Jack Leslie Statute

[Boletus Edulis]

Today the Jack Leslie statute will be opened outside Home Park stadium. Pretty sure it is being streamed live from about 11. In case you don’t know Jack was born in east London played some 383 games for Argyle scoring 137 goals. In 1925 he was picked to play for England. At some point he was deselected, and the only logical reason history suggests for this reversal was the colour of his skin. After ending his days at Argyle he returned to London and he much later became the “boot boy’ at West Ham being employed for the role by Ron Greenwood. He died in 1988. No one knew he was nearly the first black player to play for England. His story more or less stayed hidden with the occasional public foray such as when Viv Anderson got his first cap.

Recently two Argyle fans decided to do something about it and they crowdfunded over £100k to get a statute unveiled. Fans from many clubs, not just in Plymouth contributed. Today it is unveiled. It will be on the corner of the Devonport and Lyndhurst ends, where I walk past to get my seat. i
Indeed, all away fans will normally walk past it.

Tomorrow before the game against Accrington I shall pay my respects.

 

[codaplenty]

It was a lead story on BBC news at lunch time, great human interest story and really enjoyed listening about his playing career. Lovely to hear from his grandchildren who are naturally thrilled to bits about the recognition for him. A win win for all, and great for Plymouth

 

[Chris FGR]

Glad that it looks decent too, unlike the Aguero & Ronaldo statues.

 

[BarrieOwl]

Is it like a statue?

 

[MatthewArgyle]

Yes it looks very nice.

 

[Greenacres]

As long as it doesn't look like the statue they put up at Southampton...where the head looked about three times too big for the body.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Really nice to see the statute, was very popular before and after the game. Has QR codes so you can find out more. I believe the blue lighting comes this week.

What is also nice is that we are having our best home start to a season - 7 wins on the bounce - since Jack was playing in the 1920s. Mind you his team did it three times. Nice bit of symmetry.

 

[BarrieOwl]

Statue ffs statue.

 

[kieran_vale]

I did see the feature on it on the EFL highlights show last night. Quite interesting to watch with the story behind it.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Statue ffs statue.

It’s the law

 

[Super_horns]

As long as it doesn't look like the statue they put up at Southampton...where the head looked about three times too big for the body.

And didn’t look anything like the guy it was meant to be ?

 

[Boletus Edulis]

And didn’t look anything like the guy it was meant to be ?

Our programme was full of pictures of Jack and the statue, and it is clearly a very good likeness.

 

[Super_horns]

Our programme was full of pictures of Jack and the statue, and it is clearly a very good likeness.

Sorry was talking about the Southampton one that was being talked about,.

Ted Bates I think it was...