Pioneering black footballer to get blue plaque

The first black footballer to get an England call-up is getting a national blue plaque to celebrate him and his career.

John 'Jack' Leslie was a prominent player for Plymouth Argyle, playing 400 times and scoring 137 goals for the team between 1921 and 1934.

Despite being called up for his national team in 1925, his place was taken away from him because of the colour of skin.

The plaque will take pride of place at the house he used to live in with his family in Plymouth.

A statue was unveiled of Jack Leslie outside the ground of Plymouth Argyle in 2022

After Jack Leslie's call-up to the national team, it took another 53 years before Viv Anderson became the first black footballer to actually play for England in 1978.

His family were presented with a cap in his honour three years ago and the FA have acknowledged the retraction of his call-up for England "should never have happened".

Leslie's granddaughters said: "We feel honoured as members of Jack Leslie's family that a blue plaque is being unveiled in recognition of his achievements.

"Our grandad made a major contribution to the history of not only football but the integration of black people into our communities.

"He was a true trailblazer, and we will always be immensely proud of him."