Daws was staying. However, it was said that LR was bringing in 3 of his own team, so I guess there is still one to come.
Not the only coloured family .... but near enough. Falcon became Butchers Dog some time ago, with different owners. To all - read his book (Box to Box). It's a decent read tbf and he tells all about his childhood (well, not all, but you know what I mean).
I haven't been to Driffield for several years now.The cousin I stayed with and go to games with moved to the avenues some years ago so I'm based there now when I journey South.I've still got family in Driffield but I suppose the fact I don't go there anymore tells it's own story Are the Coleman brothers and Ted still floating around? I was friendly with them back in the day..
Hearing some really positive feedback about his first couple of days, seems like he's made a strong first impression on the players