IN THE news recently was an article that football fans are trying to raise money for a statue in tribute to Jack Leslie, Britain's first black footballer to be called up to play for England in the 1920's.

I found it doubly interesting because I happen to know some of Jack's family who live in Southampton.

Apparently, some of the selectors didn't know that Jack was black, when they realised, he was Black they made sure he didn't play.

It is very relevant to the time we are in, because of what happened in Minnesota recently.

The belief that Britain was the supreme country and being white British meant you were a privileged nation because of our huge Empire was ingrained in the British psyche.

What happened to Jack Leslie although he was born in England was common at that time, so common that no one queried it.

Thankfully we are now more enlightened and we know that discrimination against any race or human being is wrong.

I hope they do raise a statue for Jack Leslie at Plymouth Argyle, the team he played for with such distinction, surely this would be a statue that everyone could agree is justified.

Paddy Maxwell

Lordshill