Fans for Diversity: East Asian pioneer celebrated at Prescot Cables

This weekend, Fans For Diversity campaign manager Hannah Kumari was in Merseyside with the Frank Soo foundation for an event at Prescot Cables FC to honour the pioneering East Asian player and coach.

Prescot Cables was the place where Frank began his playing career in 1932 while working as an office clerk.

An event paying tribute to Soo was held on Friday evening at Valerie Park, attended by some of Frank’s family.

A special shirt and photo were revealed in the dressing room and local history and family anecdotes combined in an inspiring and emotional evening.

Hannah said: “it was a privilege to hear from Frank’s family and the Frank Soo foundation about his incredible life and career. Celebrating and bringing visibility to historical figures of mixed and diverse ethnic heritage in England is really important, in both football and wider society.

“Seeing successful players from different cultural heritages can help foster connection for fans from those similar backgrounds, and so has a knock-on effect to fandom and the work we do at Fans for Diversity.”

On Saturday Hannah then attended Prescot Cables vs Leek Town alongside FSA National Council member Alan Lau and Maxwell from The Frank Soo foundation, and had the chance to chat to other fans about their famous, trailblazing player.

The first person of colour to play for England, during WWII, Frank was of mixed Chinese and English parentage, and went on to have a managerial career which included the Norwegian national team, various Scandinavian sides and Padova in italy.

Earlier this year, Frank was inducted into Stoke-on-Trent’s sporting hall of fame, recognising him as the first player with Chinese heritage to play in the Football League as he went on to make more than 170 appearances for the Potters from 1933 to 1945.

Fans For Diversity is a campaign programme run in partnership between the Football Supporters’ Association and Kick It Out, English football’s equality and inclusion organisation. Fans For Diversity encourages, funds and supports initiatives by fan groups to promote diversity and inclusion in football, and to challenge all forms of discrimination.

For more information on funding available from the campaign, contact Nilesh Chauhan or Hannah Kumari.