Billy Leech

William Leech (15 July 1875 – 24 November 1934) was an English footballer who played for Burslem Port Vale, Leicester Fosse, Plymouth Argyle, Stoke and Tottenham Hotspur.[1] He made over 300 competitive appearances in a career lasting over 11 years. A left-half, his greatest achievement was to help Leicester to win promotion out of the Second Division in 1906–07.

For the Irish painter, see William John Leech.

Billy Leech
Personal information
Full name William Leech[1]
Date of birth (1875-07-15)15 July 1875
Place of birth Newcastle-under-Lyme, England[1]
Date of death 24 November 1934(1934-11-24) (aged 59)[1]
Place of death Leicester, England[1]
Position(s) Left-half
Youth career
Newcastle White Star
Newcastle Swifts
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Tottenham Hotspur ? (?)
1899–1900 Burslem Port Vale 26 (1)
1900–1902 Stoke 46 (2)
1903–1906 Plymouth Argyle 137 (7)
1906–1910 Leicester Fosse 84 (3)
Total 293+ (13+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Leech played for local sides Newcastle White Star and Newcastle Swifts before joining London side Tottenham Hotspur.[2] He left "Spurs" in June 1899 to join Burslem Port Vale back in his native Staffordshire.[3] He made his Vale debut in a 2–0 loss to Leicester Fosse at Filbert Street on 30 September, and became a regular first team player from the following month.[3] He made 26 Second Division and four FA Cup appearances in the 1899–1900 campaign, scoring once in a 4–0 win over Chesterfield at Saltergate (Howard Harvey claimed the other three).[3]

After one season at Burslem Port Vale, Leech joined local rivals Stoke in the First Division, and he took over the centre half position from the injured Edward Parsons.[1] He played in 36 matches for the "Potters" in 1900–01, scoring twice against Derby County and West Bromwich Albion.[1] His run in the first team was ended in February 1902 after breaking his leg against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, and he was allowed to leave the club.[1]

It took him more than a year to recover from his injury, and in July 1903 he signed for Southern League side Plymouth Argyle. He spent three seasons with the "Pilgrims", making between 49 and 52 appearances in each season. In total, he scored seven goals in 151 league and cup games at Home Park. The club's handbook at the time described him as "No comment needed! The one and only Leech. A pocket champion, admired on the stand side and elsewhere in the Three Towns. 'Nuf sed'."[2] He then returned to the Football League with Leicester Fosse, becoming a first team regular in the 1906–07 and 1907–08 campaigns, as the "Foxes" won promotion out of the Second Division in 1908. He then became an assistant trainer at the club, until his retirement in 1911.[4]

Career statistics

Source:[5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burslem Port Vale 1899–1900 Second Division 26140301
Stoke 1900–01 First Division 33220352
1901–02 First Division 13020150
Total 46240502
Plymouth Argyle 1903–04 Southern League 43270502
1904–05 Southern League 45240492
1905–06 Southern League 49330523
Total 13771401517
Leicester Fosse 1906–07 Second Division 36200362
1907–08 Second Division 38120401
1908–09 First Division 701080
1909–10 Second Division 200020
1910–11 Second Division 100010
Total 84330873
Career total 2931325031813

Honours
Leicester City

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. "profile". greensonscreen.co.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  3. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 171. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  4. "Billy Leech | Leicester City career stats - FoxesTalk". FoxesTalk. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  5. Billy Leech at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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