Full name John Francis Leslie Years Team Playing position | Date of death 1988 (aged 86–87) Name Jack Leslie | |
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Date of birth (1901-08-17)17 August 1901 | ||
Place of birth Canning Town, England | ||
Jack leslie retires
John Francis "Jack" Leslie (17 August 1901 – 1988) was an English footballer who played as an Inside left.
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Born to a Jamaican father in Canning Town, Leslie was the only professional black player in England during his time with Plymouth Argyle. He was set to become the first non-white player to represent England at international level before he was denied the opportunity when selectors were made aware that he was "a man of colour". As a consequence, it wasn't until 1978 that Viv Anderson became the first black player to appear in an England shirt. Leslie enjoyed a 13-year spell with Plymouth Argyle, having joined the club from Barking Town in 1921. A creator and scorer of goals, his partnership with outside left Sammy Black has gone down in history as one of their very best. The duo scored 319 goals between them in all competitions, with Leslie contributing 137 of them. In 1930, The Herald described him as "known throughout England for his skill and complexion."
Life and career
Leslie was born in Canning Town, London, and played for local team, Barking Town, before joining Plymouth Argyle in 1921. Leslie scored over 400 goals in his career, 134 of those for Plymouth in 400 appearances. He retired from football in 1935.
Leslie played at centre-forward and over the next thirteen years he scored 131 goals in 383 games. A call-up to the national team was cancelled when officials realised he was "a man of colour"; his manager, Bob Jack, told him he had been selected to play for England. However, the invitation to play for his country was withdrawn. Leslie told the journalist, Brian Woolnough: "They must have forgot I was a coloured boy". Leslie retired from professional football in 1934.
He later worked as a member of the backroom staff of his local club, West Ham United, as the boot-boy. He died in 1988.