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Post by Kenilworth_Stokies on Oct 17, 2014 11:03:46 GMT
There's an article on the Beeb today about a statue for Arthur Wharton, the word's fist black professional footballer, being unveiled in Burton. Should Stoke make more of Frankie Soo, who was the first Chinese professional footballer in 1933 and first to represent England in 1942? Apart from the fact that Soo was a Stoke legend in his own right, there's the obvious multicultural message that fits in with the Kick It Out campaign and, possible more cynically, this kind of thing plays well in the Far East commercially. Should we make a bigger deal of Frankie Soo than we do? |
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Post by fca47 on Oct 17, 2014 11:13:44 GMT
Think the whole thing is silly, they should be commemorated for being a great footballer not their race or nationality. What next the first Albanian or first Argentine. Just a case of UEFA trying to be politically correct, when it comes down to actual cases of racism they are really soft.
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Post by Kenilworth_Stokies on Oct 17, 2014 11:34:35 GMT
True, equality can only be considered to have happened when these things don't need commemorating. Has Soo got a bust at the Brit though? 173 appearances and 9 caps isn't bad.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Oct 17, 2014 11:45:55 GMT
Think the whole thing is silly, they should be commemorated for being a great footballer not their race or nationality. What next the first Albanian or first Argentine. Just a case of UEFA trying to be politically correct, when it comes down to actual cases of racism they are really soft. What has UEFA got to do with the Wharton statue? It is the English FA who have commissioned it at their own training headquarters - nothing to do with UEFA. Personally I think that the first black footballer to play in England is well worth commemorating with a statue and I'd also be delighted if Soo had a statue at Stoke. |
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Post by lordb on Oct 17, 2014 12:15:25 GMT
We should make more of a fuss about Soo for both the reasons that he was the first prominent asian footballer & also because he was one of our best ever players.
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Post by rawli on Oct 17, 2014 13:17:55 GMT
Could Sammy Chung have one too?
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Post by PenkPonther on Oct 17, 2014 13:25:00 GMT
Great shout KenilworthStokies. I have long thought some sort of tribute to Frankie Soo was called for, as so little is known about him.
But he was obviously an inspirational figure who paved the way for others to follow in his footsteps. How many other footballers can claim to have played for their club and country, despite disadvantages in life which might have floored lesser men?
Frankie was known to be an exceptionally nervous individual, and so you can imagine how he would have felt, having to perform in front of thousands of fans, many of whom were doubtless disapproving of his selection. But having to perform in public arenas no doubt steeled him for his later switch from footballer to a highly successful stage performer, excelling in physical comedy.
Before long he was working with the likes of Eamonn Andrews, Des O'Connor and of course, starring in the Carry on Films, using as a template his much loved nervous tic ridden character "Alf Ippititimus", famed for his random muscular spasms, and his "wa-hey" catchprase.
Yet despite this considerable legacy, most folk today remain shockingly ignorant about just who Frankie Soo was.
Edit - that is Frankie Soo in your avatar picture isn't it?
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Post by Pugsley on Oct 17, 2014 14:30:48 GMT
Think the whole thing is silly, they should be commemorated for being a great footballer not their race or nationality. What next the first Albanian or first Argentine. Just a case of UEFA trying to be politically correct, when it comes down to actual cases of racism they are really soft. What has UEFA got to do with the Wharton statue? It is the English FA who have commissioned it at their own training headquarters - nothing to do with UEFA. Personally I think that the first black footballer to play in England is well worth commemorating with a statue and I'd also be delighted if Soo had a statue at Stoke. Hear hear. |
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Post by fca47 on Oct 17, 2014 16:46:35 GMT
I look forward to the one for the first "ginger" player.
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Post by Pugsley on Oct 17, 2014 16:53:17 GMT
I look forward to the one for the first "ginger" player. If you don't understand the relevance of the first coloured player to play professional football then more fool you. |
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Post by fca47 on Oct 17, 2014 16:59:29 GMT
So what is the relevance? They are being racist and patronising in putting up a statue to someone who's only contribution to football was that he was black. If they say he was a great player fair enough, but the colour of your skin, where is the relevance.
