FA Manager Urges Wider Recognition for Frank Soo

Frank Soo, the sole individual of Chinese heritage to have played for England, was officially inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. On this occasion, Anwar Uddin, the Football Association’s diversity and inclusion manager, expressed his belief that “Everyone should know about Frank Soo.” Born in Derbyshire to a British mother and a Chinese father, Soo became a legendary figure for Stoke City, where he played from 1933 to 1945. Despite having played alongside prominent figures such as Stanley Matthews and Joe Mercer, his pioneering achievements are now finally gaining national recognition. On Saturday, relatives and supporters honored him by marching from a street named in his honor, located at the site of Stoke’s former ground, to the club’s current stadium. Mr. Uddin commented, “It’s about celebrating those that have come before us.” He further added, “There’s a lack of representation today, but actually these players have come before us and are superheroes.” Beyond overcoming racism, Soo also made a significant impact on player training methods during his tenure as a manager. His great niece, Jacqui Soo, recounted, “When he went to Scandinavia, he had the teams he managed running round in the cold, and the players didn’t like him.” She continued, “He stopped them having sex before the games, there was no smoking, no drinking – which they didn’t like him for.” Jacqui Soo also noted, “The teams since then, their fitness levels have improved so much, they put their success down to Frank’s training methods.” Soo, who passed away in 1991, was formally inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame on Saturday during the half-time interval of the Stoke v Derby match. This induction occurred almost precisely one year after he was honored with a place in the Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s local Hall of Fame. It is now anticipated that his legacy will contribute to bringing to light the stories of other forgotten footballing greats. For further content, follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not accountable for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.