Frank Soo, the first Asian heritage footballer to represent England, will be posthumously inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame. Soo, whose father was Chinese, played nine wartime matches for England between 1942 and 1945. He also had a distinguished club career, making over 250 appearances for Stoke City, where he was a teammate and captain of Sir Stanley Matthews.
Born in Buxton in 1914 to an English mother and a Chinese father, Soo’s footballing talent shone through from a young age. He joined Stoke City in 1933 and quickly became a key player for the Potters. His skill and charisma made him a popular figure, and he even captained the team.
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Soo’s England debut came in 1942 against Wales. “At the National Football Museum, we are delighted to induct Frank Soo into our Hall of Fame celebrating not only his achievements on the pitch but also his role as a pioneer for being England’s first-ever player of Asian descent,” said Tim Desmond, CEO of the National Football Museum.
Soo’s career was not without its challenges. He faced prejudice and discrimination due to his heritage, but he persevered and achieved great success. “The National Football Museum is proud to be representative of football in all its diversity and Frank must have overcome a lot of social barriers to achieve at the highest level in the game. His story is incredibly inspiring and we hope this induction contributes to his legacy,” added Desmond.
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The Frank Soo Foundation, which was founded to promote Soo’s story, hopes that his induction will inspire the next generation of Asian footballers. “It is wonderful to see Frank Soo honoured with induction into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame. This highlights the positive effect that people from ESEA and Pan-Asian communities have had on football and we hope this will inspire the next generation,” said Alan Lau, co-founder and chair of the Frank Soo Foundation
