JACK’S LEGACY MERITS JUSTICE
1920s ace deserves his place in history
BARKING FC are determined to maintain the legacy of their former player Jack Leslie, who was denied an England cap in 1925 after selectors found out he was black.
The Jack Leslie Campaign has been launched to raise money for a statue to recognise the remarkable achievements of the footballer.
Nearly 100 years ago, Leslie, the son of an English mother and a Jamaican father, won the Essex Senior Cup and West Ham Charity Cup with Barking Town where his prolific scoring record led to a move to Plymouth Argyle, then a third-division side.
He joined them in 1921 and stayed for 14 years, becoming captain and scoring 137 goals in 401 with his form leading to an England call-up.
Argyle manager Bob Jack delivered the news to Leslie that he had been selected to play for his country against Ireland.
However, when the team was published, his name had disappeared from the team sheet, believed to be because of his race.
Leslie would have been the first black player to play for England – 52 years before Viv Anderson – and he was never picked to play for the country again.
more than £73,000 of a £100,000 target has been raised to erect a bronze, full body statue of Leslie in his prime on a stone plinth outside Home Park, Plymouth’s stadium where a mural was produced and their new boardroom named in his honour.
Driving force
The FA has given its full backing as an official sponsor, along with support from the Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Supporters’ Association.
Barking, who gave Leslie his first chance in football, are aiming to raise £5,000 towards the total to get the club’s name on the statue plinth in Plymouth and a smaller statue at their Mayesbrook Park Stadium.
The Isthmian South Central club play a crucial role in their local community and are currently installing a new 3G pitch. They are also attempting to arrange a friendly fixture with Plymouth for the ‘Jack Leslie Cup’ to mark 100 years since his transfer.
Chairman Rob O’Brien, who has been the driving force at the Blues for the last ten years, wants to make sure Leslie’s legacy lives on.
“We are based in East London which is a diverse area and we embrace that,” he told
The NLP. “It’s a really proud moment that we’ve got an opportunity to show locally but also nationally what Barking stood for 100 years ago and what we’re still doing today.
“We want to leave a legacy in Jack’s name. We invested heavily in a 3G pitch. We also have a bit of land we want to develop for improved dressing rooms and club house facilities but also, as we run an educational programme, improve the delivery of that by building bespoke classroom areas for 16, 17, 18-year-olds. We want to help players develop and move up the pathway like Jack did.
“I wish I had met the man. To be able to hold your nerve above the abuse and score lots of goals, he must have been some character.”