Len Badger
Encyclopedia
Leonard Badger (born June 8, 1945 in Tinsley Park
, Darnall
, Sheffield
) was an English
football
player who played for Sheffield United between 1962-1976 in the position of right-back
.
Badger was born and brought up in the Tinsley Park area of Sheffield. He was an England schoolboy international who served his apprenticeship at Bramall Lane
, and progressed through the junior ranks at Sheffield United, before making his league debut for the Blades
against Leyton Orient
at Bramall Lane on April 26, 1963. He played seven times for England
Youths, thirteen times for England Under-23s and for the Football League side. Had he not been a contemporary of George Cohen
and Keith Newton
, Len would have undoubtedly won many full England caps. He shared with Alan Woodward
the dubious distinction of being widely regarded as the best player in his position at the time never to win a full international cap
.
His stylish full-back displays, meant it was not long before he took over as captain and, at the time, he was one of the youngest skippers in the league. Badger’s left-back colleagues of the early and mid-sixties included Graham Shaw and Bernard Shaw
, but it was the arrival of Ted Hemsley
in 1968 that provided him with his most fruitful partnership which continued through one of United’s most successful post war periods from 1969-1972.
His attacking instincts, along with those of Hemsley, showed well as United just failed to win promotion in the 1969-70 season
. Badger was an ever present in the Division Two
promotion winning side of season 1970-71
, and although he failed to find the net in that particular season, he will be best remembered for buccaneering runs and crosses from the right-wing and for his occasional thunderous shot from 25 yard
s or more.
In his time with United
he made 457 league
appearances with seven goals. On January 1, 1976, he joined Chesterfield
. He played for two seasons for the Spireites
making 46 appearances.
Darnall
Darnall ward—which includes the districts of Attercliffe, Carbrook, Darnall, Tinsley, and parts of Handsworth—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city and covers an area of 17.4 km2. The...
, Darnall
Darnall
Darnall ward—which includes the districts of Attercliffe, Carbrook, Darnall, Tinsley, and parts of Handsworth—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city and covers an area of 17.4 km2. The...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
) was an English
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who played for Sheffield United between 1962-1976 in the position of right-back
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Badger was born and brought up in the Tinsley Park area of Sheffield. He was an England schoolboy international who served his apprenticeship at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, and progressed through the junior ranks at Sheffield United, before making his league debut for the Blades
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
against Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
at Bramall Lane on April 26, 1963. He played seven times for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
Youths, thirteen times for England Under-23s and for the Football League side. Had he not been a contemporary of George Cohen
George Cohen
George Reginald Cohen MBE was the right back for England in the side which won the 1966 World Cup. He is the uncle of Rugby Union World Cup winner, Ben Cohen.-Football career:...
and Keith Newton
Keith Newton
Keith Robert Newton was an English international footballer who played as a defender in The Football League in the 1960s and 1970s.Newton was born 1941 in Manchester...
, Len would have undoubtedly won many full England caps. He shared with Alan Woodward
Alan Woodward
Alan Woodward was a professional footballer who played in the position of outside right for Sheffield United over a 16 year period between 1962-1978....
the dubious distinction of being widely regarded as the best player in his position at the time never to win a full international cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
.
His stylish full-back displays, meant it was not long before he took over as captain and, at the time, he was one of the youngest skippers in the league. Badger’s left-back colleagues of the early and mid-sixties included Graham Shaw and Bernard Shaw
Bernard Shaw (footballer)
Bernard Shaw is a former English footballer who played as a full back. He played more than 100 Football League games for each of the Sheffield clubs and for Wolverhampton Wanderers, in a career of more than 400 senior games....
, but it was the arrival of Ted Hemsley
Ted Hemsley
Edward John Orton Hemsley was a professional footballer, playing at left-back for Sheffield United and Shrewsbury Town. He was also a first-class cricketer for Worcestershire.-Football career:...
in 1968 that provided him with his most fruitful partnership which continued through one of United’s most successful post war periods from 1969-1972.
His attacking instincts, along with those of Hemsley, showed well as United just failed to win promotion in the 1969-70 season
1969-70 in English football
The 1969–70 season was the 90th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Everton won their seventh title, finishing nine points clear of Leeds United with Chelsea in third and newly promoted Derby County in fourth...
. Badger was an ever present in the Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
promotion winning side of season 1970-71
1970-71 in English football
The 1970–71 season was the 91st season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Arsenal won the league championship at the end of a season which would soon be followed by their FA Cup final tie with Liverpool. Arsenal secured the league title at White Hart Lane, the home of bitter rivals...
, and although he failed to find the net in that particular season, he will be best remembered for buccaneering runs and crosses from the right-wing and for his occasional thunderous shot from 25 yard
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
s or more.
In his time with United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
he made 457 league
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
appearances with seven goals. On January 1, 1976, he joined Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
. He played for two seasons for the Spireites
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
making 46 appearances.
External links
Sheffield United Career
| Season | Division | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | League Cup Apps (sub) | League Cup Goals | Other Apps | Other Goals | Total Apps (sub) | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962–63 | One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1963–64 | One | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 1964–65 | One | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| 1965–66 | One | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 1 |
| 1966–67 | One | 35 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| 1967–68 | One | 42 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| 1968–69 | Two | 40 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 2 |
| 1969–70 | Two | 42 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 2 |
| 1970–71 | Two | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| 1971–72 | One | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
| 1972–73 | One | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 44 (1) | 0 |
| 1973–74 | One | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| 1974–75 | One | 37 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| 1975–76 | One | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 2 |