Leslie Lea
Encyclopedia
Leslie Lea is an English
former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder
.
Lea began his professional career with Blackpool
in 1960, making his debut in the opening game of the 1960–61
league campaign. He scored his first goal for the club in their fourth league game, a 3–1 defeat at Tottenham
on August 31, 1960. He made six other league appearances that term, the last one being on October 1, meaning he sat out the remaining six months of the season.
He didn't feature at all in 1961–62
, but the following season, 1962–63
, he featured in half of the league campaign. He also scored two goals, in consecutive games as the season drew to a close: firstly in a 3–2 victory over Arsenal
at Bloomfield Road
on April 27, 1963, and then in a 3–0 whitewash of Manchester City
at Maine Road
on May 4.
In 1963–64
, Lea made 30 league starts, scoring a solitary goal (in the final league game of the season).
He continued to be a regular fixture in Ron Suart
's teams throughout 1964–65
, making another 30 league appearances and scoring twice, both in victories: 4–2 at home to Blackburn Rovers
on August 24, 1964, and 3–1 in Blackpool's hosting of Sunderland
on September 26. He also scored in their League Cup
second round win against Newcastle
three days earlier.
Lea's goals during the 1965–66
league season all came in victories once more: one in a 2–1 scoreline against Sheffield Wednesday
on November 27, 1965; both goals in a 2–1 victory at Leeds United on March 26, 1966; and one in a 3–0 win at home over Northampton
in the penultimate game of the league season. He scored in the League Cup for the second consecutive season, again in the second round, but this time in a 5–1 victory over Manchester United
, with Ray Charnley
netting a hat-trick. His goals could not save Blackpool from relegation, however, and they dropped into Division Two
at the end of the season, four months after Ron Suart was replaced as manager by Stan Mortensen
.
Lea's final appearance for Blackpool came eighteen games into the 1967–68
league calendar, a 2–0 defeat at home to Norwich City
. Stan Mortensen, who had brought in Alan Skirton
, sold him to Cardiff City
for £20,000. He went on to make 76 league appearances for the Bluebirds in three years, scoring seven goals.
He finished his playing career with Barnsley
. In six years at Oakwell, he made over 200 league appearances and scored 32 goals.
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. He played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Lea began his professional career with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1960, making his debut in the opening game of the 1960–61
Blackpool F.C. season 1960-61
The 1960-61 season was Blackpool F.C.s 54th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing twentieth....
league campaign. He scored his first goal for the club in their fourth league game, a 3–1 defeat at Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
on August 31, 1960. He made six other league appearances that term, the last one being on October 1, meaning he sat out the remaining six months of the season.
He didn't feature at all in 1961–62
Blackpool F.C. season 1961-62
The 1961-62 season was Blackpool F.C.s 55th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing thirteenth....
, but the following season, 1962–63
Blackpool F.C. season 1962-63
The 1962-63 season was Blackpool F.C.s 56th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing thirteenth for the second consecutive season....
, he featured in half of the league campaign. He also scored two goals, in consecutive games as the season drew to a close: firstly in a 3–2 victory over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
on April 27, 1963, and then in a 3–0 whitewash of Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
on May 4.
In 1963–64
Blackpool F.C. season 1963-64
The 1963-64 season was Blackpool F.C.s 57th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing eighteenth....
, Lea made 30 league starts, scoring a solitary goal (in the final league game of the season).
He continued to be a regular fixture in Ron Suart
Ron Suart
Ronald Suart is an English former football player and manager.-Playing days:Suart was a full-back at Blackpool, playing alongside fellow defenders George Farrow and Harry Johnston in a team which also included Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen. Blackpool reached the 1948 FA Cup Final, but Suart...
's teams throughout 1964–65
Blackpool F.C. season 1964-65
The 1964-65 season was Blackpool F.C.s 58th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing seventeenth....
, making another 30 league appearances and scoring twice, both in victories: 4–2 at home to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
on August 24, 1964, and 3–1 in Blackpool's hosting of Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
on September 26. He also scored in their League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
second round win against Newcastle
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
three days earlier.
Lea's goals during the 1965–66
Blackpool F.C. season 1965-66
The 1965-66 season was Blackpool F.C.s 59th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing thirteenth....
league season all came in victories once more: one in a 2–1 scoreline against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on November 27, 1965; both goals in a 2–1 victory at Leeds United on March 26, 1966; and one in a 3–0 win at home over Northampton
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in the penultimate game of the league season. He scored in the League Cup for the second consecutive season, again in the second round, but this time in a 5–1 victory over 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...
, with Ray Charnley
Ray Charnley
Raymond Ogden "Ray" Charnley was an English professional footballer. He was a centre forward and was one of the most prolific scorers for Blackpool, with whom he spent ten years, including all but one season in the top flight of English football.With 193 goals in 363 league games, Charnley is the...
netting a hat-trick. His goals could not save Blackpool from relegation, however, and they dropped into 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...
at the end of the season, four months after Ron Suart was replaced as manager by Stan Mortensen
Stan Mortensen
Stanley Harding "Stan" Mortensen was an English professional footballer, most famous for his part in the 1953 FA Cup Final , in which he became the only player ever to score a hat-trick in a Wembley FA Cup Final...
.
Lea's final appearance for Blackpool came eighteen games into the 1967–68
Blackpool F.C. season 1967-68
The 1967-68 season was Blackpool F.C.s 61st season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing third....
league calendar, a 2–0 defeat at home to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. Stan Mortensen, who had brought in Alan Skirton
Alan Skirton
Alan Frederick Graham Skirton is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Skirton started out as a player with West Twerton Youth Club in his home city of Bath before joining Bristol City as an amateur. However, they did not retain him and he then joined hometown club Bath City in the Southern...
, sold him to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
for £20,000. He went on to make 76 league appearances for the Bluebirds in three years, scoring seven goals.
He finished his playing career with Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. In six years at Oakwell, he made over 200 league appearances and scored 32 goals.