Town assistant manager Terry Connor has praised the Kick It Out anti-racism campaign and has recalled the extent of the abuse he received during his time as a player, which even extended to bullets being sent to him in the post.
Prior to this evening’s against Reading, the Blues will warm up wearing T-shirts backing Kick It Out, which has been at the forefront of fighting racism in football for 22 years.
"The Kick It Out campaign has made massive progress over the years,” Connor, 53, said in an interview for tonight’s match programme.
"Going back to my days as a player, it was difficult for black players to thrive. I can remember going to many away games and there were bananas thrown on the pitch and monkey chants from the stands.
"I tried to use it to motivate me, to show people that I deserved to be out there on the park. I felt if they were racially abusing me, it was because I was doing something good for my team.
"There were things that happened back then though that wouldn't be tolerated now, and quite rightly so.
"I remember receiving mail from Leeds fans telling me not to wear the white shirt, even though I was born and bred in Leeds. I had bullets sent to me and the police were called on a couple of occasions.
"I was 17 when I started playing for Leeds and I just wanted to play football but it was the norm back then.
"I'm glad in many ways that I have been able to ‘represent my colour' if I can put it that way and play my part in helping to push a lot of barriers down and make the path a lot easier for other players coming through now who probably won't even be aware that racism existed in the game to that extent.
"There is a structure now in football - and society as well - and Kick It Out have played a big part in that happening.”
In December, Connor was shortlisted in the Coach of the Year category at the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards, which take place on Saturday, 6th February at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.