Leon Constantine

Leon Charles Constantine (born 24 February 1978) is an English former footballer who played as a striker. A journeyman of lower league English football, he had 21 separate spells at 19 different clubs within the space of just 12 years. A latecomer to the professional game, he found a Football League club at age 22, and was a regular first-team player for the first time at age 23.

Leon Constantine
Constantine in 2010
Personal information
Full name Leon Charles Constantine[1]
Date of birth (1978-02-24) 24 February 1978[1]
Place of birth Hackney, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–2000 Edgware Town ? (?)
2000–2002 Millwall 1 (0)
2001 → Leyton Orient (loan) 10 (3)
2002 → Partick Thistle (loan) 2 (0)
2002–2003 Brentford 17 (0)
2003–2004 Southend United 43 (21)
2004 Peterborough United 11 (1)
2004 → Torquay United (loan) 4 (3)
2004–2006 Torquay United 38 (7)
2005–2006 → Port Vale (loan) 9 (3)
2006–2007 Port Vale 63 (29)
2007–2008 Leeds United 4 (1)
2008 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 8 (2)
2008–2009 Northampton Town 32 (2)
2009 → Cheltenham Town (loan) 6 (1)
2009–2010 Hereford United 35 (6)
2010–2011 York City 26 (8)
2011 Braintree Town 1 (0)
2011 Lewes 1 (0)
2011 Tooting & Mitcham United 1 (0)
2011–2012 Boston United 9 (0)
2012 Arlesey Town 5 (0)
2014–2016 Brimsdown 26 (4)
2016–2017 Enfield Borough 4 (0)
Total 356 (91)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Beginning his career as a Millwall reserve following an impressive spell at non-League Edgware Town, in 2002 he joined Brentford. He was unimpressive however and moved on to Southend United the following year, where he proved to be a goal-ever-other-game revelation. In 2004, he enjoyed a short spell with Peterborough United before Torquay United broke their club record in signing him. Again he disappointed, and in 2005 moved on to Port Vale. With Vale he was once more prolific, scoring 32 goals in 72 league games. In 2007 Leeds United were persuaded to sign him, though he fared poorly before transferring to Northampton Town the following year. He spent the 2009–10 season at Hereford United, followed by a spell with York City. He left York in 2011 for brief spells at Braintree Town, Lewes, Tooting & Mitcham United, Boston United, Arlesey Town, Brimsdown and then Enfield Borough. In addition to all of these clubs he has also had loan spells with Leyton Orient, Partick Thistle, Torquay United, Oldham Athletic, and Cheltenham Town over the years.

Career

Early career

Born in Hackney, London, Constantine played for Edgware Town before joining Millwall on 31 August 2000 for a £6,000 fee.[1][2] He made his debut for Millwall on 30 September, coming on as a late substitute for Paul Ifill in a 4–1 win away to Peterborough United.

He had loan spells with Leyton Orient and Partick Thistle, before moving to Wally Downes's Brentford on a free transfer in August 2002.[3] He struggled to establish himself at Griffin Park and in August 2003 joined Southend United, initially on non-contract terms,[4] signing a permanent deal the following month.[5] He finished as the club's top-scorer in the 2003–04 season with 25 goals in 53 appearances.

He helped Southend to reach the 2004 Football League Trophy Final at the Millennium Stadium, where they were beaten 2–0 by Blackpool.[6] He turned down the offer of a new two-year contract from Southend and joined Peterborough United on a two-year contract in May 2004,[7][8] scoring his first and what turned out to be only goal for the club against Milton Keynes Dons on 7 December.[9] In October 2004, he joined Torquay United on loan and in December 2004 moved to Torquay for a club record fee of an initial £75,000, which depending on additional clauses could have risen to £100,000 and included a sell-on fee of 25%.[10][11]

His form was disappointing for Torquay, scoring just seven times in 38 appearances, and he was transfer-listed in October 2005 by Torquay manager Leroy Rosenior, along with Darren Garner, Mamadou Sow, Carl Priso, Morike Sako and Nick Skinner.[12]

Port Vale

Constantine moved to Port Vale on loan on 4 November 2005, with the transfer becoming permanent for a fee of £20,000 in January 2006.[13] On 8 November 2006, he opened the scoring against Tottenham Hotspur in an League Cup tie at White Hart Lane, though Spurs went on to win the game 3–1 in extra-time.[14] In the 2006–07 season he broke a record, becoming the only Port Vale player to score more than 17 goals before Christmas. This happened when he scored twice against Brighton & Hove Albion on 23 December 2006.[15]

