This episode is all about Frank Soo.
The name Frank Soo will probably be familiar to you, but it’ss a name that really ought to be more celebrated. Frank was, first and foremost, a fantastic footballer.
Frank played over 170 times for Stoke between 1933 and 1945, at Inside Forward or Half Back, and was appointed captain of Bob McGrory’s side. Frank was a star with the ball at his feet, and his contemporaries held him in the very highest regard – placing him alongside the greats of his day like Joe Mercer, Tommy Lawton and even Stanley Matthews.
Frank also has a huge cultural significance. To this day he remains the only person from a Chinese or Asian background to play for England. Yet his name seems to have been forgotten by football. Though born in Derbyshire, his heritage, particularly in the early years of his career, was something to be commented on. It is a testament to Frank’s personality and ability that as his career progressed, he stopped being ‘Stoke’s Chinese player’ and was recognised for his obvious talent on the pitch.
This episode isn’t the story of Frank’s Life. That’s already been done in Susan Gardiner’s wonderful biography of Frank - it’s called “The Wanderer, The Story of Frank Soo” and is something I’d encourage you all to go out and buy.
This episode is instead a discussion, and celebration, of Frank Soo and his legacy.
Many thanks to Susan Gardiner and Jun Kit Man for participating in this episode.