David Pleat was at Highbury on Saturday and the message from the players of Arsenal and Aston Villa was clear: 'Kick Racism out of Football'

Few people have done more to incorporate black players into English football than Pleat. From his days of Luton when he built a side around Ricky Hill, Brian Stein and Mitchell Thomas to last season when England internationals Jermain Defoe and Ledley King helped his Spurs side stay in the Premiership.

"It shows progress that players like Jermain are described today as good young players.

"Twenty years ago it would have been good, young black players. Nowadays it's less of an issue, it is all about education stopping prejudice."

Pleat was a pioneer when he built his Luton side between 1978 and 1986. But he says he never considered colour or background when picking his players.

"Race didn't come into it in any shape or form. We had a very cosmopolitan side and not just black players. I had Mal Donaghy from Northern Ireland, Tony Grealish from the Republic, Raddy Antic from Yugoslavia and Les Sealey the East End of London.

"There were a few black players in the team of course. I saw Ricky Hill play a schools' match in Cricklewood and invited him to the club. We got Mitchell Thomas and Ray Daniel from school, Paul Elliott came from Charlton and I signed Brian Stein from Edgware Town.

"His was an inspiring story. He was a Cape Coloured and his family were virtually under house arrest in Cape Town, they had 24 hours to get out of South Africa and he came to England and became a great centre-forward for us."

Although racism was more prevalent in the early 1980s, Pleat said it never deterred him or the club promoting black players.

"They were good enough so I never saw any problem," he said. "Certain places I suppose had a more intimidating atmosphere but we would concentrate on our jobs and often use to go to away grounds and win."

Pleat turned Luton into a strong First Division force before leaving in 1986 to have spells with Spurs, Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester.

Last season, he was at Tottenham, acting as manager after the dismissal of Glenn Hoddle after spending several seasons as Director of Football.

Even though he left in the summer, Pleat is proud of his work at Spurs including the purchase and development of three of the England players who were involved in the wins over Wales and Azerbaijan earlier this month.

"We needed a proven goalscorer and Jermain was available from West Ham. We didn't have to do the hard sell to him because he is a London lad and knew all about Spurs," he explains.

"Jermain is a very elusive forward and can shoot with hardly any backlift. That is a great asset for a striker. Like any striker though, he needs the service.

"Ledley was first picked by George Graham in midfield and last season we needed him there because we didn't have anyone else with his power and strength. He was vital to be honest. This season Spurs have Sean Davis and Tiago Mendes and that's given Ledley the chance to play at centre-half.

"He is a very nice, quiet lad. He likes to pass the ball around, he is comfortable doing that and he's improved his heading greatly.

"I also managed to set up the signing of Paul Robinson in January.

"I am glad to see him in the England side and see some of my other Spurs signings represent their country, including Anthony Gardner, Simon Davies for Wales and Gary Doherty for the Republic of Ireland."

Pleat is in Greece on Thursday doing television work for Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup tie in Athens. But 26 years after taking the hot seat at Kenilworth Road, he is ready to look for another job in the game.

"I have reached a settlement with Spurs now so I am free to take another job. I am very enthusiastic about the future. I am doing media work but will look at options in the game as well. I have been already offered a couple of posts abroad, one in the Middle East and one in South America."