Bolton Sport

Ex-Reebok star received death threats

By Marc Iles

7:30am Saturday 28th January 2012

FORMER Wanderers favourite Nathan Blake has revealed he once received racist death threats after withdrawing from an international squad with Wales.

The 39-year-old, who spent a successful three-year stint at Bolton before moving to Blackburn Rovers for £4.25million in 1998, told how he received a package after pulling out of the reckoning under Bobby Gould during his spell at Ewood Park.

“Inside were some nuts and also some abusive writing,” he said. “But inside also was a picture of Jill Dando [murdered BBC presenter] with a picture of a gun with a bullet going towards her head. Underneath was written, ‘you’re next’.

“The club captain wanted me to take it to the police. But you tend to chuck these things away and move on. That was just one of numerous [racist] things that happened to me in my career.”

Blake added that it was not the only time he had been victimised because of the colour of his skin during a 16-year career, which also took in spells with Cardiff, Sheffield United and Wolves.

“The racial element – I don’t think people quite understand the nerve that touches because of the history involved,” he said. “I had made various complaints and pulled out of squads. It had been well publicised and that’s when I received the parcel.”

Blake became a terrace favourite with Wanderers after helping the club back into the Premier League in 1997, scoring 19 goals in a partnership with John McGinlay. He made 107 league appearances for the club and scored 38 goals.

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