Shaka Hislop's debut for Newcastle United not only ended with a win and a clean sheet against Coventry City in 1995 - it also saw a young fan run on to the pitch to shake his hand just after the final whistle.
World Cup winner Lilian Thuram said back in 2020, a year that saw George Floyd's murder bring racism firmly back into focus, that: "One isn't born racist; one becomes racist."
The touching moment on Hislop's bow underlines Thuram's views but he admits that he didn't always feel as welcome, not least during the now well-publicised petrol station incident on Barrack Road which sparked the Show Racism the Red Card charity in 1996.
READ MORE: 'It meant so much to me' - Shaka Hislop on being awarded freedom of the city
Back then youths hurled insults at Hislop and his family before they recognised who he was and asked for an autograph. Rather than dismiss the incident though Hislop decided to do something about it with charity CEO Ged Grebby.
Hislop told Chronicle Live: "Education is still key - that's where our focus has always been. As much as we have been involved in football, education is the key challenge.
"There are so many societal issues that we all have to deal with today. Education remains key to it, understanding each other's stories, understanding that despite our differences how much unites us.
"The more we talk about these issues and the more we are honest about these issues, I think the closer we come to understanding them."
Racism doesn't just take place in football, it is rife on social media with huge digital platforms like Twitter doing nowhere near enough to stop it. But Hislop feels that it's still with us in the street or even the workplace.
Hislop reflected: "The damage that racism does to communities of colour, is so under-recognised and underappreciated. It goes so much further than social media.
"We're talking about opportunities in the work place or how safe you feel walking down the street in the middle of the day or at night. These are all real issues that people of colour continue to deal with, and we have to recognise that and hear those stories.
"We continue to tell these stories and shape a society we can all be proud of. We may not get to live in it but it's one we hope our kids get to experience and get to live in."
Hislop was guest of honour at Newcastle United for the 2-0 win over Arsenal just days after being handed freedom of the city. The club are working hard to eliminate all forms of racism and discrimination across the board at St James' Park.
Back in March, Newcastle appointed Zoe Hingston as the club's head of inclusion. Hislop encourages any moves that help educate people, but admitted he was disturbed by a high profile incident in 2019 which saw an investigation surrounding Yasin Ben El-Mhanni and Peter Beardsley. Beardsley denied the allegations but was suspended by the FA and left the club.
Hislop looked back on the incident three years ago and said: "It really was disturbing. And so many of these issues are under-recognised and under-reported.
"When players do tell their stories I think they are far too easily dismissed. You can see the damage that's done in a broader perspective. How can we deal with these issues and be more proactive? While the club has to accept blame and responsibility it's how we respond to that.
"That's what the game is about and what we are all asking of each other. Despite mistakes, we have made we have to see how we go about making it doesn't happen in football or doesn't happen in society."
Hislop had the support of his team-mates during the 1990s and stars like John Beresford and Steve Howey have thrown their weight behind the anti-racism campaign.
Hislop said: "We had our experience of sharing a dressing room and being from four corners of the earth. Literally, from Georgia to Colombia we knew we could be better because of those experiences.
"How we worked together and made things work, it was a good message to take to schools. We got a good response, but at that stage that was as far as we were thinking. We knew it would prove to be a valuable thing to take forward."
The petrol station incident hurt Hislop but he was more concerned about his wife attending games and potentially hearing racist chants at football matches.
Hislop added: "That certainly was a one off but I am often asked what I experienced as a player. I don't mean this as a cop out but as a professional, you learn to block out what people are saying.
"But at the same time, my wife used to come to St James' Park and travel to away games and stand with fans. So she heard a lot of what was being said and that was always unnerving thing for me.
"As a player, regardless of what is being said, there are layers between me and whoever is saying it. For my wife, she is there and in the midst of it. It unsettled me but how could I say to my wife don't come to see me play, it made me feel uncomfortable. She was able to endure and navigate the abuse I was subject to and she was affected by.
"It speaks to so many people of colour who go to watch football. It (the charity) shows how we value the game to deal with these issues."
Since 2020 players have taken the knee in matches to continue to spread a global message about racism. It's two years since officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd's neck for nine minutes but still the protests over racism remain - as does racial inequality across the world.
Hislop said: "I get asked a lot, is there still a need for campaigns like ours? It gets asked more and more frequently then 2020 happened.
"And we were forced to sit up and take notice around so many issues. 2020 bought the work of this campaign into sharp focus and showed the importance of doing this work on a daily basis.
"We still have a lot further to go to truly live in a society that understands equality and that we can truly call equal in every way. That for me is the true calling about how we go about shaping a society can all be proud of.
"Regardless of how they look, how they identify, how they worship, how they love, can feel comfortable and feel proud to be a part of. That is why we continue to do what we do and why we need every bit of support."
Hislop was awarded the freedom of the city earlier this month at a civic ceremony but he believes this only part of the journey.
Hislop said: "Newcastle really means a lot to me, the city has given me my dream of playing football at the highest level. It was an exciting time to be here and part of this club.
"My eldest daughter was born at the RVI. Coming back to the city always sparks so many great memories. It's great to see how much it has changed but also how much it has stayed the same. "It was only three years bit it meant so much to me on so many different levels, professionally and being part of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign."
To learn more about Show Racism the Red Card or donate to the charity go to their website
