Latest news with #JackLeslie
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Pioneering black footballer to get blue plaque
The first black footballer to get an England call-up is getting a national blue plaque to celebrate him and his career. John 'Jack' Leslie was a prominent player for Plymouth Argyle, playing 400 times and scoring 137 goals for the team between 1921 and being called up for his national team in 1925, his place was taken away from him because of the colour of skin. The plaque will take pride of place at the house he used to live in with his family in Plymouth. After Jack Leslie's call-up to the national team, it took another 53 years before Viv Anderson became the first black footballer to actually play for England in 1978. His family were presented with a cap in his honour three years ago and the FA have acknowledged the retraction of his call-up for England "should never have happened". Leslie's granddaughters said: "We feel honoured as members of Jack Leslie's family that a blue plaque is being unveiled in recognition of his achievements."Our grandad made a major contribution to the history of not only football but the integration of black people into our communities."He was a true trailblazer, and we will always be immensely proud of him."
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Black footballer who was first to be called up for England duty...but then dropped because of his skin colour
The remarkable career of the first black footballer to receive an England call-up is to be honoured with a national blue plaque. John 'Jack' Leslie, who scored 137 goals in 400 appearances for Plymouth Argyle between 1921 and 1934, was called up to the national team in 1925. But the inside-left (support striker) would be denied an England appearance, seemingly because of the colour of his skin after selectors discovered his heritage. The Argyle favourite died in 1988 and the plaque is being unveiled in his adopted home town of Plymouth. The unveiling marks Leslie's footballing talent and celebrates the 100th anniversary year of his call-up as a reserve for the England squad in October 1925. Though this honour was rescinded shortly afterwards, Leslie's resilience in continuing to excel at Plymouth Argyle and his significance in the history of English football has more recently been acknowledged and celebrated. The new blue plaque will be unveiled at 8 Glendower Road in Plymouth, where he lived with his family during the heyday of his career. The inscription on the plaque reads: 'JOHN ''JACK' LESLIE 1901 - 1988 Captain of Plymouth Argyle FC and the first Black footballer selected for England lived here.' The unveiling will be led by Historic England's chief executive Duncan Wilson, alongside Leslie's granddaughters Lesley Hiscott, Gillian Carter and Lyn Davies. In the history of black players in English football, Leslie was preceded by pioneering footballers such as Arthur Wharton, Walter Tull and Fred Corbett who had played for league teams before the First World War. Among his contemporaries was Eddie Parris, who won a cap for Wales in 1931. Following Leslie's call-up in 1925, another 53 years passed before Viv Anderson became the first black player to play for England in 1978. Leslie was told about his England selection by his manager at Plymouth, Bob Jack. Speaking to the Daily Mail in 1978, when he was working at West Ham, Leslie recalled the moment. He said: 'Well, one day, a Tuesday as I remember, the manager, Mr Bob Jack, calls me in. He's looking over the top of his glasses and smiling. 'He stands up and puts his arm on my shoulder. "Johnnie" - that's what he called me - "Johnnie... I've got great news for you. You've been picked for England". 'Well, you can imagine. I'm a level-headed sort of man... sort of bloke who'd sell matches for a living if he had to. 'But this really knocked me sideways. Everybody in the club knew about it. 'The town was full of it. All them days ago it was quite a thing for a little club like Plymouth to have a man called up for England. 'I was proud - but then I was proud just to be a paid footballer.' But then Leslie learned that his call-up had been rescinded, after seeing that a fellow player from rival club Aston Villa was in the England team instead. '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.' He added: '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 it away.' Three years ago, the FA presented Leslie's family with a posthumous cap and acknowledged that retraction of his call-up 'should never have happened'. After retiring from football, Leslie moved to east London and worked in the docks until his retirement. He later got a part-time job cleaning boots and sweeping terraces at West Ham United's stadium Upton Park. In recent years, The Jack Leslie Campaign succeeded in raising £140,000 to erect a bronze statue to him outside Plymouth Argyle's Home Park. Leslie's granddaughters, Lesley Hiscott, Gillian Carter and Lyn Davies, said: 'We feel honoured as members of Jack Leslie's family that a blue plaque is being unveiled in recognition of his achievements. 'Our granddad made a major contribution to the history of not only football but the integration of black people into our communities. 'He was a true trailblazer, and we will always be immensely proud of him.' Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: 'Leslie's story is not only about football, it is a testament to his resilience in the face of racism. 'The first black footballer called up to the England squad, Leslie's call-up was rescinded, which seemed to be due to the racial prejudices of the time. 'While he never played for his country, Leslie's story serves as an inspiration for current generations, to continue to challenge racial boundaries in sport. 'We hope this blue plaque helps celebrate his achievements and inspires future generations.' Matt Tiller and Greg Foxsmith, co-founders of The Jack Leslie Campaign, added: '100 years ago, Plymouth Argyle's Jack Leslie was a young newlywed with the world at his feet. 'He walked from this house to Home Park where he was given the fantastic news that is so significant in the history of our national sport. 'Jack had been picked for England, the first player of colour to be selected. 'He returned to Glendower Road to share that achievement with his new wife, Win. 'And it was here that he would later have to deal with that dream being snatched away. 'But he bounced back, helping Argyle win promotion and becoming team captain. 'It also became a family home after his daughter Evelyn came along in 1927. 'It is a wonderful moment to see Jack recognised and celebrated here with a blue plaque.'
