Chelsea’s first black footballer,Paul Canoville, has been hospitalised after a ‘serious decline in physical health’.
Canoville, 63, played for the Blues between 1981 and 1986 and helped them to the Second Division title in 1983-84.
The ex-winger, who in his 2008 autobiography said he had fathered 11 children via 10 different women, has also suffered a ‘significant toll’ on his ‘mental well-being’.
A statement from the CEO of his foundation read: ‘It is with a heavy heart that I share an update on the health of our Founder, Paul Canoville.
‘Paul is currently in hospital due to a serious decline in his physical health, which has also taken a significant toll on his mental well-being. As someone who has overcome extraordinary challenges throughout his life, Paul remains determined — but he now needs time, care, and space to recover.
‘His recent absence from school visits and, most heartbreakingly, the Show Racism the Red Card reception at Downing Street earlier this week, has been deeply upsetting for him. We also want to prepare friends and supporters that Paul is very unlikely to attend the premiere of the new documentary about his life tomorrow evening (Thursday) at Regent Street Cinema — something he had been immensely looking forward to.
‘Out of respect for his need to rest and heal, we kindly ask that people refrain from contacting Paul directly at this time. Any messages of support can be shared as comments on our social posts and we will ensure Paul sees these once well enough.’
Canoville endured horrendous racist abuse from Chelsea ‘supporters’, including having bananas thrown at him and being called the N-word.
He told the Associated Press in 2023: ‘Why do they always throw fruit like a banana? What, I’m going to act like an ape?
‘It wasn’t the away fans that were racially abusing me. It was the majority of my own fans. I didn’t expect that at all.
‘If you want to keep this game alive, you’ve got to deal with this. Players like myself, young Black players, shouldn’t be quiet. They should say something right there and then.’
Canoville joined Reading for £60,000 in 1986 but had to retire from professional football the next year due to a knee injury.
