1. To raise funds for and build a statue of Jack Leslie at Home Park where he played professionally for Plymouth Argyle.
2. To promote and share Jack’s story.
3. To celebrate diversity and combat racism.
WHO WAS JACK LESLIE?
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.
Below is the story in brief but if you want to find out more please read the JACK’S STORY page where there are several useful articles.
Jack was an outstanding player who joined Plymouth Argyle from Barking in 1921 and scored 137 goals in a long and illustrious career which ended in 1934.
Leslie was picked for the England national team to face Ireland in 1925 and was told by his manager that he’d been called up. But after this selection, his name mysteriously disappeared from the team sheet, seemingly because of the colour of his skin.
So, not only was Jack an incredible player for his club, but his is also a story of great national and historical significance. It’s also one that sadly still resonates as racist incidents in football and in wider society continue to this day.
THE BALLAD OF JACK LESLIE
The campaign was, in part, inspired by this storytelling song written by one of the founders. You can read about the campaign origins here and listen to and buy the song to support the fundraising effort…..
LATEST NEWS
The statue created by Andy Edwards has now been cast at Castle Fine Arts Foundry. It is being assembled, finished and patinated and the granite plinth is being constructed ready for installation outside Home Park where Jack Leslie played for Plymouth Argyle in the 1920s and 30s.
The unveiling date has been announced as Friday 7th October and you can read the full press release here.
Molten bronze is poured into the ceramic shell of Jack’s shorts.Jack’s shorts just cast in bronze are chipped out of the ceramic shell.Jack’s granddaughters see the clay sculpture for the first time.
We are so grateful to everyone who has donated and supported the campaign but please do continue to donate if you can and share our CROWDFUNDER PAGE. Additional funds will be used for educational plans as we take the Jack Leslie story into schools and organisations, and a legacy pot for maintenance of the monument.
We are particularly keen to hear from companies. Now the statue is happening, your name can appear on the plinth. Do get in touch as we have offers for sponsorship and recognition which we can discuss. Drop us an email at jacklesliecampaign@gmail.com
We are a group of like-minded football fans who feel passionately that the story of Jack Leslie should be more widely known. More about us here.
His former team, Plymouth Argyle, has now taken steps to honour Leslie, naming the new boardroom in the Mayflower Grandstand at Home Park after Jack. This has inspired us to keep his story alive, having been so sadly overlooked for many years.
The Jack Leslie CampaignHelp raise the funds to build a statue of Jack Leslie at Home Park
