Middlesbrough legend Curtis Fleming on his work combatting racism

He is now assistant manager to his friend and former Boro teammate, Nigel Pearson, for Championship side Bristol City, but his roots are still in the region, with his family home in the North East and his active involvement as patron of two charities, Show Racism the Red Card, and Justice First, which supports people who seek safety in the UK.

Born in Manchester, to an Irish mother and a Jamaican father, he moved with his parents, sister and brother, to Dublin when he was six months old. Irish and proud of it for many reasons, his childhood was not easy, as his father moved back to the UK.

"Mum brought us up, and as a single Irish woman with three black kids, it was not easy," he says. "We experienced racism, as me and my brother were the only black children at the school. It helped that we were good at sport. We had a great time playing football on the street and we made some good friends. Mainly I kept my head down but one day I'd had enough and I ended up fighting this lad, because of the racial abuse."

The worst part for Curtis was that the fight put a hole in his new jumper, which his mum had save up to buy. He spent a difficult evening trying to hide the damage from his mum's sharp eyes. All to no avail, and before she sewed it up – she gave him this advice which has never left him: "From the day you were born to the day you die, you are black, and you need to realise that."

Sadly his mum died when she was only 42, leaving Curtis aged 19 and his teenage brother and sister. Curtis was now the main provider for his family.

"I had to support my brother and sister and keep the family going and pay the bills," he says. "I worked in a newsagents, in the Pound Shop, a clothes shop, as well as trying to run the house, shopping, doing the washing and everything else. It was a difficult time for us all, but I think this is where I got my strong work ethic from. We visited mum in a hospice, and we were so young we really didn't understand what a hospice was, or what was really happening. It was so hard for us all to be without mum, and sometimes I got angry as I thought it was just us struggling, but you come to realise lots of other people are too."

Meanwhile, Curtis's talents as a young footballer had been spotted. After playing for a Dublin-based youth club he signed for St Patrick's Athletic in The League of Ireland in the summer of 1987, winning numerous awards during his four years with them. Throughout, he was still working elsewhere in order to support his family.

"I went to so many trials with football clubs but it never happened and I thought it never would. I kept getting knocked back," he says.

However, at a match against The Bohemians, Ron Bone, a scout for Middlesbrough, was watching and asked Curtis to come to Middlesbrough for a week's trial.

"I was working and had only two days left of my holidays, so I said I couldn't do a week," he says, "but they said that was no problem and they flew me over and they signed me at the end of the season. I had to relocate to Middlesbrough, and my uncle and aunt stepped in to look after my brother and sister and I was able to send money home for them."

He played 226 league games for Middlesbrough before moving on, playing for various sides until his official retirement in 2005, after which he had several roles coaching and assisting managers until being appointed to his current role at Bristol City.

John Alexander, a dedicated Boro fan all his life, says of him: "In my mind Curtis Fleming was one of the best players to play for MFC in the 1990s. He was a real fans' favourite, with his hard tackling and his never-say-die performances making him a legend on the terraces. As big names came and went during this time, Curtis remained a core member of the team, which was appreciated by the fans. He played a key part in both Lennie Lawrence's and Bryan Robson's Boro teams that got us promoted to the Premier League, so will forever remain a 90s hero in the hearts of all Boro fans like myself."

Curtis Fleming in action for Middlesbrough in 1997

Well known and loved by Boro fans, perhaps lesser known is his charity work. In 1996 he became very involved in working for, and promoting Show Racism the Red Card, an anti-racism charity, which provides educational workshops, training sessions, multi-media packages and resources.

"I understand what effect racism has on you when you are on the receiving end of it," says Curtis. "When I was just a kid I was coming home from the swimming baths when someone shouted at me, 'you black b******s should go back to your own country,' – and there was such venom in this person's eyes, I was really scared. Forty five years later, I still remember it clearly.

"The great thing about going into schools is that the kids are so receptive and open-minded to what you are saying, especially as to how hurtful racism can be. I remember one little boy saying that he was going back to tell his grandad not to say those bad words about black people anymore."

Former Newcastle player Shaka Hislop told him about one of the experiences he had. "Shaka was racially abused at a petrol station by kids shouting racial slogans at him," says Curtis, "and when he turned round and they saw who he was, they asked for his autograph."

From left, pictured in 2010, Boro player Justin Hoyte and former pro football players Dean Gordon, Curtis Fleming, Gary Bennett, John Anderson and Olivier Bernard answer questions from local school children at a Show Racism the Red Card event at the

Curtis is also actively involved in Justice First, a charity with the slogan "building bridges not walls". It supports people who seek safety in the UK, offering legal advice, practical and emotional support, and community activities, and delivering refugee awareness through training and support.

"One of the misconceptions is that people are only coming to this country to cheat the system," he says, "but I have seen the destitution and desperation for myself, and people out there need help. My wife, Lucie is a case worker for the charity and she sees this every day, and I have seen for myself, how lives can be changed through the charity."

During Refugee Week in June, Curtis uses his love and experience of football to help with a tournament where teams from the local and refugee communities come together to play in the spirit of friendship and cohesion, and raise money for a good cause.

Kath Sainsbury, who knows Curtis from both the charities he supports, says: "As an ambassador for Show Racism the Red Card, Curtis was one of a group of players who had lived through a terrible time in sport when black players were often subjected to racist abuse not only from rival fans, but sometimes from those in senior positions within the game. Curtis was prepared to relive his own hurtful experiences in order to educate young people so that all forms of discrimination could be eliminated. He then went on to become an advocate for the rights of refugees through his work as a patron with Justice First. He continues to have a major impact on the lives of vulnerable people; giving them a voice in today’s hostile environment."

Curtis says: "I think one of the most important things is to treat people how you would want to be treated yourself. Show people respect, and a 'hello' and a smile can make your day."

He adds: "I never thought I would ever have got into professional football. Mum would have been so proud."