A campaign to raise £100,000 to erect a statue of a footballer who was dropped from the England team when selectors discovered he was black has hit its target. Jack Leslie: Calls For Statue Of Forgotten Footballer Who Should Have Been England's First Black Player Plymouth Argyle star was set to make history after being named in … … "I hope that when we have his statue up it will become an enduring symbol of the progress we can make in fighting the evil of racism. 3. Jack Leslie would have been the first black person to play for the nation having been selected in 1925. The bronze statue of Jack Leslie is likely to stand close to the Mayflower Grandstand of Home Park. He said the FA backed the campaign for a statue to recognise Leslie as a pioneer. A CAMPAIGN has launched to build a statue for a footballer who was dropped from the 1925 England squad because he was black. Campaign co-founder Greg Foxsmith said he was "delighted" by the news. Read More Related Articles. They remember him as a kind and loving grandfather. His selection was the talk of the club and the town - but some days later, when the newspapers published the team, Billy Walker, of Aston Villa, was in the starting line-up and Leslie was named as a travelling reserve. NHS warns of 'significant reduction' in vaccines, Demi Lovato says she was raped as a teenager. Police identify victims of Atlanta spa shootings. But he was denied because of his race. In a further ironic twist to his story, Leslie also cleaned the boots of West Ham's black striker Clyde Best, who, in the late 1960s and 1970s, was still one of only a tiny number of black players in top-flight English football. In 1925, Argyle's manager, Bob Jack, called his star striker into his office and gave him some thrilling news - Jack Leslie had been selected to play for England against Ireland. My vaccine side effects and what they mean. Jack Leslie statue campaign smashes crowdfunding target. A campaign for his statue outside Plymouth Argyle's Home Park stadium has attracted donations from nearly 2,000 people since July. VideoThe scars left by a school bombing, 'Women need to hear âyou are not aloneâ' Video'Women need to hear âyou are not aloneâ', How 'Auntie Deb' made Native American history. Adoption threat for Poland's LGBT parents, Police identify victims of Atlanta spa shootings1, NHS warns of 'significant reduction' in vaccines2, Demi Lovato says she was raped as a teenager3, EU plans rollout of Covid travel form by summer4, Brazil health service in its 'worst crisis ever'5, Airline removes boy with autism over mask policy6, Teen 'mastermind' pleads guilty to Twitter hack7, US fatal shooting 'began over stimulus cheque row'8, Asian women among eight dead in US spa shootings9, China's online 'skinny fad' sparks body image concern10. Statue of footballer dropped by England because he was black to be built after appeal. © 2021 BBC. "He [Leslie] laid the foundation for someone like me to go to Plymouth," Trinidad and Tobago international Mauge added. "I'd never heard of Jack Leslie until up to two weeks ago," he told BBC News. Adoption threat for Poland's LGBT parents, Police identify victims of Atlanta spa shootings1, NHS warns of 'significant reduction' in vaccines2, Demi Lovato says she was raped as a teenager3, EU plans rollout of Covid travel form by summer4, Brazil health service in its 'worst crisis ever'5, Airline removes boy with autism over mask policy6, Teen 'mastermind' pleads guilty to Twitter hack7, US fatal shooting 'began over stimulus cheque row'8, Asian women among eight dead in US spa shootings9, China's online 'skinny fad' sparks body image concern10. He is remembered as a great attacking inside left but also a utility player who could fill in as a central defender. Jack Leslie was a football pioneer who played for Plymouth Argyle 401 times between 1921 and 1934 ... A campaign has been launched to build a statue for Jack Leslie. The campaign hopes to raise £100,000. Picked in 1925, Jack Leslie would have been the first black player to play for England, 53 years before Viv Anderson. Bill Hern co-author of the upcoming book Football's Black Pioneers said: "Jack Leslie should have been a major figure in the history of British football and society. Jack Leslie was the only black professional football player in England during his career in … Jack Leslie, pictured seated behind a trophy, with fellow Barking FC players from the 1921-22 season. Who truly was the most dishonest president? Created with sketchtool. Tiller, who plans to use any surplus funds raised from the crowdfunder to finance education work around the project, hopes “there’s more to come beyond the campaign.” He said the FA backed the campaign for a statue to recognise Leslie as a pioneer. The Jack Leslie Campaign is inviting prospective sculptors to confirm their interest in creating a quality statue of Jack Leslie. Created with sketchtool. Investigators say the suspect admitted to the attack, but denied that he was motivated by racism. Are the US and China in a new 'Cold War'? 