Walter Tull
Professional Footballer / WAR Hero
Tull was a footballer and a First World War hero. He was born in 1888 in Folkestone England, Tull's father was from Barbados, his mother was English. Tull was orphaned at nine and brought up in a Children’s home and an orphanage in Bethnal Green London. At twenty-one Tull signed to Tottenham Hotspur then later went on to play for Northampton Town. He then signed with Rangers FC as an Infantry Officer. Tull fought bravely with the 23rd battalion on the Italian front leading twenty-six men into battle and retuning them all unharmed in one raid. He was unfortunately killed in action on the 8th March 1918. To date Tull has not been posthumously awarded the Military Cross for his bravery by the British Army. In 2018 the Royal mail produced six commemorative stamps to mark the end of the First World War – Tull was on one of them. A HERO.
Sir Learie Constantine MBE
cricketer / Barrister/Politician
Constantine was a cricketer, barrister and politician he was Trinidad’s High Commissioner to the UK and the UK’s first black peer. He was born in Diego Martin Trinidad, in 1901. Constantine played for British cricket clubs before the Second World War.
In 1943 Constantine and his family were refused accommodation at a London hotel because of their colour he went on to successfully sue the hotel chain. This was the first time racism was challenged in court before any Race discrimination act existed. He (and his family) lived in Nelson Lancashire, Bradford and London. Constantine also coached in Dublin Ireland.
In 1954 Constantine qualified as a barrister. He returned to Trinidad where he became the High commissioner to the UK.
Hong Y ‘Frank’ Soo
Professional Footballer
Soo was a footballer and football manager, he was the first person of Chinese origin to play in the English Football League and represent England in unofficial wartime matches.
Soo was born in 1914 to a Chinese father and English mother. His football career began at Prescot Cables, Merseyside. He also played for Stoke City, Leicester City, Luton Town, Chelmsford City and the Southern League. During his career Soo was sold for £4,600.00 and £5,000.00. He played professional football between the early 1930s and 1949 (serving as a Technical with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War). After retiring from football Soo went on to manage football teams in Europe.
Albert Johanneson
Professional Footballer
Johanneson was a professional footballer, he was born in South Africa on the 13th March 1940. He started playing for Leeds United in 1961.
In 1965 Johanneson became the first black man to play in an FA Cup Final. Although the game was a career highlight it was tinged with sadness due to the racial abuse he suffered. Johanneson left Leeds United in 1970 and play at York City for two years before leaving football altogether.
K.S Ranjitsinhji
Cricketer
Ranjitsinhji was a popular and talented cricketer who played for Sussex and was the first Asian cricketer to represent England. Born in 1872 in India he was brought to the UK in 1888. Ranjitsinhji started his cricketing career with Cambridgeshire County Cricket Club in 1891, he also played for Cambridge University, before going on to play for Sussex in 1895. Ranjitsinhji went onto captain Sussex, in 1899 he was the first cricketer to score over 3,000 runs in a single year.
Ranjitsinhji was regarded as a particularly good batsman. He was popular – often drawing crowds to his matches. In 1896 Ranjitsinhji played his test debut match for England at Lords Cricket ground, he then went on to represent England in Australia, in four series of test matches between 1896 and 1902.
Arthur Wharton
Professional footballer
Wharton was the first black professional football player, not only in the UK but in the world, and the first to play in the Football League. He was born in 1865 in Ghana to a Grenadian father and Ghanaian mother. At age 19 Wharton travelled to the UK to study at a Methodist Missionary but chose to pursue sports instead.
He began his career playing amateur football with Darlington. Wharton later joined Preston North End where he helped the team reach the 1886 – 87 FA cup semi-finals. The last team Wharton played for was Stockport County. He left football altogether in 1902.