Jack Leslie

2022 - 10 - 7

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Jack Leslie statue unveiled at Plymouth Argyle (BBC News)

When Leslie moved to Plymouth from east London in 1921, he was the only black professional footballer in the country. He went on to play 400 times for the team ...

He said: "For a young black man to be denied playing for his country just because of the colour of his skin... he was a proper trailblazer." It is not just a representation of a footballer. A symbol of resilience shown by diverse footballers past and present. She said: "It was just a confined few that knew the story... Mr Mauge said there was "still a long way to go" to tackle racism in and outside of the game. He added: "It is not just a lump of bronze. at long last grandad's getting the recognition he deserved." "He was the first black player to be selected for England and that wasn't taught in schools, that wasn't taught by anyone, that was like forgotten history... Former Plymouth Argyle football player and ambassador for the club Ronnie Mauge said Leslie's story was a "testimony to how good a player he was", and hoped his story would now become a recognised part of history. "Jack Leslie was a true Argyle legend but the story of what happened to him with the England call up and that being denied because of the colour of his skin, is an important story to be told." "He was never given any reason as to why he had been dropped and the only presumption is because he was playing such brilliant football, he wasn't injured, he had not been suspended, the only issue was the colour of his skin.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

FA awards Jack Leslie posthumous England cap 97 years after call-up (The Guardian)

The Football Association has awarded Plymouth legend Jack Leslie, the first black player to receive an England call-up, an honorary cap.

“We have made progress in recent years to ensure that English football is more diverse and inclusive and a game for all. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Jack and to his family for comprehensively and consistently driving positive change through football. The Argyle favourite died in 1988 and has been immortalised by a statue that was formally unveiled outside Home Park on Friday.

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Image courtesy of "Sky Sports"

Jack Leslie, the first black footballer to receive an England call-up ... (Sky Sports)

Jack Leslie was called up for the England squad in 1925, but was denied an England appearance because of the colour of his skin; The Football Association ...

We are pleased to support this campaign and to recognise Jack's career." "The FA is awarding Jack a posthumous honorary cap, to recognise his unique contribution and set of circumstances - and to right the historical wrong," she said. Jack Leslie was called up for the England squad in 1925, but was denied an England appearance because of the colour of his skin; The Football Association has awarded him an honorary cap, 97 years after he was called up.

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Image courtesy of "The Hindu"

England's first black footballer Jack Leslie awarded a posthumous cap (The Hindu)

Jack Leslie who scored 137 goals in 400 appearances for Plymouth Argyle between 1921 and 1934 was robbed of the chance to represent England due to racism.

Leslie died in 1988 and is to be immortalised by a statue that will be formally unveiled outside Plymouth's Home Park on Friday. The first black player to receive an England call-up is to be given a posthumous honorary cap after being denied an appearance due to the colour of his skin, the English Football Association said Friday. "The FA is awarding Jack a posthumous honorary cap, to recognise his unique contribution and set of circumstances - and to right the historical wrong."

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