Plymouth Argyle has become the home of Jack Leslie’s Football Association cap. Posthumously awarded to Leslie’s family in March, the cap recognizes the challenges the legendary black footballer faced in the 1920s due to the color of his skin. Leslie’s granddaughters insisted that the cap symbolized a “wrong being righted” and should be the rightful property of Argyle, the club where Jack Leslie scored an impressive 137 goals. At a ceremony held beside Jack’s statue at Home Park, the former Argyle star Ronnie Mauge accepted the cap on behalf of the club.
Reflecting on Leslie’s story, Mauge acknowledged that it was “hard to fathom”. He emphasized that the occasion marked a time of celebration, emphasizing Leslie’s status as part of the club’s history and family. For the Leslie family, especially granddaughter Lesley Hiscott, who was named Leslie in honor of her forebear, the cap carries deep significance. They expressed their pride in handing it over to the club at which he excelled as a player.
Matt Tilly, co-founder of the Jack Leslie Campaign, also praised Leslie’s family for their generous gesture in gifting the cap to Argyle. The token will be permanently displayed in the Jack Leslie Boardroom. While the black footballer did not feature in an England game, the FA cap he was awarded represents a recognition of his talent and a tribute to the legacy of his life and career.
The story of Leslie’s cap being claimed by Argyle has generated positive reactions online, with many users commenting on the family’s magnanimity and calling for greater recognition of the black sportsman’s contributions to football. His skill as a player, coupled with his pioneering role in a sport that remained stubbornly exclusionary for too long, cement his place in the annals of football history
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