2. Initially, the crowdfunding target to get the statue built was £100,000 but that target was surpassed in … He and his family returned to east London and he resumed his trade as a boilermaker. ", Leslie's granddaughter Lyn Davies said: "I nearly fell over when I realised we had gone over the £100,000. Subject: Jack Leslie statue campaign gathers pace. To raise funds for and build a statue of Jack Leslie at Home Park where he played professionally for Plymouth Argyle. 'We women are pushed out of work because of childcare' Video, 'We women are pushed out of work because of childcare', The scars left by a school bombing. A new campaign is raising funds to erect a statue of Jack Leslie, a star footballer who was denied a place in the England national team in 1925 because he … George Floyd death: How will jurors be selected? "Had he played for England, as he should have, he would have fired the aspirations of generations of young black players.". “Having a statue promoted by our fans and funded by fans is a statement by them that they are joining the fight against racism in football,” Plymouth chairman Simon Hallett told BBC News. Leslie later suggested finding out he was black, for the selectors, must have been "like finding out I was foreign". 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In early 2020 The Jack Leslie Campaign was set up, with the aim of building a statue of Leslie outside Home … A crowdfunding campaign has raised £100,000 to build a statue of former footballer Jack Leslie outside Plymouth Argyle stadium, where he played for 14 years. VideoThe scars left by a school bombing, 'Women need to hear âyou are not aloneâ' Video'Women need to hear âyou are not aloneâ', How 'Auntie Deb' made Native American history. 'We women are pushed out of work because of childcare' Video'We women are pushed out of work because of childcare', The scars left by a school bombing. Jack Leslie was kicked out of the team after selectors learnt of the col… My vaccine side effects and what they mean. Lesley Hiscott, another granddaughter, said she was "over the moon" and "ecstatic". To celebrate diversity and combat racism. Argyle supporter and comedian Josh Widdicombe said the campaign had "shined a light" on racism in football. 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Anderson, picked to play for England against Czechoslovakia at Wembley in 1978, went on to win 30 caps. Read about our approach to external linking. "At a time when some statues are being pulled down, we want to put one of Jack Leslie up to commemorate his amazing achievements and to remember the injustice that he suffered," campaign co-founder Greg Foxsmith says. "And that's a crying shame, because what he achieved and what he did should be paramount in every black person's mind. Earlier this year we told you about the Jack Leslie campaign – a movement to get a pioneering black player recognised with a new statue outside Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park. A campaign is being launched to erect a statue of a footballer dropped by England when selectors found out he was black. Instead, while England struggled to a 0-0 draw, he scored twice, as Plymouth trounced Bournemouth 7-2 at home. It’s time for us all to right that wrong and recognise this remarkable player’s achievements with a statue. He met manager Ron Greenwood, who immediately recognised and remembered him as a great player. It's just amazing, I'm stunned.". To promote and share Jack’s story. A campaign has been launched to erect a statue for Jack Leslie, who was a footballer dropped by the England International team when selectors found out that he was black. Public square named after 16th century slave trader Sir John Hawkins will be renamed to commemorate 1920s Plymouth Argyle footballer Jack Leslie who … He had married their grandmother, Lavinia, in 1925, at a time when it was unusual for a black man to marry a white woman. "This additional funding will be used to enhance the statue itself - a bigger budget will give us a bigger statue and ensure the plinth is of the highest quality. Jack Leslie, who would have been England's first black player, was dropped because of his ethnicity. Mr Foxsmith said: "We want to use the Jack Leslie story to highlight those issues, to challenge prejudice, to challenge discrimination, and to show in 2020 we can be better than we were in 1925.". Wed