Sporting Witness
Sporting Witness
When West Brom went to China
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December 2, 2023
9 minutes
Available for over a year
In 1978, first division football side West Bromwich Albion became the first professional British club to visit communist China.
The visit came as the communist country wanted to improve relations with the West after the death of Chairman Mao Zedong.
The team played five exhibition matches, including one against the Chinese national team in Beijing in front a crowd of 90,000 people.
Alex Last spoke to West Brom legend, Brendon Batson, about his memories of the historic tour.
(Photo: The team sightseeing at the Great Wall of China. Credit: BBC)