Three pioneering former Wolverhampton Wanderers players have come together for a short film marking Black History Month, reflecting on the barriers they broke down and the abuse they endured during their careers at Molineux.

Three trailblazers, one shared story

Don Gardner, George Berry and Bob Hazell reunited at The Junction pub in Wolverhampton to record the project, which pays tribute to the contributions of Black players over the past 150 years of the game. Each man occupies a distinct and significant place in Wolves' history.

  • Don Gardner was the club's first Black senior player, donning the famous gold and black shirt as a professional in 1973.
  • Bob Hazell became the first Black player to score for the club, netting against Manchester City in March 1978.
  • George Berry was the first Black player to lift a trophy for Wolves, part of the squad that won the League Cup in 1980 — still the club's last major domestic honour.

Racism faced "all the time"

Gardner, now 71, was candid about the hostility he encountered throughout his career. "I never looked at it through the lens of colour," he said. "I didn't think of myself as a Black footballer, I thought of myself as a footballer who wanted to succeed." Yet he acknowledged that racism was something he faced "all the time," from supporters at close range during throw-ins to monkey chants and opposition players attempting to provoke a reaction.

"You'd also get abuse from opposition players," he said. "But often they were doing it because they wanted to get you off your game. Then after the match, those same players would come over and shake your hand and ask how you were. It doesn't excuse it but football was different then."

Berry, who joined Wolves as an apprentice in 1973, went on to reach the FA Youth Cup final, become a first-team regular and was voted Players' Player of the Year in 1979. He described being confronted with what he called "banter" and uncomfortable language in the first-team training environment, though he noted the worst of it came from the terraces and opponents rather than teammates.

"If you're the only Black face on the pitch and thousands of people are shouting abuse, that's hard," he said. "But there are really only two choices you can make when you receive it: you either let it crush you or you use it as motivation. I chose to use it as motivation."

The camaraderie that kept them going

Hazell recalled moments of solidarity that stayed with him long after the final whistle. "I remember things happening in matches where teammates would immediately step in and stand up for me," he said. "Years later, I'd mention those moments to them and they'd often have forgotten all about it. But for me, they meant a lot because they showed they had my back."

He also admitted to shielding his family from the full extent of what he experienced. "There were things that happened that I didn't even tell my family about. I knew if I told them everything, they'd have said, 'Forget football and come home'. But I needed football. Nothing was going to get in my way."

A legacy worth remembering

The film, released on YouTube, has been welcomed by Wolves, who have described Gardner as someone who helped "change Wolves forever for Black players." Berry was keen to broaden the recognition beyond the three of them. "Not only the Black players, but all players who have had an influence on the club deserve recognition," he said. "As Black players, we played our part, and it's nice to see that being remembered."

Their stories are a reminder of the courage it took simply to play football during that era, and of the foundations on which the modern game at Championship level and beyond has been built.

Frequently asked

Who was the first Black player to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers?
Don Gardner is recognised as the first Black senior player to represent Wolves, having turned professional with the club in 1973.
Who was the first Black player to score for Wolves?
Bob Hazell scored the historic first goal by a Black player for Wolverhampton Wanderers, netting against Manchester City in March 1978.
What trophy did George Berry win with Wolves?
George Berry was part of the Wolves squad that won the League Cup in 1980, making him the first Black player to lift a trophy for the club. It remains Wolves' last major domestic title.