Western Morning News (Saturday)
Argyle stadium road could honour city sporting hero
AROAD which leads to the home of Plymouth Argyle could soon be named Jack Leslie Way – after the city’s pioneering black footballer.
Jack Leslie (inset) was the only black professional player in England for much of his career as a Pilgrim between 1921 and 1934.
The leader of Plymouth City Council, Cllr Nick Kelly, has proposed that, to honour his memory, the previously unnamed road that skirts the edge of Milehouse Park and Ride and runs fittingly past Home Park stadium will bear his name.
In time, it will also complement the fan-led project to erect a statue of Jack nearby, which will be unveiled later this year.
It comes as Plymouth City Council has initially put forward plans to rename Sir John Hawkins Square as Jack Leslie Square. The council had agreed to change the name from the 16th century slave trader, Hawkins. It would appear that those plans may be scrapped, though, with the proposal for Jack Leslie Way – and the fate of the city centre square remaining up in the air.
Cllr Kelly said: “I have today submitted a formal proposal to name this road Jack Leslie Way to ensure that Jack is memorialised in Plymouth for so many years to come.
“This proposal is a far more appropriate tribute to Jack and his family than renaming Sir John Hawkins Square – an issue that, as I have made clear from the start, I am committed to resolving in a democratic manner. “Jack achieved legendary status for his goalscoring exploits and it is right and proper that he is recognised at Home Park, the place where he enjoyed so much success and brought happiness to thousands of fans each week.” Jack’s granddaughters Lyn, Les and Gill, said: “We are delighted at the recognition our granddad is receiving at last and this would be a lovely addition alongside the statue at Home Park, which we are so excited about.”
Andrew Parkinson, chief executive of Plymouth Argyle, said: “The club is pleased to hear of Cllr Kelly’s proposal, and we lend our support to the road bearing the name of Jack Leslie.
“Jack was a true pioneer of English football. Alongside the future erection of a statue in his honour, naming a road after him will ensure his legacy among Argyle fans and the people of Plymouth in the years ahead.”
Born to a Jamaican father in London, Leslie joined Plymouth Argyle from non-League Barking Town in 1921. After a fairly quiet first two seasons at Home Park, he soon found form as an inside-left and went on to score 137 goals in 400 appearances. He is fourth on the Pilgrims’ all-time goalscoring record.
It is believed that Leslie was set to become the first black player to represent England but was denied the opportunity when selectors were made aware that he was “a man of colour”. It was therefore not until 1978 that the first black player appeared in an England shirt. Following his retirement from playing, Leslie went to work for West Ham United.
The suggestion to rename the road initially came from city businessman Danny Bamping – The Herald can confirm. He took the council to court over its plans to rename Sir John Hawkins Square, saying that it had failed to follow the correct process to change the name of the square.
He is on record as far back as August 2020, suggesting that, rather than continue with the contested legal challenge, a more sensible approach was for the council to rename Gilbert Lane, a name used until 2009 for the Home Park access route.
“It’s nice to see the council has now recognised that I was right from the very start,” he said.