A FOOTBALL star has sparked outrage after BLACKING UP for his side’s Christmas party.
James Norwood, 26, top scorer for National League side Tranmere Rovers and an England C international, was dressed head to toe as a street vendor selling brightly coloured sunglasses.
Striker Norwood, with nine goals to his name this season, wore a white t-shirt, ripped jeans and a straw boater.
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He looked to be carrying a loudhailer and a rack of eyewear – as well as his face, arms and feet being painted black.
The former Exeter and Forest Green Rovers forward posted the picture on his Instagram, before swiftly deleting it.
The caption, posted on his Twitter account, read: “Great Xmas do with the boys.. level – fancy dress – completed,” complete with a green tick emoji.
Norwood has since made his Instagram and Twitter account private after posting the offensive picture on Monday evening.
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A spokesperson from Kick It Out, football’s equality and inclusion organisation, told The Sun: “Although it is likely it was a well-intended fancy dress for a Christmas party, it is ill-thought-out and something that is out-of-date in today’s modern world.
“Even well-intended acts may cause offence and that’s something players have to appreciate and consider.”
Norwood played youth football for Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace before joining hometown club Eastbourne Town.
He was signed by Exeter City, then of League 1, but played just a handful of times before moving to Forest Green Rovers, where he scored over 50 goals in four seasons, becoming their all-time record Conference goalscorer.
Norwood picked up a criminal conviction for drink driving in 2012 while at Forest Green, being banned from the road for 19 months and fined £400 in the process.
In 2013, he won the first of seven caps for England C, the football team that represents the nation at non-league level, scoring four goals.
He joined Tranmere in May 2015 and last season scored 19 goals as Rovers just missed out on the play-offs.
This campaign, he has started similarly brightly as Tranmere, who dropped into non-league for the first time in 94 years in 2015, are in second place just two points behind league leaders Lincoln City.
Tranmere Rovers refused to comment when contacted, while his adviser said: “I am aware of it. It’ll be a no comment, there is nothing to say on the matter.”
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