A CAMPAIGN raising money for a statue to honour the late Jack Leslie, who was denied the chance to play for England in 1925 because he was black, was launched yesterday.

Leslie, an attacking player who scored 137 goals in 401 matches during a 14-year career with Plymouth Argyle, was named in the England squad for a match against Ireland 95 years ago. 

But after being selected, his name disappeared from the team sheet.

“Jack Leslie should have been England’s first black player but when the selectors discovered his heritage, his name would never appear on the team sheet,” the campaign says.

It aims to raise funds for a statue of Leslie at Plymouth’s Home Park to promote and share his story, celebrate diversity and combat racism.

Plymouth has decided to honour Leslie, who died in 1988 aged 88, by naming a new boardroom after him at the ground.

Nottingham Forest defender Viv Anderson eventually became the first black player to represent England when he appeared in a friendly against what was then Czechoslovakia in November 1978.

To learn more, visit: https://jackleslie.co.uk/