History of soccer's South African imports revealed

Footballing historians often focus on the likes of South African Lucas Radebe from the 1990s and, before him, Albert Johanneson in the 1960s, both of whom starred for Leeds United.

But those behind the exhibition said the first South African played in the UK as far back as 1899 and the country has actually provided more professional players for UK clubs than any other apart from France and Holland.

The Offside exhibition, which draws on in-depth research from the Football Unites, Racism Divides (FURD) project based in Sheffield, is on display at the District Six Museum in Cape Town, near where fans congregate.

FURD said the interactive exhibition charts the role football has played in relations between the countries from the time the game was taken to South Africa by the British as a colonial power in the 19th century to the present day.

Former Spurs star and current BBC pundit Garth Crooks, a supporter of the exhibition, said: "Many fans in England will associate the arrival of Phil Masinga and Lucas Radebe at Leeds United in the early 1990's as the first time South Africans played in Britain.

"The generation before might remember Albert Johanneson in the 1960s, but the story begins way before that."

Organisers said the exhibition throws up some fascinating tales from the 19th century, through the apartheid era to today's Premier League.

It tells the stories of Wilfred Waller, who became the first South African professional footballer to play in the UK, turning out for Bolton Wanderers in 1899, Alec Bell who played for Manchester United in 1903 and Gordon Hodgson who scored a staggering 17 hat-tricks for Liverpool.

Offside is organised by Kick It Out, football's equality and inclusion campaign, the British Council, the District Six Museum and the Sheffield-based FURD project.

Lucas Radebe, a legend with the South African national team – known as Bafana Bafana, said: "This year's World Cup provides a chance for people to see beyond what happens on the field of play and learn about South Africa's rich and difficult history."