I am all for Jack Leslie getting a statue built for him for what he did at Plymouth Argyle, but did anyone look on the other side of the coin and take into consideration the guy who kept him out of the England team against Ireland.
Selectors relied on sending scouts out to watch players, managers recommendations and match reports. It is obvious that they had not seen Jack Leslie play and went on the glowing report his manager had submitted. This is where the racist argument starts.
Billy Walker was playing inside forward for Aston Villa in the 1st division at the time and scored 25 goals in the 1924/5 season and 22 goals in the 1925/6 season. That's not shabby by any standards.
Jack Leslie, who I would argue was discriminated against on a daily basis, was playing centre forward or inside left for Plymouth in the 3rd division and scored 14 goals in the 1924/5 season and 17 in the 1925/6 season. A guy called Jack **** was the leading scorer for Plymouth in 1925/6 with 32 goals.
I know it was a different time and good players could be found at all levels, but would you expect Harry Kane to be dropped for a 3rd division footballer. Was it really the colour of Jack Leslie's skin or was Billy Walker a better player. Only the selectors will ever know.
I am not trying to cast a racist slur against Jack Leslie, but a constructive argument on what might have happened.