Red Star, Three Degrees & Cantello's testimonial - Brendon Batson's West Brom story

A new podcast has been released in which former West Bromwich Albion defender Brendon Batson discusses his time at the club, the impact - socially and in the footballing sphere - of the famous Three Degrees and the racial challenges he faced from the terraces during his time as a player.

Batson, 69, moved to England from the West Indies when he was nine years old and was picked up by Arsenal, where he came through the ranks before joining Cambridge United in 1974. Four years later, he followed manager Ron Atkinson to Albion, where he made up part of one of the most successful Baggies sides in recent history.

Forced into an early retirement because of injury, Batson made over 160 appearances in all for Albion and scored a single goal. During those years at The Hawthorns, though, there were highs and lows; there were the UEFA Cup games and the tremendous league form, but also - as mentioned - the vitriol he, Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis were regrettably on the receiving end of.

The podcast is named Football Journeys, and in this particular series the focus is on identity, diversity and dealing with hardship and abuse. It’s co-hosted by lawyer Matt Himsworth, who is the director of B5 Consultancy, with former footballer Fraser Franks and Crystal Palace Women player Leigh Nicol.

“This series is about telling diverse and inspirational tales of people who have different roles in football,” Matt told . “Brendon is a personal hero of mine and what he, Laurie, Cyrille and so many of the black players of the 1970s achieved, in the face of unthinkable prejudice, is remarkable and truly inspirational.

“Of course, he tells the stories with typical modesty and he ends the pod by simply saying how lucky he has been and how