Luther Blissett is a former professional footballer who is best known for his three spells with Watford, playing in every league from the fourth division to the first division, becoming the club’s record appearance and goal scorer in the process. He was also one of the first Black players to represent England at senior level. Overall, Luther played over 500 times and scored over 200 goals in a 19-year career. As a speaker Luther discusses his career, talking about the highs and lows. He also speaks passionately and openly about the need to eliminate racism and discrimination and how we can work to do that.
He started his career at Watford and made his debut in the 1975-76 season. He helped the club win promotion to the Third Division two seasons later and scored 21 times as they secured back-to-back promotions. He continued to have successful seasons and helped Watford reach the Division for the first time in 1982. In the club’s debut season in the topflight Luther finished as the Division’s top scorer with 27 goals. He then moved to AC Millan but re-joined Watford after just one season in Italy. He had another four years with the Hornets before he joined Bournemouth. He scored 59 times in 121 games on the South Coast. In 1991 he joined Watford for the third time and in that spell became the club’s record appearance holder and scorer with 186 goals in 503 games. He then dropped down the leagues before retiring in 1994. As well as a successful club career Luther was the fifth Black player to represent England, he played 14 games and scored three times.
After calling time on his playing career he re-joined Watford as a coach alongside incoming manager Graham Taylor in 1996. He moved to York City in 2002 as a coach before being named manager of Chesham United in 2006. Four years later after a break from football, he joined Hemel Hempstead in a coaching capacity and in 2016 he was named Director of Football for Burnham. Away from football, he was involved in Team48 Motorsport, a team that aimed to provide opportunities to racing drivers from an Afro-Caribbean background. He even competed himself in the Alfa 156 in the BRSCC Alfashop Alfa Romeo Championship. In 2021 he was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Watford and later that same year he was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.
Available to hire as a speaker, Luther Blissett offers a passionate and engaging presentation. Whether he is booked to tell stories from his illustrious footballing career or to discuss the greater need for diversity and inclusion Luther Blissett is the perfect choice for any audience.
