Jack Leslie (English footballer)

John Francis Leslie (17 August 1901 – 25 November 1988)[1] was an English professional footballer who played as an inside left.

[3] He played for the local team Barking Town, scoring more than 250 goals and helping them win the Essex Senior Cup in 1920 and London League Premier Division title in 1921.

During his time at West Ham Leslie cleaned the boots of World Cup winners, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters and of England international Trevor Brooking and Clyde Best who at the time was one of only a very small number of black players in the top flight of English football.

In December 2019, the boardroom at the newly redeveloped Mayflower Grandstand at Plymouth Argyle's ground Home Park was named in Leslie's honour.

[18] In August 2022, a previously unnamed road which runs outside Home Park's Devonport End was named Jack Leslie Way.

[24] A plaque on the statue's base also paid tribute to Leslie's strike-partner Sammy Black, who is Argyle's record top goalscorer.

"[25] The cap was presented to Leslie's family at Wembley Stadium on 26 March 2023 before England's Euro 2024 qualifying game against Ukraine.