Laurie CUNNINGHAM (Patreon)

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Laurence Paul Cunningham (8 March 1956 – 15 July 1989) was an English professional footballer. A left-winger, he notably played in England, France and Spain, where he became the first-ever Englishman to play for Real Madrid.

After being turned down by Arsenal, he began his career at Leyton Orient in 1974, and moved on to West Bromwich Albion three years later, where he played alongside Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson under coach Ron Atkinson, becoming only the second trio of black players to be fielded in the top flight of English football. His form at the Hawthorns later earned a move to Real Madrid, where he remained for five years, winning La Liga once and the Copa del Rey twice. After a spell in France with Marseille, he returned to England with Leicester City in 1985, followed by a return to Spain with Rayo Vallecano. Cunningham signed with Wimbledon in 1988, where, as a member of the "Crazy Gang", he won the FA Cup in 1988 for the final trophy of his career.

Cunningham received his first international call-up to the England U21 side in 1977 while playing for West Bromwich Albion, becoming the first black footballer to represent an England international team organized by the Football Association. He later earned 6 caps for the full national team between 1979 and 1980, becoming one of the first ever black England internationals.

While playing for Rayo Vallecano, Cunningham was killed in a car crash in Madrid on the morning of 15 July 1989, at the age of 33.

Honours

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 1979–80

• Copa del Rey: 1979–80, 1981–82

Wimbledon

• FA Cup: 1987–88