Jul 01, 2020 8:27 am Campaign to erect statue at HP discussed today on radio Devon with family and Gordon Sparks, and mentioned on radio 4 news, Simon Hallett is supportive and Viv Anderson Englands first Black player in … 'We women are pushed out of work because of childcare' Video, 'We women are pushed out of work because of childcare', The scars left by a school bombing. Picture: Barking FC - Credit: Barking FC The family and former club of a footballer denied the chance to play for England because of the colour of his skin have welcomed plans to erect a statue … Former Argyle player Ronnie Mauge described the campaign as "phenomenal" and said he was "so proud of the Plymouth people and the club". And as a consequence, some of the family, and Lavinia in particular, experienced racial abuse. A CROWDFUNDING campaign has been launched to commemorate footballer Jack Leslie with a statue in Plymouth. "And because of that, he was denied the chance of playing for his country.". The proposed monument statue will depict Jack Leslie, a Plymouth Argyle star who was discriminated against because of his colour. Discrimination in the game, in any form or from any time period, is unacceptable," said FA chairman Greg Clarke, adding that English football had made "huge strides" in diversity, although there was still more to do. He was the first … The Campaign has hit its original minimum fund-raising target, and hopes to deliver a statue at Home Park next year (2021 being the Centenary year of Jack Leslie arriving in Plymouth) . Former West Ham stars back Jack Leslie statue campaign. Who truly was the most dishonest president? He joined them in the 1921-22 season and stayed for 14 years, making 401 appearances and scoring 137 goals, a feat made all the more impressive because of the racial abuse he experienced at the hands of both crowds and opponents. It was a great achievement for the player and an honour for third-division Plymouth. The Jack Leslie campaign hopes to raise £100,000 ($124,000) for a statue to honor Leslie, a striker for English club Plymouth Argyle in the 1920s and 1930s. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 'We women are pushed out of work because of childcare' Video'We women are pushed out of work because of childcare', The scars left by a school bombing. Here is everything we know. Jack Leslie with fellow Barking FC … Will there be a statue made in Jack Leslie's memory? Jack Leslie … "I believe that the manager sent in his request, saying: 'I've got a brilliant player here, he should play for England,'" his granddaughter, Lesley Hiscott, said. Read about our approach to external linking. Jack Leslie retired from football in 1935 Credit: Crowdfunder Will there be a statue made in Jack Leslie's memory? "It's a crying shame but hopefully the statue they are trying to get erected will carry on his legacy.". "Everyone needs a role model and young black footballers didn't have that major role model in the 30s, 40s and 50s. A CAMPAIGN has launched to build a statue for a footballer who was dropped from the 1925 England squad because he was black. "Having a statue promoted by our fans and funded by fans is a statement by them that they are joining the fight against racism in football," Plymouth chairman Simon Hallett told BBC News. Crowdfunders have raised £100,000 to erect a statue of a footballer who was dropped from the England team when selectors discovered he was black. How many statues of black people does the UK have? Lyn Davies said: "If I walked down the street with my friends and he was coming the other way, he would cross to the other side of the road so I could pretend that I didn't know him, so I didn't suffer. "Stories like this are incredibly sad. image caption Jack Leslie played for Plymouth Argyle in the 1920s A campaign is being launched to erect a statue of a footballer dropped by England when selectors found out he was black. Despite helping Plymouth gain promotion, a top-four finish in division two, captaining the club and, in 1931-32, scoring 21 goals in 43 games, Leslie was never again picked for England. Sophie Cox Published: 5:00 PM August 5, 2020 Updated: 10:23 AM October 13, 2020. A campaign is now underway for a statue to be erected of Jack Leslie, the former Plymouth Argyle footballer who was denied his dream of playing for England due to the colour of his skin. A campaign is now underway for a statue to be erected of Jack Leslie, the former Plymouth Argyle footballer who was denied his dream of playing for England due to the colour of his skin. Jack Leslie was dropped when selectors found out he was black and now a campaign has been launched for a statue to be built as a tribute to the Eastender who died in 1988 15:49pm, Tue 11 Aug 2020. But “what the people want…” is a statue of Jack Leslie. George Floyd death: How will jurors be selected? But who is Jack Leslie and will there be a statue made for him? And now a group of fans are campaigning for a statue. And supporters include Anderson and the club itself. Born in 1900, in London, to an English mother and a Jamaican father, Leslie showed a gift for the game from a young age, playing for Barking Town. