Main content

When British Football Went To China

In 1978 West Bromwich Albion became the first professional British football team to visit communist China

A story of banquets, diplomacy and football. In 1978, first division side, West Bromwich Albion became the first professional British football club to visit communist China. The visit came as China began to open up to the West after the power struggle which followed the death of Chairman Mao. Alex Last spoke to West Brom legend, Brendon Batson, about his memories of the historic tour.
Photo: The teams head out onto the field in Beijing for West Brom's first game of the tour. (BBC)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Christmas Eve 2018 04:50GMT
BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East, News Internet & West and Central Africa

More episodes

Previous

Usain Bolt - The Birth of a Legend

Next

Lopez Lomong - From Lost Boy To The Olympics

See all episodes from Sporting Witness

Broadcasts

  • Thu 20 Dec 2018 09:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Fri 21 Dec 2018 00:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Sat 22 Dec 2018 14:50GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet
  • Sun 23 Dec 2018 15:50GMT
    BBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean, East Asia & South Asia
  • Christmas Eve 2018 04:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East, News Internet & West and Central Africa

Olympic history

Olympic history

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

Sporting Witness Films

Sporting Witness Films

Watch sporting heroes tell their stories of astonishing achievement

Podcast

  • Sporting Witness

    Personal stories of amazing moments from sporting history told by people who were there