Jack Leslie (English footballer)

Jack Leslie

Personal information
Full name	John Francis Leslie[1]
Date of birth	17 August 1901
Place of birth	Canning Town, England
Date of death	1988 (aged 86–87)
Playing position	Inside left
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
–	Barking Town
1921–1935	Plymouth Argyle	384	(133)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

John Francis "Jack" Leslie (17 August 1901 – 1988) 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".^[2] 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.^[3] 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 However, the invitation to play for his country was withdrawn.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".^[4] 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.^[5] He died in 1988.

Honours

Plymouth Argyle

• Football League Third Division South
  • 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	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	9	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	133	17	4	401	137		0	0		401	137
Career Totals			384	133	17	4	401	137		0	0		401	137

References

1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 156. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
2. "Jack Leslie". BBC South West. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
3. Danes (2009), Complete Record, p. 104.
4. "England's Black Players". England Football Online. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
5. Knight, Brian (1989). Plymouth Argyle A Complete Record 1903–1989. p. 88. ISBN 0-907969-40-2.

External links

• Jack Leslie profile at Plymouth Argyle