Harold Leese (1886–?) was an English footballer who played for Bradford City, Crewe Alexandra, Port Vale and Stoke.[1] He helped Stoke to win two minor league titles.

Harry Leese
Leese in a Port Vale team photo.
Personal information
Full name Harold Leese[1]
Date of birth 1886[1]
Place of birth Goldenhill, Staffordshire, England[1]
Date of death ?
Position(s) Full-back / Half-back
Youth career
Smallthorne
Goldenhill Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1906 Stoke 0 (0)
Golden Hill
1908–1909 Bradford City 1 (0)
1909–1913 Stoke 109 (28)
1913–1919 Port Vale 37 (4)
Crewe Alexandra
Goldenhill Wanderers
Total 146+ (32+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Leese was born in Staffordshire and played non-League football with local sides Smallthorne and Goldenhill Villa before he was signed up to league club Stoke. After playing for Golden Hill, he had a spell with Bradford City between July 1908 and May 1909,[2] making one league appearance,[3] before returning to Stoke in 1909. He scored 19 goals in 50 appearances in the 1909–10 season and helped the club to win the Southern League Division Two A. He scored nine goals in 53 matches in the 1910–11 season, as the "Potters" won the Birmingham & District League title and finished second in the Southern League Division Two. He scored once in 14 games in the 1911–12 season, and featured six times in the 1912–13 campaign before departing the Victoria Ground. He moved to local rivals Port Vale in May 1913.[4] He played regular football between September and December 1914, but then left to help his country fight World War II.[4] He made two appearances whilst on leave, returning permanently upon his demobilization in April 1919. He left at the end of the 1918–19 campaign as he could not agree terms with the club, and so was not a part of the club when it gained re-election to the Football League in October 1919.[4] Instead he joined nearby Crewe Alexandra, and later played for Goldenhill Wanderers.[4]

Career statistics

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Source:[5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bradford City 1908–09 First Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
Stoke 1909–10 Birmingham & District League / Southern League Division Two 40 18 6 1 46 19
1910–11 Birmingham & District League / Southern League Division Two 50 9 3 0 53 9
1911–12 Southern League Division One 14 1 0 0 14 1
1912–13 Southern League Division One 5 0 1 0 6 0
Total 109 28 10 1 119 29
Port Vale 1913–14 Central League 22 0 2 0 24 0
1913–14 Central League 15 4 3 0 18 4
Total 37 4 5 0 42 4
Career total 147 32 15 1 162 33

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903-1988. Breedon Books Sport. p. 400. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.
  3. ^ Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903-1988. Breedon Books Sport. p. 384. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.
  4. ^ a b c d Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 172. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  5. ^ Harry Leese at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)