Supporters
YOU. This was a Crowdfunded Campaign and we wouldn’t be here without your support. Over 2000 people donated, and continue to donate (link HERE) as we plan to continue our work telling Jack’s story and using it to challenge prejudice and discrimination THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
(See also our dedicated thank-you page for our crowd-funders)
The Jack Leslie Family: Jack’s daughter Evelyn, granddaughters Lesley, Lyn and Gillian, his great-nieces Kelly, Kerry, Lucy and the Gillick (nee Leslie) family are all delighted Jack is finally getting the recognition he deserves, and great-nephew George Connett sits on our advisory committee.
FOOTBALL PIONEERS
Viv Anderson MBE: Famously, the first black player to win a senior England cap. We are honoured to have Viv support the Campaign and speak so eloquently about Jack and his story.
Bobby Barnes: former player at West Ham and several other clubs. He made over 300 appearances in league and represented England at youth level. He is deputy director at the PFA.
Brendon Batson OBE -Brendon is a special adviser to the FA and Trustee of the PFA. As a schoolboy he signed for Arsenal, the first Black player to play for the Gunners’ first team, then in 1978 joined WBA along with Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham.
Ty Gooden: Former professional footballer who now scouts for Arsenal.
Iffy Onuora: a former professional footballer and Scotland International player, who is now a PFA Coach and Equalities Officer and a Trustee of Kick it Out and on our advisory committee.
Troy Townsend: Head of Development, Kick It Out
Michael Johnson Ex Birmingham City and 🇯🇲 International, also an 🏴 U21 coach
Dave Busby: A real character and first Black player at Barrow as well as Brighton
ARGYLE
Plymouth Argyle! The whole club have been behind the Campaign. Pioneers in signing Jack in 1921. PAFC named their new boardroom after Jack in 2019. Plymouth Argyle chairman Simon Hallett and his wife Jane are passionate about fighting racism and keeping Jack’s story alive.
Former manager Ryan Lowe supported the Campaign when interviewed on ITV, and current manager Stephen Schumacher supported the campaign, contributing to our crowdfunder soon after our launch. Schuey attended the statue unveiling, saying:
“It’s truly inspirational. I think what happened to Jack should never have happened back in 1925. All of the credit should go to the guys in the campaign who have been driving this message forward.
“When I first came to the Club, we read about the story and we knew how much of an Argyle legend Jack Leslie was, and now the whole world knows it about it. The story is out there. He’s rightly been awarded his posthumous England cap.
“I know the campaign organisers went to the FA and when they told them the story about Jack, the FA recognised that there was a wrong that happened in 1925. Now, they’ve put that wrong right. We’ve rightly recognised Jack’s legacy with a statue outside the stadium that everybody can now see every time they turn up.”
Coach Kevin Nancekivell has also been a staunch supporter from the start. Former Argyle manager, Everton/England legend Peter Reid supports the campaign and contributed:
Former Argyle Team Captain Gary Sawyer spoke for the team, backing the Campaign -see his message here!
Former Argyle star Frank Nouble (pictured left) – spoke for the campaign on Sky Sports here
Argyle play-off final hero Ronnie Mauge is a key supporter, sending a message of support and joining us on a live-streamed Facebook event.
Ronnie also attended the unveiling, and gave a speech from the platform.
Also in attendance were Argyle legends Dwight Marshall , (speaking here) and Rommy Bocu (later a pioneer with Accrington)
Other Argyle legends supporting the campaign:
Steve Davey -250 games for Argyle (1966-74) scored 50!
Kevin Hodges. A true great, and one of the few with more Argyle appearances than Jack!
Paul Barron – made 50 appearances as keeper for Pilgrims 1976-78 Jamie Mackie: Scotland international player, ex-Argyle and QPR legend. Steve Castle (currently manager of Royston FC) is also a supporter. David Friio (see this tweet) (Check out David’s narrated film for PAFC which also features Jack Leslie here) Cherno Samba (former player and author) supports the Campaign. Also expressing support via Argyle Legends are Tommy Tynan, Adrian Burrows, Chris Harrison, Aiden Maher, John Peddelty (Argyle+Ipswich) Norman Piper, Terry Austin (Ipswich, Argyle and Mansfield) as well as Luke McCormick (also donated signed gloves to raffle) and Ian Stonebridge.
Cornish-born former Argyle player and later Everton FA Cup scorer Mike Trebilcock supports the Campaign, and was one of the guests at the statue unveiling.
WEST HAM Clyde Best – was one of the first Black players in top tier football in England, scored 47 goals as a striker 1968 -1976, supports our Campaign having heard about us in his home in Bermuda! (full story here!)
David Cross West Ham legend,225 appearances 99 goals. David remembers Jack from the West Ham boot-room in the early 80s – he still has the boots!
