Jack Leslie
Encyclopedia
John Francis Leslie was an English footballer who played as an Inside left
.
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 320 goals between them in all competitions, with Leslie contributing 136 of them. The Herald described him as "known throughout England for his skill and complexion".
, 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 realized he was a "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 However, the invitation to play for his country was withdrawn.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.
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
.
Born to a Jamaican father in Canning Town
Canning Town
Canning Town is an area of east London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Newham and is situated in the area of the former London docks on the north side of the River Thames. It is the location of Rathbone Market...
, Leslie was the only professional black player in England during his time with Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. He was set to become the first non-white player to represent England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at international level before he was denied the opportunity when selectors
England national football team manager
The role of an England national football team manager was first established in May 1947 with the appointment of Walter Winterbottom. Before this, the England team was selected by the "International Selection Committee", a process in which the Football Association would select coaches and trainers...
were made aware that he was "a man of colour". As a consequence, it wasn't until 1978 that Viv Anderson
Viv Anderson
Vivian Alexander "Viv" Anderson MBE is an English football player and coach, who played for clubs including Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday in the 1970s and 1980s...
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
Barking F.C.
Barking Football Club is am English football club based in Barking, Greater London. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.-History:...
in 1921. A creator and scorer of goals, his partnership with outside left
Outside forward
Outside forward is a position in association football which refers to a footballer who plays as an advanced forward on the right or left wing - as an outside right or outside left. Typically as part of a 2-3-5 formation or one of its variants...
Sammy Black
Sammy Black
Samuel "Sammy" Black was a Scottish footballer who played as an outside left.Often regarded as the greatest player to have represented Plymouth Argyle, he is the club's all-time record scorer with 182 goals. His career began in his native Scotland with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, where he was spotted...
has gone down in history as one of their very best. The duo scored 320 goals between them in all competitions, with Leslie contributing 136 of them. The Herald described him as "known throughout England for his skill and complexion".
Life and career
Leslie was born in Canning TownCanning Town
Canning Town is an area of east London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Newham and is situated in the area of the former London docks on the north side of the River Thames. It is the location of Rathbone Market...
, London, and played for local team, Barking Town
Barking F.C.
Barking Football Club is am English football club based in Barking, Greater London. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.-History:...
, before joining Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
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
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
was cancelled when officials realized he was a "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
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, as the boot-boy. He died in 1988.
Honours
Plymouth Argyle- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
- Winner (1): 1929–30
- Runner-up (6): 1921–22, 1922–23, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27
Career statistics
| Club | Division | Season | League | FA Cup | Club Total | International | Total Games | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||||
| Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
Third | 1921–22 | 9 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 0 | ||
| Third | 1922–23 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | - | - | 7 | 3 | |||
| Third | 1923–24 | 17 | 5 | - | - | 17 | 5 | - | - | 17 | 5 | |||
| Third | 1924–25 | 40 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 14 | - | - | 41 | 14 | |||
| Third | 1925–26 | 40 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 17 | - | - | 41 | 17 | |||
| Third | 1926–27 | 33 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 14 | - | - | 34 | 14 | |||
| Third | 1927–28 | 41 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 15 | - | - | 42 | 15 | |||
| Third | 1928–29 | 41 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 45 | 22 | - | - | 45 | 22 | |||
| Third | 1929–30 | 32 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 36 | 9 | - | - | 36 | 9 | |||
| Second | 1930–31 | 39 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 9 | - | - | 40 | 9 | |||
| Second | 1931–32 | 41 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 43 | 21 | - | - | 43 | 21 | |||
| Second | 1932–33 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 5 | - | - | 34 | 5 | |||
| Second | 1933–34 | 11 | 2 | - | - | 11 | 2 | - | - | 11 | 2 | |||
| Second | 1934–35 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | |||
| Total | 384 | 132 | 17 | 4 | 401 | 136 | 0 | 0 | 401 | 136 | ||||
| Career Totals | 384 | 132 | 17 | 4 | 401 | 136 | 0 | 0 | 401 | 136 | ||||
External links
- Jack Leslie profile at Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...