SOO-SLAVDRIVERA

Frank Soo, is celebrated today by Google, who have included on their front page, a moving image of Frank juggling a football. Just click on the Google front page to see Frank doing "keepy up". SOOooooo why is he so important?

Born on March 9th 1914, in Buxton, brought up in LIverpool. His father and mother (English) eventually ran a "Laundrette"...you guessed it...in Fairfield near Manchester. The family later moved to Derby.

It is the anniversary of Frank's first appearance for England having made his mark with Stoke City who signed him in 1933. Susan Gardiner's history of Frank may be found under "The Wanderer", an attempt to revitalise the knowledge of Frank Soo, who rarely gets a mention these days. 

He played at Stoke in a talented forward line, including Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortenson. 

Soo, born in Buxton, with a Chinese sailor as his father, is recorded as the first non-white, oriental or Asian person to play for England.

Below is a photo of Frank, with some England Internationals on National Service along with; Jack Taylor, Stanley Matthews, Matt Busby, Joe Mercer and Frank Swift. 

He was 28 years old on May 9th 1942, when Frank first played for England against Wales at Ninian Park, Cardiff and was part of a 0-1 defeat. Soo's one cap was gained in a side that was very much 2nd string....It was a wartime international, his team mates were: 

GK: Marks, Scott, Hapgood, Britton, Mason, Kirchen, Hall, Lawton, Edelston. L.Smith. 

Not many of these ring bells and there were only 30 caps between them at the time. Times were tough then!

Frank made his name as a hard working and skilful player and his reputation went with him into management in Finland, Norway, Sweden and almost finally at Scunthorpe in 1959, for a year. He did not seem to stay at one club for long, managing a number of teams between 1949-1966. Most of his appointments lasted about a year. He was known in Scandinavia as "slavdrivare"....you might be able to translate"! and perhaps that's why he didn't have longevity.....

Frank died in 1991.