Ian Leigh
Encyclopedia
Ian Leigh is an English
former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Active between 1981 and 1992 in both England and Malta, in both League and non-League football, Leigh made over 125 career appearances.
, Devon
on 11 June 1962. After retiring as a professional footballer, Leigh later became a double-glazing salesman in Southampton
.
, leaving them as a seventeen-year-old in October 1979 to join Football League
team Bournemouth
. Leigh made his professional debut for Bournemouth in 1981 after replacing the injured Kenny Allen
in an away game against Peterborough United
, a game in which Bournemouth lost 1–0. Over the next five seasons, Leigh made 123 appearances in the Football League
for Bournemouth. While playing in the FA Cup
against defending champions Manchester United
in January 1984, Leigh kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory, and was rewarded with a lifetime supply of pizzas from a local Italian restaurant. The deal stayed in place for over a year, until Bournemouth's then manager Harry Redknapp
bought the restaurant, citing the fact that Leigh was getting, "a bit fat, a little bit lumpy." Towards the end of his Bournemouth career, Leigh spent brief loan spells at Bristol City
and Torquay United
, making one and four appearances respectively. After Leigh left Bournemouth in 1986, he briefly played non-League football for Bashley
, before moving to Malta to play with Ħamrun Spartans, where he spent a further six seasons. Leigh was renowned for his powerful long shots, and became Ħamrun Spartans' penalty taker.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Active between 1981 and 1992 in both England and Malta, in both League and non-League football, Leigh made over 125 career appearances.
Early and personal life
Leigh was born in IlfracombeIlfracombe
Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs.The parish stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 4 miles along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
on 11 June 1962. After retiring as a professional footballer, Leigh later became a double-glazing salesman in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
.
Career
Leigh began his career in non-League football with SwaythlingEastleigh F.C.
Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...
, leaving them as a seventeen-year-old in October 1979 to join Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
team Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
. Leigh made his professional debut for Bournemouth in 1981 after replacing the injured Kenny Allen
Kenny Allen (footballer)
Kenneth Richard Allen in Thornaby-on-Tees is a retired English professional football goalkeeper.Kenny Allen began his career as an amateur with Hartlepool United, who he joined in August 1968 from non-league Tow Law Town, a side later to produce Chris Waddle...
in an away game against Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, a game in which Bournemouth lost 1–0. Over the next five seasons, Leigh made 123 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Bournemouth. While playing in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
against defending champions Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in January 1984, Leigh kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory, and was rewarded with a lifetime supply of pizzas from a local Italian restaurant. The deal stayed in place for over a year, until Bournemouth's then manager Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
bought the restaurant, citing the fact that Leigh was getting, "a bit fat, a little bit lumpy." Towards the end of his Bournemouth career, Leigh spent brief loan spells at Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
and Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, making one and four appearances respectively. After Leigh left Bournemouth in 1986, he briefly played non-League football for Bashley
Bashley F.C.
Bashley F.C. is a football club based in Bashley, near New Milton, Hampshire, England. It was established in 1947 and is currently a member of the Southern League Premier Division....
, before moving to Malta to play with Ħamrun Spartans, where he spent a further six seasons. Leigh was renowned for his powerful long shots, and became Ħamrun Spartans' penalty taker.