During Black History Month, we at Hatters’ Heritage will be recounting some of the iconic black players who have turned out for Luton Town.

Where better to start than the first black player to pull on the jersey at Luton Town, Eddie Parris. Born in January 1911 in Pwllmeyric to a Welsh mother and a father, Eddie Senior, who had emigrated from Barbados in 1900 and would go on to serve in the British Army during World War One.

Eddie attracted the attention of local club Chepstow Town, joining them at the age of 16 as a tricky winger.

It was not long until Eddie came on the radar of Bradford Park Avenue, at the time playing in Division 2 (now the Championship), where he made over 100 appearances, as well attaining his solitary cap for Wales in a 4-0 loss to Ireland in 1931. Eddie was the first black player to turn out for the principality.

In 1934 Eddie transferred to Bournemouth & Boscombe to make a further century of appearances before transferring to Luton in 1937. However, Eddie was unable to re-capture the form from his time at Bradford and Bournemouth, being limited to just seven appearances at Kenilworth Road, finding difficulty in nailing down a spot in a team that was about to win the Division Three (South) title.

To seek out regular first team football, Eddie moved on to Northampton Town with his football being disrupted due to the outbreak of World War 2, where he worked in a munitions factory, before playing for Bath City, Swansea Town and Cheltenham Town during the war years and finishing up his career as a player/coach at Gloucester City, finishing his footballing career at the age of 37.

Staying in Gloucester, Eddie passed away in that city in February 1971 at the age of 60.

Eddie Parris will forever be remembered as a trailblazer.