▁the ▁club ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁black ▁player ▁to ▁play ▁for ▁Liverpool ▁which ▁was ▁seen ▁as ▁a ▁' v ict ory ' ▁for ▁the ▁black ▁community ▁in ▁Liverpool ▁as ▁Gay le ▁explains . ▁ ▁His ▁fin est ▁hour ▁for ▁Liverpool ▁came ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 – 8 1 ▁European ▁Cup ▁semi - final ▁second ▁leg ▁away ▁at ▁Bayern ▁Mun ich , ▁and ▁he ▁was ▁reward ed ▁with ▁a ▁w inners ▁medal ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁that ▁season , ▁as ▁a ▁non - play ing ▁substitute ▁in ▁the ▁final . ▁After ▁loan ▁sp ells ▁at ▁Ful ham ▁and ▁New castle ▁United ▁he ▁left ▁An field ▁after ▁making ▁just ▁five ▁appearances . ▁In ▁his ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁aut obi ography , ▁he ▁alleg ed ▁that ▁veter an ▁Liverpool ▁team mate ▁Tommy ▁Smith ▁was ▁frequently ▁rac ist ▁towards ▁him . ▁ ▁Gay le ▁joined ▁B irmingham ▁City ▁where ▁he ▁played ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 2 – 8 3 ▁season ▁scoring ▁once ▁against ▁West ▁Ham ▁and ▁then ▁he ▁hit ▁ 1 0 ▁in ▁ 4 5 ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 3 – 8 4 ▁campaign . ▁Gay le ▁then ▁signed ▁for ▁Len ▁Ash urst ' s ▁S under land ▁where ▁he ▁became ▁a ▁popular ▁player ▁playing ▁in ▁two ▁seasons ▁before ▁moving ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁to ▁play ▁for ▁Dallas ▁Side k icks ▁in ▁the ▁Major ▁Ind oor ▁Soccer ▁League . ▁He ▁returned ▁to ▁England ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁to ▁play