First footballer of East Asian descent honoured with blue plaque on his Derbyshire home
Frank Soo played for the men's national team during the Second World War
Last updated 10th Jul 2026
The first footballer of East Asian descent to represent England, who played for the men’s national team during the Second World War, is to be recognised with a plaque at his birthplace.
Frank Soo, who died aged 76 in 1991, is a “vital part of our national sporting heritage”, heritage minister Baroness Twycross said.
The player served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and played for England nine times between 1942 and 1945, but these wartime matches were later deemed unofficial and did not earn him caps.
Historic England will unveil a blue plaque at 11 Lightwood Road in Buxton, Derbyshire, which was the base of Soo’s family’s laundry business and where he was born.
The building is “a visible link between his working class upbringing, the experiences of Chinese communities living in Britain, and his extraordinary rise to the highest levels of the game”, Historic England said.
The inscription on the plaque reads: Frank Soo, 1914–1991, Footballer, played for England, was born here.
Soo grew up in a working-class family with a Chinese father and played for local teams before he was signed by Stoke City in the early 1930s.
He made more than 170 appearances for Stoke and captained the team.
After the Second World War, Soo played for clubs including Leicester City, Luton Town and Chelmsford City, before working in Italy and Scandinavia in the 1950s and becoming the first manager of East Asian heritage in European football.
In October last year, the Football Association presented Soo’s family with a posthumous cap to mark his achievements.
He is still the only footballer of East Asian descent to have played for England’s men’s team.
Baroness Twycross said: “This World Cup year is an important moment to honour Frank Soo.
“As the first footballer of East Asian descent to play for England, he is a vital part of our national sporting heritage, and it is long overdue that his story enjoys this recognition.
“His service to the country on both the pitch and in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War speaks volumes about his commitment to our nation.
“He deserves his place in our national story, and the community in Buxton can be rightfully proud of this blue plaque.”
Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, chief executives of Historic England, said in a joint statement: “It feels very appropriate, during a World Cup year, to recognise and celebrate the talent and achievements of Frank Soo.
“Soo worked incredibly hard throughout his career, playing for England nine times during the war and making his mark at several clubs including Stoke City.
“Through the National Blue Plaque Scheme, we’re proud to commemorate Soo as a footballing icon whose talent broke barriers and whose legacy continues to inspire new generations.”