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Post by Pugsley on Oct 17, 2014 17:03:14 GMT
So what is the relevance? They are being racist and patronising in putting up a statue to someone who's only contribution to football was that he was black. If they say he was a great player fair enough, but the colour of your skin, where is the relevance. You're not worthy of a reply mate on this matter. In fact you're an idiot.... excellent tribute |
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Post by fca47 on Oct 17, 2014 17:05:06 GMT
I assume your only reply is "you are a racist". You must work for Stoke on Trent Council.
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Post by Pugsley on Oct 17, 2014 17:06:38 GMT
I assume your only reply is "you are a racist". You must work for Stoke on Trent Council. I don't think you are racist, just thick as shit. |
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Post by fca47 on Oct 17, 2014 17:09:46 GMT
That from someone with the vocabulary of a five year old.
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Post by Pugsley on Oct 17, 2014 17:12:07 GMT
That from someone with the vocabulary of a five year old. Oh dear. |
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Post by fca47 on Oct 17, 2014 17:15:13 GMT
Run out of insults, I said you had a limited vocabulary.
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Post by Pugsley on Oct 17, 2014 17:16:54 GMT
Run out of insults, I said you had a limited vocabulary. Read my link and come back on and admit you're talking nonsense. I don't have to insult you, you're doing a good job of mugging yourself off. |
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Post by fca47 on Oct 17, 2014 17:19:23 GMT
He looks as though he was a great sportsman, but still getting the award for being black, not for his achievements.
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Post by Pugsley on Oct 17, 2014 17:24:28 GMT
He looks as though he was a great sportsman, but still getting the award for being black, not for his achievements. Man alive. OK mate. |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Oct 17, 2014 22:40:21 GMT
He looks as though he was a great sportsman, but still getting the award for being black, not for his achievements. He was a quite extraordinary sportsman by any standards, but to achieve what he did in those sports as a black person in those times when racism was no only rife, but accepted as the norm, made his achievements even more extraordinary, and also required not inconsiderable courage. |
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Post by bathstoke on Oct 18, 2014 7:40:49 GMT
£££££££££ I like the Far East idea & that you finished your post with a little poem!!! |
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Post by torquaypotter on Oct 18, 2014 8:59:02 GMT
Little bit of history my dad played for stoke in his youth never made the first team BUT was a stoke player .Frankie Soo was his best man at his wedding just thought I would throw that in also it said the the arsenal player Charlie George is a member of our family no b/s honest
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Oct 18, 2014 9:34:15 GMT
Frank Soo was incredibly unlucky in that his peak coincided with WW2 so he got 9 wartime international caps but no "proper" peacetime ones - those wartime caps were the first English international caps awarded to a non-white player. He was also unlucky in that the more famous he got the more he seemed to annoy Stoke's manager McGrory, who sold him to Leicester as soon as the war ended.  |
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Post by mrcoke on Oct 18, 2014 9:49:43 GMT
You're right Lakeland. My father always spoke glowingly about Frankie Soo and what an excellent player he was. As well as his time being wrong, clashing with the war, he would have been over-showed by Stan's presence who got all the glory and attention. McGrory comes in for criticism in Jon Henderson's "The Wizard".
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Post by castleblack on Oct 18, 2014 10:35:06 GMT
frank soo in carry on films!!!, it was jack douglas i seem to recall
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Post by onemanbang on Oct 18, 2014 11:01:57 GMT
Statues should be erected for club legends regardless of race or colour. I honestly believe the more things like this that people do the longer racism will be about. Lets face it, if no one speaks about it the less it rears its ugly head.
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Post by burberrybassist on Oct 18, 2014 20:06:53 GMT
I love the idea of a Soo bust or some other form of tribute etc. How do we make it happen?
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Oct 18, 2014 20:23:09 GMT
I love the idea of a Soo bust or some other form of tribute etc. How do we make it happen? Well, first we have to get rid of onemanbang (see his post above) he thinks that a bust or a statue of Soo will perpetuate the scourge of racism!  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2014 21:20:26 GMT
True, equality can only be considered to have happened when these things don't need commemorating. Has Soo got a bust at the Brit though? 173 appearances and 9 caps isn't bad. Is nobody going to consider what many consider to be our best ever black player? 147 appearances and 26 goals. |
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