Who is Frank Soo and why is he a Google Doodle?

On May 9, Google’s regular ‘Google Doodle’ on the search engine’s homepage featured an animated tribute to former footballer Frank Soo.

Soo died in 1991 at the age of 76, and his story is forgotten by many today.

However, he was a hugely significant figure in the story of English football.

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While working at the Michelin tyre company in Stoke during World War Two, Soo became the first non-white person ever to play for the England national team. He was later called up to the RAF, and captained their football side.

To this day, Soo remains the only player of East Asian heritage to represent England’s senior side. His first appearance, in 1942, came 36 years before fellow trailblazer…