LOCAL school pupils were treated to a slice of football history when they were visited by RAFFI and the history of black footballers exhibition.

Tarleton High School invited RAFFI and the exhibition as they were holding an anti-prejudice day.

RAFFI co-ordinator Idris Selant held hour-long workshops for groups of children, using the exhibition to take them on a journey through time, from the world's first black professional footballer, Arthur Wharton, the first Asian player, Ricky Heppolate, to modern day Campbells and Ferdinands.

The pupils then completed quiz sheets to test what they'd learned and took part in a question and answer session.

Religious Education teacher Gwyn Clayton organised the anti-prejudice day. She said, "The kids are quite heavily into sport. When somebody comes in and tells them about the coin throwing and name calling in football it makes it real."

Fulwood High School held a cultural festival to celebrate all cultures of the community and promote racial harmony. RAFFI and the history of black footballers exhibition visited the school as many of the pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds and keen PNE fans.

Religious Education teacher Katie Lambie was in charge of the festival. She said that pupils had found RAFFI's exhibition very interesting. "They're very surprised. I think they thought that black football started in the 1970's in Britain so they're very surprised to see how far back it goes and impressed that North End were the first to have a black player."

The exhibition has been on loan to RAFFI from the national Kick It Out Campaign for the year. It has been displayed in the Harris Library and at Deepdale Junior School.

The exhibition and RAFFI are available for workshops in any school, college, university, community or youth centre.

For further information contact Idris Selant on 01772 906421 or email raffisport@talk21.com