Frank Soo: The Forgotten England International Celebrated With a Google Doodle

Since 1998, Google have been celebrating holidays and historical figures in the form of a Google Doodle; a temporary alteration to their famous logo.

Chances are you’ll have heard of a lot of the individuals celebrated by the search engine. From Guy Fawkes to Martin Luther King, household names all over the world have been immortalised in the company’s logo.

On 9 May, the company celebrated the life and career of England international Frank Soo. Now, you’re probably feeling a little ashamed to have no idea who Frank Soo is. Well, you’re not alone.

Dubbed ‘England’s forgotten footballer’, Soo’s story may not be particularly well-known, but that’s not to say it shouldn’t be celebrated.

Pub quiz enthusiasts all over the country will tell you Viv Anderson was England’s first black footballer to play a full international match back in 1978, but 36 years prior to this, Soo became the first non-white player to represent the Three Lions.

Soo - whose father was Chinese – was named in the England starting XI for their wartime friendly with Wales in 1942.

The appearance was to be the first of nine he would go on to make for his country, although none were recognised as official caps during the Second World War.

Born in Buxton but raised in Liverpool, Soo’s first professional season was with Merseyside outfit Prescott Cables.

At the time of his national team selection, Soo was contracted to Stoke City. Any footballer who’s called up to represent their country could suffer with stage fright, as they look around at the stellar names they share a dressing room with – there was no danger of that happening.

Soo had been playing alongside the legendary Sir Stanley Matthews during his time at the Victoria Ground.

Despite ‘Frank Soo’ being far from a household name across England, his incredible story hasn’t gone unrecognised among the locals of Stoke. The housing estate built where the old Victoria Ground once stood has a street named ‘Frank Soo Street’.

The former England international was an integral part of the Stoke side which finished fourth in the top division – a placing which has yet to be surpassed by the Potters. A cultured left-back, Soo was once described by Stan Mortensen as a player who ‘seemed incapable of a clumsy movement’.

Having spent 12 years at the Potters, Soo would go on to represent Leicester City and Luton Town before seeing out his final playing days with Chelmsford City.

Such was Soo’s passion for the game, during the summer of 1949 - after the Chelmsford’s season had finished - he spent the off-season on the coaching team at Finnish side Helsingin Palloseura. The former England international retired a year later, but it wouldn’t be long before he was back in the game, this time as manager of Saint Albans City.

A lengthy spell in management ensued, with Soo adding a plethora of clubs to his management CV, including Italian side Padova, IFK Stockholm and even the Norwegian national side.

Although his story is seldom told, Google’s commemoration of Soo may well spark a renaissance in celebrating the life of a truly ground-breaking individual.

Soo’s great-niece, Jacqui Soo, has conceded that the lack of recognition for her great-uncle is a cause for frustration among her family.

"It is frustrating because he was the first person from Chinese descent to play for England and I think a lot more should be made of that, especially by the FA," Soo told Sky Sports.

"If they want to encourage involvement in football then he is a great role model for that.

"What about getting him in the Hall of Fame?"

In a world where footballers are seen as role models, Soo believes her great-uncle would be a fantastic ambassador for youngsters all over the country, and she added that his memory has not been forgotten among her friends and family.

"He never drank and he never smoked, he made a point of telling us that,” she added. “Then he dropped to the floor and began to do a load of press-ups. He was clapping between them and then doing them with one hand. It was amazing. My friends still talk about it to this day.

"It is fantastic that Google are choosing to honour him now. I hope it will spark an interest in him again and get him back in the public eye because kids need a role model."

In a world where diversity in football is as prevalent as ever, individuals like Frank Soo should be celebrated and not forgotten. A trailblazer of his time, the former England international may finally be about to receive the recognition he deserves.