Greig set Peter on his way to breaking down barriers
One friend can be responsible for changing the direction of your life.
That’s often true in football when young players are looking for a chance to make progress.
A pal who became a famous name in Scotland put Peter Foley on the way to a career in professional football and, in the process, changed the lives of many others.
Peter’s story is bigger than the teams he represented, and the way he played the game.
This Edinburgh lad was one of the first black players to grace English football.
When he was awarded the MBE in 2003, it was for his lifelong work in tackling racism.
Although suffering racist chants early in his career was a shock, Peter resolved that nothing would deflect him from his love of football.
His journey began in Scotland’s capital, where he grew up having never met his Ghanaian father.
Kicking a ball about the streets developed his ability to dribble, and he was naturally quick. Another local lad recognised his talent. Peter recalled: “John Greig was one of my best pals, and he took me to United Crossroads Boys Club.
“That helped to bring my game on. John, of course, became a Rangers player, while I was in the juniors with Preston Athletic.
“I had gone down to train with Leicester City, and they were keen for me to make a return visit.
“Butworkington manager, Keith Burkinshaw,
had come up to Scotland to watch another player and was impressed by my performance.
“He came to speak to me, and I told him that I was due to go to Leicester City.
“He said that if I signed for him, he’d put me straight into the first-team at Workington.
“That made up my mind – even though I didn’t have a clue where Workington was!”
In 1965, the Cumbrian club were in England’s Third Division, and a side on the rise.
Peter did, indeed, play first- team football, but it came with both joy and pain.
He went on: “I played at Queens Park Rangers, and the supporters were shouting ‘Zulu!’ at me.
“It was the first time I’d encountered racism, and it was really hard to take.
“At the start of the next season, our first fixture was against Millwall at The Den.
“I chickened out of playing, and faked an injury. I just couldn’t face getting more abuse.
“But as I sat at home in Workington, I realised I’d let people down. I vowed that nobody would stop my dream of playing professional football.”
Peter’s performances for Workington got him noticed and a big move looked likely.
He said: “I might have gone to Manchester City if I hadn’t suffered a bad knee injury. “I’m not sure I was quite the same after that. “I didn’t really want to leave Workington – I’d met a local girl who became my wife – but the club needed the money.
“I had the choice of Scunthorpe, York City or Bradford City.
“Keith Burkinshaw had become the manager of Scunthorpe by then, so I decided to go there.
“Kevin Keegan cleaned my boots for a while as he was taking his first steps into football.
“Many years later, he got me to be Newcastle United’s scout in Cumbria when he was their manager.”
Peter’s league career ended in 1970 after a short spell with Chesterfield.
He nearly returned to Scotland, but a trial at Morton didn’t lead to a permanent contract.
Instead, he spent several years in English non-league football.
A job at Sellafield nuclear site led to his involvement in the GMB Union, where he worked on their race advisory committee.
Now 77, he has been a tireless campaigner against racism in sport.
It saddens him to see players still being abused because of the colour of their skin.
Peter said: “I thought things were changing, but it seems to be sneaking back in.
“Will we ever rid society of this problem? You live in hope.”