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Frank Soo

Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 8:19 pm
by huw.Y.WattfromWare
This gents name came up in a quiz, on here, a while back. Played for England whilst guesting at Burnley during WW2.
Now they are trying to get him more recognition. First man of Asian descent to play for England.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news ... footballer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Soo#World_War_II

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 10:37 am
by ClaretTony
Very little reference of him having played for us but he played four games for us, two in 1943/44 and one each in the following two seasons.

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 4:10 pm
by Royboyclaret
ClaretTony wrote:
Sun May 10, 2020 10:37 am
Very little reference of him having played for us but he played four games for us, two in 1943/44 and one each in the following two seasons.
Not too sure about any of that.

Dad knew Frank quite well and always spoke highly of him both as a player and a bloke. He was demobbed from the RAF around the time he played for us and I suspect he must have been based around these parts. Dad said it was strange he was only prepared to guest for us in home games and as such played his only three games for us on the Turf at the end of the 1945/46 season against Blackpool, Everton and Sheff Utd. That was our final season in the wartime Football League North before we resumed in Division Two for the start of the 1946/47 season.

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 5:04 pm
by ClaretTony
Royboyclaret wrote:
Sun May 10, 2020 4:10 pm
Not too sure about any of that.

Dad knew Frank quite well and always spoke highly of him both as a player and a bloke. He was demobbed from the RAF around the time he played for us and I suspect he must have been based around these parts. Dad said it was strange he was only prepared to guest for us in home games and as such played his only three games for us on the Turf at the end of the 1945/46 season against Blackpool, Everton and Sheff Utd. That was our final season in the wartime Football League North before we resumed in Division Two for the start of the 1946/47 season.
According to the records he played four times for us but only once in 1945/46.

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 7:34 pm
by Royboyclaret
ClaretTony wrote:
Sun May 10, 2020 5:04 pm
According to the records he played four times for us but only once in 1945/46.
Can only find the following three games at the back end of the '45/'46 season in which Frank Soo played for us, but, of course, if there are others...........

Apr.'46, Blackpool (home), 1-1........Strong, Woodruff, Mather, Soo, Johnson, Bray, Chew, Haigh, Harrison, Jackson & Kippax.

Apr.'46, Everton (home), 1-0........Strong, Woodruff, Mather, Soo, Johnson, Bray, Milner, Morris, Jackson, Haigh & Kippax.

May.'46, Sheff Utd (home), 0-1........Strong, Woodruff, Mather, Soo, Johnson, Bray, Chew, Haigh, Jackson, Potts (yes, the very same) & Kippax.

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 9:00 pm
by Stayingup
What was his ethnicity?

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 11:00 pm
by ClaretTony
Stayingup wrote:
Sun May 10, 2020 9:00 pm
What was his ethnicity?
Chinese but Liverpool born

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 11:37 pm
by Burnley Ace
ClaretTony wrote:
Sun May 10, 2020 11:00 pm
Chinese but Liverpool born
This is our “in” into the Chinese market!! First team to have a Chinese player etc.

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 11:38 pm
by ktclaret
Born in Buxton in 1914 to an English Mother and Chinese Father, then grew up in Liverpool.

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 11:04 am
by ClaretTony
Royboyclaret wrote:
Sun May 10, 2020 7:34 pm
Can only find the following three games at the back end of the '45/'46 season in which Frank Soo played for us, but, of course, if there are others...........

Apr.'46, Blackpool (home), 1-1........Strong, Woodruff, Mather, Soo, Johnson, Bray, Chew, Haigh, Harrison, Jackson & Kippax.

Apr.'46, Everton (home), 1-0........Strong, Woodruff, Mather, Soo, Johnson, Bray, Milner, Morris, Jackson, Haigh & Kippax.

May.'46, Sheff Utd (home), 0-1........Strong, Woodruff, Mather, Soo, Johnson, Bray, Chew, Haigh, Jackson, Potts (yes, the very same) & Kippax.
I stand corrected on this one - he did play just these three games for us.

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 12:15 pm
by Stayingup
ClaretTony wrote:
Sun May 10, 2020 11:00 pm
Chinese but Liverpool born
Yes and didn't he manage Scunthorpe United at one point? Which would likely make him the first ethnic Chinese manager in the English top divisions.

Re: Frank Soo

Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 1:26 pm
by huw.Y.WattfromWare
Stayingup wrote:
Mon May 11, 2020 12:15 pm
Yes and didn't he manage Scunthorpe United at one point? Which would likely make him the first ethnic Chinese manager in the English top divisions.
Correct 59-60. A very good year. His managerial record is in the wiki link In the OP.