English club Gloucestershire apologize to former player David Lawrence for racist abuse

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The former England fast pitcher recounted the incidents in a Sky Sports documentary about the experiences of black cricketers and officials in England and Wales called You Guys Are History

Gloucestershire English County Cricket Club have apologized “wholeheartedly” to retired test player David Lawrence for failing to investigate the incidents of racist abuse he suffered while playing for them.

Lawrence recounted the incidents in a Sky Sports documentary on the experiences of black cricketers and officials in England and Wales titled “You Guys Are History”.

The former paceman, 57, said a teammate left a banana peel outside his hotel room during his first away game for Gloucestershire at the England County National Championship in 1981.

He also alleged that Gloucestershire failed to investigate an incident in which he suffered racist abuse from the crowd during an away game.

“David’s behavior and attitudes were as unacceptable then as they are today,” Gloucestershire said in a statement.

“The club would like to apologize wholeheartedly to David for all the harm he suffered, both as a Gloucestershire player and as a member of the wider cricket network.”

Gloucestershire said Lawrence met with club bosses after the documentary aired this month to discuss the issues it raised.

“The club would also like to apologize to any player or employee who may have suffered similar prejudices during their stay in Gloucestershire,” the statement added.

Lawrence was born in England to Caribbean parents, he played five tests and won 18 wickets for England between 1988 and 1992 before a serious knee injury interrupted his international career.

Last year England and Wales Cricket Council chief executive Tom Harrison said the Black Lives Matter protests had forced the game to “face uncomfortable truths”, adding that he had “Much more to do” to become more inclusive.

England cricket was rocked by allegations of racism in September 2020 when former Pakistan-born Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq claimed he was driven into suicidal thoughts by racism and bullying at the club.

A Yorkshire report this month concluded that Rafiq was the victim of “inappropriate behavior” and “racial harassment and intimidation”, but did not say the county was institutionally racist.

England have gone down on their knees with their West Indian counterparts in their three-game series of tests in 2020 to raise awareness of racism and discrimination.

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