John (Jack) Leslie was born in Canning Town, London, on 17th August, 1901. He played for local team, Barking Town, before joining Plymouth Argyle in 1921.

Leslie was one of the first non-white players to play professional football. Others included Arthur Wharton, Walter Tull, Fred Corbett and Hassan Hegazi.

Leslie played at centre-forward and over the next thirteen years he scored 131 goals in 383 games. On one occasion his manager, Bob Jack, told him he had been selected to play for England. However, the invitation to play for his country was withdrawn. Leslie told the journalist, Brian Woolnough: "They must have forgot I was a coloured boy."

Leslie retired from professional football in 1934. He later worked as a member of the backroom staff of his local club, West Ham United .

Jack Leslie died in 1988.

Colouring Over the White Line is available from Amazon

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