Leon McSweeney
Encyclopedia
Leon McSweeney is an Irish
footballer playing for Leyton Orient
.
in 2001 while still a teenager. Despite playing regularly for the Reserves, McSweeney failed to make a first-team appearance and in 2003 was released. He soon signed a contract with Scarborough
, where he made four substitute appearances, before accepting a place at Loughborough University.
McSweeney enjoyed success representing the University football club, helping them win the British University Sports Association (B.U.S.A) championship in 2005 and 2006. McSweeney was subsequently selected to represent the English University Football Team at the British University Games in 2007, helping the team win the gold medal.
In tandem with this, McSweeney tasted success at a number of non-league clubs starting at Hucknall Town
, where he spent half a season helping them win the Unibond league title and achieve promotion to the Football League Conference. The club declined their place in the higher league, however, and in the summer of 2004 McSweeney moved to Hednesford Town
. He had a successful season with The Pitmen, scoring 15 goals and helping them gain promotion to the Conference North. He could not agree a new contract with the club, however, and so moved back to Hucknall Town in the summer of 2005, only to return to Hednesford again in December only to fail to save the club from relegation. The following summer McSweeney moved to Ilkeston Town
under the guidance of former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday striker Nigel Jemson
. He spent one season there, scoring 12 goals.
. He was an instant success at Turners Cross
and played a key role in the club's successful 2007 F.A.I Ford Cup campaign culminating in a 1–0 victory over Longford Town. At the end of the Irish 2007 season McSweeney was voted Cork City's "signing of the season" by an online poll at corkcity.ie, but contract talks stalled due to the infamous 'Arkaga' takeover and, despite interest from Bohemians
, he crossed the Irish Sea again, signing an 18-month contract with Stockport County
under the management of fellow Irishman Jim Gannon.
In May 2011 he was not offered a new contract by the club, along with nine other players from the 2010–11 squad.
On 16 June 2011, McSweeney signed for Leyton Orient, signing a two year contract.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer playing for 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...
.
Ireland
Leon McSweeney began his career with hometown club Cork City.England
He quickly gained a move to Leicester CityLeicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in 2001 while still a teenager. Despite playing regularly for the Reserves, McSweeney failed to make a first-team appearance and in 2003 was released. He soon signed a contract with Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
, where he made four substitute appearances, before accepting a place at Loughborough University.
McSweeney enjoyed success representing the University football club, helping them win the British University Sports Association (B.U.S.A) championship in 2005 and 2006. McSweeney was subsequently selected to represent the English University Football Team at the British University Games in 2007, helping the team win the gold medal.
In tandem with this, McSweeney tasted success at a number of non-league clubs starting at Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
, where he spent half a season helping them win the Unibond league title and achieve promotion to the Football League Conference. The club declined their place in the higher league, however, and in the summer of 2004 McSweeney moved to Hednesford Town
Hednesford Town F.C.
Hednesford Town Football Club are an association football team based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. They play at Keys Park.-History:...
. He had a successful season with The Pitmen, scoring 15 goals and helping them gain promotion to the Conference North. He could not agree a new contract with the club, however, and so moved back to Hucknall Town in the summer of 2005, only to return to Hednesford again in December only to fail to save the club from relegation. The following summer McSweeney moved to Ilkeston Town
Ilkeston Town F.C.
Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....
under the guidance of former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday striker Nigel Jemson
Nigel Jemson
Nigel Jemson is an English footballer, who represented his country at the Under-21 level and was the manager of Ilkeston Town, until May 2008...
. He spent one season there, scoring 12 goals.
Return to Ireland
When he left Ilkeston, McSweeney moved back to his hometown club, playing for Cork City in the League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. He was an instant success at Turners Cross
Turners Cross (stadium)
Turners Cross is an all-seater football stadium located in and synonymous with the district of Turners Cross, Cork, Ireland. It is home to the Munster Football Association, and League of Ireland side Cork City FC....
and played a key role in the club's successful 2007 F.A.I Ford Cup campaign culminating in a 1–0 victory over Longford Town. At the end of the Irish 2007 season McSweeney was voted Cork City's "signing of the season" by an online poll at corkcity.ie, but contract talks stalled due to the infamous 'Arkaga' takeover and, despite interest from Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
, he crossed the Irish Sea again, signing an 18-month contract with Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
under the management of fellow Irishman Jim Gannon.
Back to England
Success followed McSweeney to Edgeley Park, and at the end of the 2007-2008 season he played his part in helping 'The Hatters' gain promotion via the playoffs at Wembley Stadium, where they beat Rochdale 3–2 in a pulsating encounter in front of almost 40,000 spectators. McSweeney went on to make almost 50 appearances for the Cheshire side before administration forced the club to cut costs and he was then snapped up by Hartlepool United at the end of the 2009 season.In May 2011 he was not offered a new contract by the club, along with nine other players from the 2010–11 squad.
On 16 June 2011, McSweeney signed for Leyton Orient, signing a two year contract.