He was set to move to Championship club Barnsley in the January 2007 transfer window, Vale agreeing a fee of £200,000 plus Marc Richards. However, the deal fell through when neither club could agree terms.[16] In January 2007 Brighton offered Vale £150,000 for the striker, but Constantine insisted he was happy at Vale Park.[17] Despite finishing the season with 26 goals in all competitions for Port Vale (38 in 18 months for the club) he was never a fan favourite at Vale Park, and instead picked up a vocal minority of detractors who condemned his relaxed attitude on the pitch as proof of him being "lazy".[18]

Leeds United

Constantine had been linked with a number of League One clubs throughout pre-season, however he agreed a contract in principle with Leeds United when they were in administration, paying out of his own pocket to take part in the pre-season programme. Leeds later completed the signing of Constantine on a two-year contract on 7 August 2007.[19] Constantine started his first game for Leeds in the 2–1 defeat to Bury in the Football League Trophy where he scored in the 8th minute.[20] His career at Leeds was blighted by injury, however, leading to him only making a handful of appearances for the club.

Constantine scored his first league goal for Leeds in their 3–1 home defeat at the hands of Oldham Athletic on 1 January 2008.[21] However, he was hit by injury again, breaking his arm in this same game after scoring, leading to a two-month lay-off.[22] In March, Constantine was sent to Oldham on loan to help him re-gain match fitness,[23] scoring twice in seven appearances.[24]

Northampton Town

On 2 July Constantine completed a free transfer move to League One side Northampton Town after falling out of favour with Gary McAllister.[25] After only scoring three goals for Northampton and receiving boos from the club's own fans,[26] he joined League One rivals Cheltenham Town on a one-month loan on 20 March 2009.[27] He returned to Northampton on 20 April after scoring one goal against Huddersfield Town in six matches.[28][29]

Hereford United

Having been released by Northampton, Constantine signed for Hereford United one a one-year contract on 29 June 2009, becoming the first striker signed by new coach John Trewick following his clear out of club's playing staff.[30] He was released at the end of the season following a disappointing year.[31]

York City
Constantine playing for York City in 2010

He joined Conference Premier side York City on a contract until the end of the 2010–11 season on 3 September 2010, teaming up with his former manager at Port Vale, Martin Foyle.[32][33] The next day he made his debut, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Rushden & Diamonds.[34] Constantine scored on his first start for York with the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Hayes & Yeading United on 18 September.[35] Having finished the season with eight goals in 29 appearances he was released by York on 23 June 2011 after being told he could find another club.[36][37]

Later career

Constantine had an unsuccessful trial with League Two club Barnet in July and played in a pre-season friendly against Peterborough.[38][39] He then went on trial with newly promoted Conference Premier side Braintree Town and recorded a goal and an assist in a game against Billericay Town.[40] Constantine completed a permanent move to Braintree after training with them in pre-season and made his debut when he appeared as a second-half substitute in Braintree's 5–0 win over Grimsby Town.[41] Constantine failed to make a further appearance for Braintree and was released in October.[42]

He signed with Isthmian League Premier Division side Lewes, for whom he made one league appearance against Canvey Island on 8 October.[43] This was followed by a spell with fellow Isthmian League Premier Division side Tooting & Mitcham United, playing one game against Metropolitan Police on 19 November.[43] He then signed for Boston United of the Conference North on a contract until the end of the 2011–12 season,[44] making his debut as a substitute in the side's 4–2 Boxing Day victory at home to Eastwood Town.[45] He was released by the club on 11 March 2012 having scored one goal in two starts and eight substitute appearances.[46][47] He later had spells in the Spartan South Midlands League playing for Arlesey Town, Brimsdown and Enfield Borough.[48] He went on to work as a football consultant at a sports agency company and opened his own football academy.[49][50]

Career statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Millwall 2000–01[51] Second Division 1000001[lower-alpha 1]020
2001–02[52] First Division 0000000000
Total 1000001020
Leyton Orient (loan) 2001–02[52] Third Division 10300001[lower-alpha 1]0113
Partick Thistle (loan) 2001–02[52] Scottish First Division 2010000030
Brentford 2002–03[53] Second Division 170002000190
Southend United 2003–04[54] Third Division 432130007[lower-alpha 1]45325
Peterborough United 2004–05[9] League One 11100001[lower-alpha 1]0121
Torquay United (loan) 2004–05[9] League One 4310000053
Torquay United 236000000236
2005–06[55] League Two 15100101[lower-alpha 1]0171
Total 42101010104510
Port Vale (loan) 2005–06[55] League One 93320000125
Port Vale 217200000237
2006–07[56] League One 422220422[lower-alpha 1]25026
Total 72327242228538
Leeds United 2007–08[57] League One 4120001[lower-alpha 1]172
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2007–08[57] League One 8200000082
Northampton Town 2008–09[29] League One 32220201[lower-alpha 1]0372
Cheltenham Town (loan) 2008–09[29] League One 6100000061
Hereford United 2009–10[58] League Two 35610103[lower-alpha 1]2408
York City 2010–11[36] Conference Premier 26820—1[lower-alpha 2]0298
Braintree Town 2011–12[59] Conference Premier 1000—0010
Lewes 2011–12[43] Isthmian League Premier Division 1000—0010
Tooting & Mitcham United 2011–12[43] Isthmian League Premier Division 1000—0010
Boston United 2011–12[47] Conference North 9000—1[lower-alpha 2]1101
Arlesey Town 2011–12[48] Southern League Premier Division 5000—0050
Brimsdown 2014–15[48] Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 23300—1[lower-alpha 3]0243
2015–16[48] Spartan South Midlands League Division One 3100—2051
Total 264000030294
Enfield Borough 2016–17[48] Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 4000—0040
Career total 356911921022310408105
  1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearance in FA Trophy
  3. Appearance in Challenge Trophy

