JACK LESLIE; Black Lives Matter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPsb4BvRkvI 

The  Black Lives Matter campaign is being fully supported by footballers, even though professional football has not quite got going probably this season. I am not sure that it is being promoted fully in Non-League Football, if it needs a "poke" then Truro City FC might get started.

On Talksport, our black footballers, past and present, are being included in most of the station's programmes and Clyde Best (1968-76) got a mention this week, a player who turned up against the Cambridge University team when he was new to West Ham, just a teenager. He was big, quick, strong and talented, clearly on "trial" and Ron Greenwood was keeping an eye on him. I noticed him as he flew past me on the Fenners pitch. I think they beat us 3-1.

Alongside Clyde and many other black footballers, is mentioned Jack Leslie, an English footballer, whose father was Jamaican and his mother English. Jack was born in Canning Town in 1901 and he played over 250 times for Barking Town, an inside left. He helped Barking win the Essex Senior Cup Final in 1920 and the London League title in 1921. 

He joined Plymouth Argyle in 1921, scoring his first goal against Gillingham in a 2-0 win and he stayed at Home Park through to 1935, partnering Sammy Black, a Scottish (white) winger. As a pairing they contributed 319 goals in 327 appearances at Home Park, achieving the Third Division Douth title in 1929-30.  In 401 apps he scored 137 times. Jack was "known throughout England for his skill and complexion" quoted The Plymouth Herald.

Leslie was called up for an England cap in 1925, when his manager relayed the news of the selection. Shortly after the promotion was withdrawn and he was never invited again. It was not until 1978 that Viv Anderson next was asked to play for England, the coulntry's first "Black cap".

Leslie retired in December 1934, after a 3-1 victory over Fulham. He returned to London and Ron Greenwood at West Ham Utd, recognised his achievements and value, inviting him to work behind the scenes in the famous West Ham "boot room" with Moore, Hurst, Peters, Brooking and Clyde Best.

Jack ran a pub in Truro, turned out a bit for the local City team and died in November 1988.

In 2020, a Jack Leslie campaign at HOme Park, Plymouth Argyle FC, raised a £100,000 by July 2020 and a statue was erected, along with his name given to the club boardroom in the newly developed Mayflower Stand. There is a scheme to rename the Sir John Hawkins ( a naval commander) Square in the city centre, to the Jack Leslie Square.