Shaka Hislop, the former Newcastle United goalkeeper, has spoken of his enduring pride in the anti-racism charity he helped establish, while acknowledging the long road ahead in the fight against discrimination. His comments come as Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) celebrates its 30th anniversary this month.
A Petrol Station Epiphany That Sparked a Movement
The genesis of Hislop's deep involvement with SRTRC stemmed from a frightening incident in November 1995. Shortly after joining Newcastle, Hislop was with his wife and young daughter at a petrol station near St James' Park when a group of youths began shouting racial abuse at him. The situation shifted when one recognised him as the team's goalkeeper, prompting requests for autographs.
"I drove away as quickly as I could," Hislop recalls. The event left him feeling outraged, fearful for his family, and disrespected. However, it also led to a profound realisation about the dual perception of his identity and the powerful platform that footballers possess. "From 50 yards away I was a black man seen as deserving vile abuse, but from 100 feet I was a footballer worthy of adulation," he explains.
From Classroom Talks to a National Charity
This epiphany galvanised Hislop into action alongside Ged Grebby, the charity's founder. Just two months after the forecourt incident, Hislop and teammate John Beresford visited Gosforth High School for SRTRC's first-ever educational workshop. Beresford proved instrumental, candidly sharing his own journey from unknowingly joining in racist chants as a child to understanding their impact after a teammate's patient explanation.
With support from other north-east footballers like Sunderland's Gary Bennett and Middlesbrough's Curtis Fleming, the charity grew from local school visits into a UK-wide organisation. It now delivers anti-racism workshops in schools, workplaces, and football stadiums across the country. Hislop, who serves as the charity's honorary president, credits then-manager Kevin Keegan for his unwavering support, revealing that Keegan had once threatened to leave Newcastle in the 1980s if the National Front was not moved from the stadium precincts.
A Personal Fight on Multiple Fronts
Now 56 and working as a football analyst for ESPN in the United States, Hislop is also navigating a personal health battle. He has recently completed radiation therapy for a "fairly aggressive" form of prostate cancer, following a radical prostatectomy 13 months ago. He emphasises that routine PSA screening in the US saved his life, a test not routinely recommended in the UK.
Despite the progress SRTRC has made in improving the landscape in the north-east, Hislop acknowledges that the fight is far from over. He points to the abhorrent online abuse recently received by Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock and the divisive political rhetoric in the US as evidence of the ongoing struggle.
His outlook, however, remains determinedly hopeful. "I was originally an idealist: I wanted to deliver my kids a world without racism," Hislop states. "But I now recognise this is a marathon. Racism has been here for hundreds of years and it might take another 100 years to dismantle, but we'll get there."