Honours

Southend United

Individual

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | CAN LEON FIT THE BILL?". world.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  3. "Transfers - August 2002". BBC Sport. 5 September 2002. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  4. "Constantine joins Blues". BBC Sport. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  5. "Southend sign Constantine". BBC Sport. 29 September 2003. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  6. "Blackpool 2-0 Southend". BBC Sport. 21 March 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  7. "Southend deals for quartet". BBC Sport. 12 May 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  8. "Posh sign Constantine". BBC Sport. 21 May 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  9. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  10. "Constantine seals Gulls loan move". BBC Sport. 29 October 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  11. "Constantine seals return to Gulls". BBC Sport. 10 December 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  12. "Six put on list by Torquay boss". BBC Sport. 31 October 2005. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  13. "Constantine leaves Gulls for Vale". BBC Sport. 4 November 2005. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  14. "Tottenham 3-1 Port Vale (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  15. "Port Vale 2–1 Brighton". BBC Sport. 23 December 2006. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  16. "Constantine's Tykes move is off". BBC Sport. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  17. "Brighton thwarted in striker bids". BBC Sport. 1 February 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  18. "Who the ******* are Port Vale?". independentmillwall.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  19. "Leeds complete triple acquisition". BBC Sport. 7 August 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  20. "Leeds 1–2 Bury". BBC Sport. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  21. "Leeds 1–3 Oldham". BBC Sport. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  22. "Constantine injury blow for Leeds". BBC Sport. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  23. "Oldham sign Constantine on loan". BBC Sport. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  24. "Constantine set for Leeds return". BBC Sport. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  25. "Cobblers sign striker Constantine". BBC Sport. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  26. "Holt backs Cobblers' Constantine". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  27. "Cobblers loan out Constantine". Sky Sports. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  28. "Artus agrees deal". Sky Sports. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  29. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
    "Northampton 1–2 Leicester". BBC Sport. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  30. "Constantine joins Bulls". Sky Sports. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  31. "Released List And Contract Offers". Hereford United F.C. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  32. "York City beat Rushden 2–0 in Blue Square Bet Premier". The Press. York. 4 September 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  33. Flett, Dave (6 September 2010). "Martin Foyle hails new York City arrival Leon Constantine". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  34. "York City 2–0 Rushden & Diamonds". BBC Sport. 4 September 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  35. "York City 2–0 Hayes & Yeading". BBC Sport. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  36. Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
    Flett, Dave (25 October 2010). "Kidderminster 0, York City 2". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
    Flett, Dave (13 December 2010). "Match report: York City 0, Boston United 1 – FA Trophy, first round". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  37. "York release five players". Vital York. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  38. Newson, Adam (19 July 2011). "Mixed fortunes for Barnet trialists". The Barnet and Potters Bar Times. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  39. "Leon in Barnet trial". Vital York. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  40. Waldron, Jonathan (1 August 2011). "Constantine shines as Braintree beat Billericay". Braintree and Witham Times. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  41. Waldron, Jonathan (17 August 2011). "Constantine will boost Iron challenge". Braintree and Witham Times. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  42. Flett, Dave (7 October 2011). "Match preview: York City v Braintree Town". The Press. York. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  43. "Appearances - Leon Constantine". Goalrun. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  44. "I'm no target man, says Boston United's Leon Constantine". Lincolnshire Echo. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  45. Singleton, Craig (26 December 2011). "Boston United 4–2 Eastwood Town". Boston United F.C. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  46. "Constantine Released by Pilgrims". Non-League Daily. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  47. "Player Info". Boston United F.C. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  48. "Leon Constantine Profile | Aylesbury United FC". www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  49. "SMI World · Team Member". smiworld.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  50. "The Team". 15 May 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  51. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  52. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  55. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  56. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  57. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  58. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  59. "Games played by Leon Constantine in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  60. "Constantine scoops monthly award". BBC Sport. 3 September 2006. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
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