Pioneering footballer to be honoured with plaque

The first-ever player of Asian heritage to play for England is set to be honoured with a blue plaque later.

The plaque from Historic England is due to be unveiled at the house where Frank Soo, who played for England nine times during World War Two, was born on Lightwood Road, Buxton, Derbyshire.

The footballer captained Stoke City and went on to manage the Norwegian national side later in his career.

Last October, Soo's family were presented with a cap by the FA at Wembley as international fixtures during the war were not officially recognised.

His great niece Jacqui Soo said: "We were always very disappointed that he was never ever awarded an England cap in his lifetime, so when we campaigned and we were finally awarded the England cap by the FA that was a great honour.

"Now this is also a huge honour for our family and I think for the town of Buxton."

Frank's father was Chinese and his mother was English and they ran a laundry business in the town.

Jacqui added: "He was an avid health freak.

"I remember when I met him, when he was about 75, when he visited our house in Kirby in Liverpool.

"He was still then able to do press-ups, clapping in between one-handed press-ups. He could still do keepy-uppies with a football.

"He was incredibly fit, never smoked, never drank all his life."

In his club career, Frank is best known for captaining the Stoke City side that included Sir Stanley Matthews but he also played for many other teams including Newcastle United, Leicester City, Chelsea, Everton and Blackburn.

After his playing career, he managed teams in Scandinavia, Padova in Italy and the Norwegian national side in the 1952 Olympics.

The Friends of Buxton Station group presented the case for Soo's plaque to Historic England.

The group's chairman, Dave Carlisle said: "Local historian, Julian Cohen, wrote a 2023 book called, 'Surely not in Buxton', that showed how Frank's great achievements had been largely ignored. This inspired us to take up Frank's case.

"Blue plaques are not given out easily, so we had to work very hard to convince Historic England how deserving Frank's case was.

"We are thrilled that Frank has finally been properly and truly recognised."

Heritage minister, Baroness Fiona Twycross, said: "This World Cup year is an important moment to honour Frank Soo.

"As the first footballer of East Asian descent to play for England, he is a vital part of our national sporting heritage, and it is long overdue that his story enjoys this recognition.

"His service to the country on both the pitch and in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War speaks volumes about his commitment to our nation.

"He deserves his place in our national story, and the community in Buxton can be rightfully proud of this blue plaque."

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