Carlton Cole supports the Campaign! Carlton made over 250 appearances for the Hammers, made 19 England U21 appearances (scoring 6 goals),made his debut for the England national team in 2009, and is now a coach. Carlton attended the unveiling with other representatives from West Ham United (see here)
Sir Trevor Brooking: The West Ham legend and FA Cup hero who also won 47 caps for England remembers Jack from his time in the boot room. They got on really well although Jack never told Trevor he had been a player himself!
We have had positive messages and contributions from West Ham fans, and we have the support of fans group WHUISA (statement here) and the club itself has made a contribution to the Campaign.
BURNLEY: Burnley legend John Francis , now a UEFA A licence coach. John recalls being subjected to racial abuse (monkey gestures and chanting) by Argyle fans at Home Park when playing for Burnley in a play-off semi final, a shameful reminder that the overt racism seen at football grounds in the 70s and 80s persisted into the 1990s. Also Roger Eli: key player in the Burnley side that won the 4th div. championship of the 1991–1992 season.
BARKING FC
Jack Leslie played for Barking from where he was signed by Plymouth in 1921, later returning there.
Barking FC are incredibly proud of their Jack Leslie connections, and were very early supporters of this campaign- see here. Barking invited the Campaign to the club, where they were presented with a bronze maquette of Jack Leslie by artist Andy Edwards, as described here. Club chairman Rob O’Brien represented the club at the unveiling ceremony.
LIVERPOOL FC – sent good wishes and donated a shirt signed by Trent Alexander-Arnold which we auctioned as part of our fund-raising.
DEVON CLUBS – Traditional rivalries were put aside as had support from the fans trusts at both Exeter and Torquay (see here) and by Tavistock AFC (see here)
Celebrity Supporters
Josh Widdicombe: The comedian is a huge Argyle fan! Check out his brilliant tour of the club.
Michael Spicer: Comedian, writer & actor, famous for his Room Next Door creation is originally from Barking, where Jack began his football career. Arabella Weir: Brilliant comedy actor & writer.
Jamie Lawson: Award Winning singer-songwriter from Plymouth backed our campaign.
PLYMOUTH The City, Its people, and the PAFC “Green Army”
We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support of the people of Plymouth. In addition to the numerous residents who supported the Crowdfunder, we have had support from MP Luke Pollard (see below), PAFC (see above) and many more including: Plymouth Gin Distillery, The Box, Plymouth Community Homes, and PL1 Events.
Plymouth City Council: made a contribution from its infrastructure levy.
The University of Plymouth has partnered with the Jack Leslie Campaign- see here!
PASALB: Plymouth Argyle Supporters Association London Branch is behind the campaign and have made a significant donation. PASOTI: Plymouth Argyle Supporters On The Internet a long established popular club forum, helped with a donation and auctioning items for additional funds.
The Argyle Fans’ Trust: The supporters group backed the campaign.
The Argyle Archive is a fantastic resource run by volunteers and packed with information and memorabilia relating to the Pilgrims rich history.
Senior Greens and the 50/50 Lottery have backed the Campaign with a significant donation!
The Argyle Community Trust have helped us take Jack’s story into schools! See here
The Green Taverners were supportive throughout 💚
Corporate/Commercial
Interested in commercial sponsorship of the Campaign? We have exciting projects ahead, and delighted to credit our friend and partners who help us achieve our aims and objectives. Contact us!
Kingsley Napley
Shore Financial, Plymouth,
PLYMOUTH GIN DISTILLERY https://plymouthdistillery.com
Political support
LABOUR: Luke Pollard MP: Luke backed the Campaign, gave advice, and donated to Crowdfunder.
Jo Stevens MP: member of the “Show Racism The Red Card” All Party Parliamentary Group. See her statement here. Linda Gilroy (previously MP for Plymouth) was a huge supporter, donating money and art-work.
GREEN PARTY Caroline Lucas MP ( Party leader and MP for Brighton). Caroline Russell: transport spokesperson, local councillor (LBI) and a Member of the London Assembly, backed the Campaign.
LIB DEM: Baroness Hussein-Ece: Meral is a member of the House of Lords, and party Spokeswoman for Equalities. Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE also supports.
TORY: Maria Caulfield , MP for Lewes, and Greg Hands MP (Argyle Fan) backed the Campaign. Johnny Mercer MP attended the unveiling.
COUNCIL: We had cross party-support from many councillors on Plymouth City Council.
Artists and Writers
Leon Mann: Journalist/Filmmaker who co-founded the influential Football Black List was hugely helpful.
Bill Hern Historian with http://historycalroots.com/ and co-author of Football’s Black Pioneers has shared his research with and provided advice to the Campaign.
Rob Bullen – cartoonist (familiar to readers of Private eye) @robbybullen) is a key supporter, has himself contributed, and donated pieces of his work as rewards to those contributing to the Crowdfunder appeal.
James Curno has contributed numerous images, you can see how work on his Mayflower D7 website
Twitter Support
We have had support on twitter from many famous celebrities and footballers, including Gary Lineker, Dawn French, Sharon Davies and more. See here for detail of some of those expressions of support.