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Plymouth football pioneer Jack Leslie celebrated with blue plaque
Historic England is due to unveil a blue plaque at the former home of groundbreaking black footballer Jack event at 8 Glendower Road in Plymouth later marks the 100th anniversary of Leslie's call-up as a reserve for the England squad in October was the first black player to be called up for England, but his name disappeared from the team sheet because of his skin colour. His career at Plymouth Argyle FC was distinguished by his remarkable skills as a striker, scoring 137 goals in 401 appearances. Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson said: "Jack Leslie's story is one of talent, resilience, and breaking barriers."This plaque ensures his legacy is remembered and celebrated."Reflecting on the honour of being selected for England, Leslie once said: "Everybody in the club knew about it. "The town was full of it. I was proud, but then I was proud just to be a paid footballer." Leslie rarely missed a game for Argyle and was joint top scorer in the 1928-29 season with 22 10 March 1928, he was given the captain's armband in an away match against final two seasons as a professional footballer were overshadowed by an injury to his eye which forced him to miss much of the 1933-34 season. He struggled to regain his old form and played his final match in April 1935. Soon after his retirement from football, Leslie took on the tenancy of the Swan Inn in Truro, Cornwall, which he ran until 1938. Later that year, Leslie and his family moved to east London. Leslie worked as a boilermaker, riveter and plater in the East India Docks until his retirement in 1966. At the suggestion of his daughter Evelyn, Leslie then found a part-time job cleaning boots and sweeping terraces at West Ham United's stadium Upton Park, near his home in East Ham. In 1978, Leslie was interviewed by the Daily Mail and reflected on his career and the racism he encountered. In October 1982, he was honoured with a brief ceremony before the match at Upton Park to mark his retirement from the West Ham boot Wilson said: "Leslie's story is not only about football; it is a testament to his resilience in the face of racism. "While he never played for his country, Leslie's story serves as an inspiration for current generations, to continue to challenge racial boundaries in sport." 'True trailblazer' Heritage minister Baroness Twycross said: "Jack Leslie's blue plaque celebrates his life and inspirational achievements during his career as a talented footballer. "This plaque will serve as a reminder of his remarkable talent, resilience, and contribution to the game."Plymouth City Council's deputy leader, Jemima Laing, said it was an "important moment in celebrating Plymouth's rich local history and the remarkable achievements of Jack Leslie"."His legacy goes far beyond the football pitch and it's wonderful to see him getting the recognition he was once denied but certainly deserves," she Elliott, co-founder of anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, said Leslie was a "true trailblazer of our game, a player of outstanding talent who broke down barriers and helped shape the history of English football"."This blue plaque not only honours his achievements on the pitch but also recognises his wider contribution to society and tackling discrimination off it," he said.
The Guardian
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘Bittersweet': plaque unveiled for black footballer whose England call-up was rescinded
It will be a day of mixed emotions for the family of the late, great Jack Leslie. There is pride at the unveiling of a plaque on the Devon house in which he lived while becoming the first black player to captain an English football league team. But sadness too, because it takes place 100 years after his call-up for England was rescinded because of his colour. Leslie's granddaughter Lesley Hiscott told the Guardian the family was delighted at the honour. 'We have to keep pinching ourselves to make sure we're not dreaming. Grandad was a trail-blazer. We're elated for the recognition Grandad is at long last getting, but we wish it had been in his lifetime. There's a kind of bittersweetness to it,' she said. The national blue plaque will be unveiled at Glendower Road, Plymouth, where Leslie (1901-1988) lived at the peak of his footballing career, scoring 137 goals in 401 appearances for Plymouth Argyle. In 1925 the striker was called up as a reserve for the England team and would have been the first black player to represent the national side, but three days before the game, he was replaced. The Football Association presented Leslie with a posthumous cap in 2022, partly to right a 'historical wrong' and recognise that 'he faced adversity because of the colour of his skin'. Hiscott said: 'Grandad never came across as being bitter. I think his attitude to it was: 'If I can't go out and play for England, I'm going to go out and I'm going to score for Plymouth.' 'And that's exactly what he did on the day that he should have played for England against Ireland. He went out and scored two goals. That's how he dealt with it but obviously, he was upset. It would have been the accolade of any footballer's career.' Asked what he would have made of the plaque, Hiscott said: 'I can recall an occasion in the 1960s, I think it was, when Plymouth invited him back for some celebration. When he came home and was telling us about it, his eyes filled up with tears and he said: 'I couldn't believe it. I've got a standing ovation. I didn't think anybody would remember me'.' Hiscott said her mother, Evelyn, was bitter that her father did not represent England. 'Oh, my goodness, yes. She would go off on a rant about how unfair it was,' she added. After Leslie's call-up was rescinded, it was to be another 53 years before Viv Anderson became the first black player to play for England in 1978. Hiscott said: 'Grandad paved the way, made it that bit easier for anyone coming along after him.' Sign up to The Long Wave Nesrine Malik and Jason Okundaye deliver your weekly dose of Black life and culture from around the world after newsletter promotion He was also a delightful man. 'He was a smashing grandad, and he used to tell us wonderful stories. He had this lovely tone to his voice, and we would sit there just mesmerised by him,' she added. After his retirement from football, Leslie became a pub landlord in Truro, Cornwall, before moving to east London, where he worked as a boilermaker, riveter and plater. After his retirement, he found a part-time job cleaning boots and sweeping terraces at West Ham United's ground, near his home in East Ham. Paul Elliott, a former professional footballer and the co-founder of the football anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out, said the plaque honoured Leslie's achievements on the pitch and his wider contribution to society and tackling discrimination. 'It stands as a powerful symbol of progress and ensures that Jack Leslie's remarkable story will continue to inspire future generations,' he said. Plymouth city council's deputy leader, Jemima Laing, said: 'His legacy goes far beyond the football pitch and it's wonderful to see him getting the recognition he was once denied but certainly deserves. Today's plaque unveiling will help ensure his story and the important conversations we need to have about inclusion and equality in sport are remembered, not just now but for many years to come.'
