Frank Soo

[Paris]

Who is Frank Soo?

Frank Soo is a British footballer and coach who became the first person of non-European descent—and only ever of Asian heritage—to play for England.

Born Hong Ying Soo in 1914, Frank’s father was a Chinese sailor and his mother was an English woman he married in Manchester in 1908.

At just 18 years old, he was scouted by Stoke City F.C., becoming the first professional player of Chinese ancestry to play in the English Football League.

After the Second World War, where Frank enrolled with the RAF, Soo was sold to Leicester City for a fee of £4,600, rejoining the manager who had signed him for Stoke, Tom Mather.

Why is the Google Doodle celebrating him today?

Today, Saturday 9 May, Google Doodle celebrates the anniversary of his first England cap on this date in 1942.

 

[degsy]

Fake news, photo shopped, CGI'd, 1942?
Everybody knows football didn't start until 1992.

 

[ste d' indica]

Interesting story that, I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of him. I'd imagine having that name toughened the boy up some.

 

[Shevin Keedy]

Interesting story that, I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of him.

Neither had @Paris who shamefully ripped this off today's google doodle.

 

[Paris]

Neither had @Paris who shamefully ripped this off today's google doodle.

Would I ever do such a thing?


The answer is yes, of course.

 

[carlos21]

Neither had @Paris who shamefully ripped this off today's google doodle.

You had and any good watches mate.

 

[Shevin Keedy]

Would I ever do such a thing?


The answer is yes, of course.

You are nothing but a shameless philandering parisian draft dodger!

 

[Paris]

You are nothing but a shameless philandering parisian draft dodger!

Mate!

 

[Shevin Keedy]

Sorry. That was a little too far.

 

[Paris]

Apology accepted

 

[canuckblue]

I really enjoyed him in Barney Miller.

 

[RomanReigns]

leon osman had turkish cypriot ancestry

hamza choudhury at leicester could make the england team one day

 

[Methuselah]

Nice big article and photo, in Telegraph Sport today on Frank Soo.