After 97 years of being denied representation, England honoured the late Leslie.
The English Football Federation honoured former player Jack Leslie after 79 years for a historic mistake made by the English Football Association by not involving the player with his country England in the national team matches because of the colour of his black skin.
Jack Leslie, 34 years after his death, was the first black player to be called up to the England Football Team when he was called up to the national team in a match that brought together the English team with the Irish national team in 1925, but he could not play in that game.
Jack Leslie played in the English team Plymouth Argyle and scored 137 goals in 400 games for the team but could not appear with the team at all.
A black player's first appearance for the English team was in 1978 Viv Anderson, who was the first black player to represent the Lions.
Plymouth Argyle on Friday unveiled a statue of late 1988 player Jack Leslie outside Home Park Stadium in a late move to honour a player whose skin colour deprived him of his country's representation.
For his part, the English Football Federation confirmed in a statement that "Leslie faced difficulties and adversity due to the colour of his skin, was not called to the team and did not represent his country, which is why we are pleased to honour and correct this catastrophic and historical mistake in recognition of his career and society in general."
English Football Federation president Debbie Hewitt said: "Jack Leslie was a true football legend who, through his personal ordeal, positively articulated attitudes and behaviours and abolished discrimination in football.
Personal Information about Jack Leslie :
- Birth: 17 August 1901 in London
- Play Center: Striker
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Sports teams: Plymouth Argyle (1921 _ 1935 )
- Goals: 137 goals in 400 games
- Death: 25 November 1988
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