Frank Soo Enters National Football Museum ‘Hall of Fame’
Former Chelmsford City, St Albans City and Stoke City legend, Frank Soo, the first Asian heritage footballer ever to represent England, has been inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame.
Before the Clarets’ Vanarama National League South game at St Albans on Tuesday (5th November), the Frank Soo Foundation, various members of Frank’s family and other dignitaries honoured him and ensured his contribution to English football is rightly and properly remembered. Brendan Walshe, Essex County FA Chief Executive, attended to add the County FA’s congratulations.
On 9th May 1942, Frank was the first non-white person to play for England and still is the only player of Chinese or ESEA (East and South-East Asian) background to reach that level for the men’s team. He competed against Wales at Cardiff City’s Ninian Park.
Frank played for Stoke from 1933 to 1945, and it was before their home game with Derby County on Saturday (2nd November) that Soo, who passed away in 1991, was formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at half time. Relatives and supporters also marched from a street named after him, on the site of Stoke’s old ground, to the club’s new stadium in honour of him.
Frank captained a Stoke team featuring Sir Stanley Matthews and went on to play for Leicester City and Luton Town, plus the RAF during World War Two. He ended his playing career at Chelmsford and began in management at St Albans in the Isthmian League in 1950/51. When the two clubs met at Clarence Park, the match continued the celebration of Frank’s induction.
The Frank Soo Foundation are campaigning for Frank to receive a posthumous honorary cap, as matches played during the war years were not recognised as full internationals by The FA. It is hoped that Frank’s legacy will help reveal stories about other forgotten greats.
Find out more about Frank Soo’s legacy at www.thefranksoofoundation.org.uk. You can also browse the menus above to get involved in grassroots Essex football, plus you can find us on X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.
