Book Review: Breaking Barriers: Barbados to England and Back by Roland Butcher with Dr Sasha Sutherland

I cannot recall a book with so many forewords as this one, but they are all worthy preludes to an interesting read. When they are supplied by the likes of Sir Clive Lloyd, Lord Ian Botham, Dr Desmond Haynes and Mike Brearley, you realise early on the standing of the subject in the game. 

I saw Roland Butcher throughout his career and he was a powerful middle order bat, as well as being a very fine fielder in any position. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame was being the first black player to be selected for England, in 1981, as well as scoring the fastest half century on debut by an England player, a record that stood until fairly recently. 

His childhood began in the Caribbean, living with his grandmother, before he and his sister moved to the UK to join their parents. It is interesting to read that he experienced more issues in the Caribbean than in this country, though it may have helped that he played in an outstanding Middlesex side with five regular black players and a club where ethnic and social backgrounds were not so much a barrier to inclusion as elsewhere.

What I hadn't realised before reading this book is that he has played a considerable role in football, as a coach first with Arsenal, then Reading. He has also been involved in the governance of sport, as well as talent identification and high performance training. 

It is a highly enjoyable read, covering the issues of racism within the game and with a statistical section that puts other books to shame. There are scorecards of major matches in which he was involved, career statistics and testimonials. It serves as a worthy reminder that he was a very good player over the best part of two decades.

It is, in short, an excellent read, worthy of the player and of a man who has lived a good and fulfilling life.

Breaking Barriers: Barbados to England.. and Back is written by Roland Butcher with Dr Sasha Sutherland and distributed by Fairfield Books