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Investigators say the suspect admitted to the attack, but denied that he was motivated by racism. Argyle have already honoured Leslie with a mural and renamed their boardroom after him. Jack Leslie, who began his career at Barking FC, was called up to represent his country in 1925 - but later denied the chance to play when the selection commitee realised the colour of his skin. The statue to the Plymouth Argyle legend is set to be built after £133,000 was raised. A Jack Leslie statue outside Home Park is one step closer to reality after a pledge of funding from Plymouth City Council. Video, 'Women need to hear âyou are not aloneâ' Video, 'Women need to hear âyou are not aloneâ', EU plans rollout of Covid travel form by summer, Brazil health service in its 'worst crisis ever', Airline removes boy with autism over mask policy, Teen 'mastermind' pleads guilty to Twitter hack, US fatal shooting 'began over stimulus cheque row', Asian women among eight dead in US spa shootings, China's online 'skinny fad' sparks body image concern, Dame Judi Dench on the impact of coronavirus, Imelda Staunton and Sarah Lancashire take on the much-loved monologues. The campaign to honour … He never did travel with the England team to Belfast. Read about our approach to external linking. © 2021 BBC. The Jack Leslie campaign hopes to raise £100,000 ($124,000) for a statue to honor Leslie, a striker for English club Plymouth Argyle in the 1920s and 1930s. On the crowd-funding site, a spokesperson wrote: "We are committed to a lasting memorial to Jack Leslie. Leslie joined Argyle in 1921 and stayed there for 14 years, making 401 appearances and scoring 137 goals. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to build a statue of the football legend outside Home Park in Plymouth. By the time he died, in 1988 at the age of 88, there were many more black players at top levels of the game. Club chairman Simon Hallett said: "Jack was not just a great footballer. Plymouth City Council have already announced their intention to rename a square in the city after Jack (a square currently named after Sir John Hawkins, a ‘privateer’ whose activities included trading in enslaved people). A campaign is now underway for a statue to be erected of Jack Leslie, the former Plymouth Argyle footballer who was denied his dream of playing for England due to the colour of his skin. Why Jack Leslie Deserves a Statue... Nearly 100 years ago Jack Leslie should have been pulling on an England football shirt and making history. Leslie's playing days came to an end after he sustained an injury when a lace from a leather ball flew into his eye. Jack Leslie is already honoured in a mural at the club. Posted on 22nd October 2020. A gifted athlete, he played for Barking Town, where his prolific scoring record attracted the attention of Plymouth Argyle, then a third-division club. 1. Leslie was born in Canning Town, in London's docklands, in 1900, to an English mother and a Jamaican father. "But I'd run across and say, 'Hello Granddad.'". Fundraisers hit target for statue of black footballer Jack Leslie. He has become a symbol of the injustices in our game and in our society. Greenwood offered him a job in the boot room, where, somewhat poignantly, he cleaned mud from the boots of England stars Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, and Trevor Brooking. Created with sketchtool. In December 2019, the boardroom at the newly redeveloped Mayflower Grandstand at Plymouth Argyle's ground Home Park was named in Leslie's honour. Warning over rise in disease-spreading mosquitos in UK "They were looking at the colour of his skin. And supporters include Anderson and the club itself. But he accepted what had happened and, according to his granddaughters, never expressed any bitterness. Following his retirement and with time on his hands, Lavinia urged him to go to West Ham and ask the club if there was any work he could do. "History has been written by the winners and I think we are now trying to pay more attention to some of the victims of those victories.". Crowdfunders have raised £100,000 to erect a statue of a footballer who was dropped from the … Jack Leslie: Black footballer statue campaign reaches goal.