Les Green

Leslie Green (17 October 1941 – 30 July 2012) was an English footballer and manager.

Les Green
Personal information
Full name Leslie Green
Date of birth (1941-10-17)17 October 1941
Place of birth Atherstone, England
Date of death 30 July 2012(2012-07-30) (aged 70)
Place of death Leicester, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Atherstone Boys Club
Mancetter
Baddesley Colliery
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1958–1960 Atherstone Town (0)
1960–1962 Hull City 4 (0)
1962–1965 Nuneaton Borough (0)
1965 Burton Albion (0)
1965–1967 Hartlepool United 34 (0)
1967–1968 Rochdale 44 (0)
1968–1971 Derby County 107 (0)
1971–1974 Durban City (0)
Total 189 (0)
Teams managed
Durban City (assistant)
1990–1992 Nuneaton Borough
Hinckley Town
1994–1995 Tamworth
Bedford
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Atherstone Town

Les Green started out at a young age playing for youth teams around his hometown of Atherstone. He played for Atherstone Boys Club, Mancetter and Baddesley Colliery before being snapped up by local team Atherstone Town.

Green then decided to try to make it with a professional team, so he managed to get a trial with Arsenal. Unfortunately for Green, he never made the grade because manager George Swindin said he was too short at 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m).

Hull City

Following this Hull City came calling for Green's services and he signed for The Tigers in 1960. Following 4 appearances Green returned to Non-League football with Nuneaton Borough.

Burton Albion

After three years with Boro, Green joined Burton Albion under the management of Peter Taylor.

Hartlepool United

After just three months with the Brewers, Green followed Taylor to Hartlepool United where he made 34 appearances over the course of two seasons.

Rochdale

1967 saw Green on the move again, this time playing for Rochdale under Bob Stokoe

Derby County

Green was at The Dale for just over one season and made 44 appearances before for the third time in his career he was reunited with Peter Taylor but this time at Derby County in 1968.

The season Green joined a team that was changing for the better under Clough and Taylor's management. He was part of Football League Second Division winning team and the side that was in constant dispute with Leeds United due to the Clough/Revie rivalry.

Durban City

In 1971 Green decided to leave top flight English football for National Football League side Durban City in South Africa. During his time with the Golden Boys, Green played with the likes of Alan Skirton, Bernd Patzke and Johnny Byrne. Green also had the pleasure of playing alongside Stanley Matthews in a rare guest appearance - when the man himself was into his fifties.

Sadly Green's leg was badly broken in a clash with Bobby Viljoen in a crunch derby game against arch-rivals Durban United which ended his playing career.

Green's last game was a testimonial match for former Derby County goalkeeper Martin Taylor in a game against Everton on 14 May 1997. The game ended 4–1 to The Rams.[1]

Management career

Following Green's retirement from football – he stayed in South Africa at Durban City as assistant manager until returning to England to take on the role of Commercial Manager at former side Nuneaton Borough.

Green went on to become manager of Nuneaton Borough. He then went on to manage a string of Non-League clubs Hinckley Town, Tamworth and Bedford.

Personal life

Green was married to Heidi, the daughter of a Natal farmer, whom he met whilst residing in South Africa. Green had a son called Simon.

Death

On 30 June 2012, Green died of cancer at Loros Hospice near Leicester, aged 70.[2] After the news of his death, former teammates from the world of football paid tribute to him. John McGovern, who played with Green at both Hartlepool and Derby County said, "I went to see him a few days ago and he was in a poor way but I'm glad I went, because we managed to have a last couple of laughs together. He was an incredible character."[3]

Career honours

Derby County

Durban City
  • Champion Of Champions: 1971
  • National Football League: 1972
  • Coca-Cola Shield: 1972

Managerial stats
Team From To Record
PWDLGFGAWin %
Nuneaton Borough 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—
Hinckley Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—
Tamworth 12 March 1994 14 January 1995 50 25 11 14 100 83 050.00
Bedford 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—
Total 50 25 11 14 100 83 050.00

References
  1. "Testimonial for Martin Taylor 1996/97". ToffeeWeb.com. 14 May 1997. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  2. "Club mourn death of Former Manager". TheLambs.co.uk. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. "Team-mates pay tribute to 'incredible character' as keeper Green dies". ThisIsDerbyshire.co.uk. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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