June 12, 2020
As calls intensify for statues of slave traders and imperialists to be removed, a campaign has been launched to erect a monument honouring Jack Leslie – who in 1925 should have been the first Black footballer to play for England.
Jack Leslie: Calls For Statue Of Forgotten Footballer Who Should Have Been Englands First Black Player
Leslie, a prolific goalscorer for Plymouth Argyle, was included in the national team to face Ireland 95 years ago. But his name mysteriously disappeared from the team sheet shortly afterwards, seemingly because FA officials had come to watch him play and discovered that he was Black.
He was never again given the chance to play for his country and his name has been largely forgotten. It wasn’t until 53 years later that Viv Anderson went down in history as the first Black footballer to represent England at senior level, in a friendly against Czechoslovakia at Wembley in 1978.
 Now, two Argyle fans want to give Leslie the recognition he never had in his lifetime, by way of a statue outside the team’s stadium Home Park.
The Jack Leslie Campaign has the backing of Leslie’s family and the club, which last year named a new boardroom at the ground after him.
Co-founder Greg Foxsmith said: “At a time when people are recognising that Black lives matter and statues of slave traders are coming down, we believe that putting up a statue is a more positive way to celebrate Black achievement and challenge racial stereotypes.”
Leslie was born to a Jamaican father and grew up in Canning Town, east London. He joined Argyle from Barking in 1921, and was one of only a handful of Black players in England at the time.
 In a long and illustrious career, during which he became club captain and helped the team to promotion, he scored 137 goals in 401 games, before retiring in 1934.
It is said that when Argyle manager Bob Jack told Leslie he had been selected to play for England he was “knocked sideways”.
According to Argyle, while later working in the boot room at West Ham United – his local team – Leslie said of his omission: “They [the selection hierarchy] must have forgotten I was a coloured boy.”
He is reported to have said: “I did hear, roundabout like, that the FA had come to have another look at me. Not at me Football but at me face. They asked, and found they’d made a ricket. Found out about me daddy, and that was it.
“There was a bit of an uproar in the papers. Folks in the town were very upset. No one ever told me official like but that had to be the reason; me mum was English but me daddy was Black as the ace of spades. There wasn’t any other reason for taking my cap away.”
Leslie died in 1988. The campaign hopes his story will raise awareness of discrimination and a fundraiser has been launched to pay for the statue.
Co-Founder Matt Tiller added: “We are reaching out and calling on people to support this campaign. We want football fans, politicians, organisations and companies, but most importantly individuals, to sign up to show support, and where they can, donate towards the statue fund. We are working with Plymouth Argyle towards a physical launch once football returns to some kind of normality.”Related... Statue Of Slaver Robert Milligan Is Torn Down In East London Why protesters Want To Tear Down Statue Of ‘White Supremacist’ Winston Churchill Exclusive: Dozens Of Councillors Demand Oxford University Remove Cecil Rhodes Statue Edward Colston Has Gone, But Britain Still Has Monuments To These Slave Traders
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Ruby Franke’s Husband REVEALS Alleged Rules He Had to Follow at Home | E! News
March 28, 2024
_mU-3lE2QwI
#KenanThompson speaks out following the #QuietonSet documentary. (🎥: Tamron Hall Show) #shorts
March 28, 2024
8AGP-Gfw_Ek
King Charles Shares "Great Sadness" at Missing Royal Appearance | E! News
March 28, 2024
lyizFqf1kQY
Martha Reeves Walk of Fame Ceremony
March 27, 2024
QzyezumEPtQ
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
Montell Jordan Dishes On Young MC Wedding, 'This Is How Date Night' Plans | TMZ
March 28, 2024
G3SMExj-qio
Davina Potratz Says TV Not Helping 'Selling Sunset' Relationship Woes | TMZ
March 28, 2024
D4piy4GNm4k
Logan Paul Rips Graham Bensinger Over Documentary, You Promised Apple TV+ | TMZ Live
March 28, 2024
NiSDpZhZklQ
Prince William pinned royal medal to Spice Girl Mel B’s boobs #shorts
March 28, 2024
O1cQ0UW9pco
Jennifer Garner shares ‘hard’ part of raising her and Ben Affleck’s kids
March 28, 2024
3Q7mZaVUdgc
50 Cent's ex Daphne Joy named as an alleged sex worker in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawsuit #shorts
March 28, 2024
yhLFI8DG9rM
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
28
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
PSG W - Hacken W
28
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Barcelona W - SK Brann W
27
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Chelsea W - Ajax W
27
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Lyon W - SL Benfica W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.