Lawrie Leslie

Lawrie Leslie
Personal information
Full name Lawrence Grant Leslie
Date of birth (1935-03-17) 17 March 1935
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth career
Newtongrange Star
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1956–1959 Hibernian 75 (0)
1959–1961 Airdrieonians 42 (0)
1961–1963 West Ham United 57 (0)
1963–1966 Stoke City 78 (0)
1966–1968 Millwall 67 (0)
1968–1969 Southend United 13 (0)
Total 332 (0)
National team
1960–1961 Scotland 5 (0)
1960–1961 Scottish League XI 3 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Lawrence Grant "Lawrie" Leslie (born 17 March 1935) is a retired Scottish footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Hibernian, Airdrie, West Ham United, Stoke City, Millwall, Southend United and represented Scotland.[1]

Club career

Scotland

Leslie began playing football with Hawkhill Amateurs. In the early 1950s, he turned semi-pro and joined Newtongrange Star. He played for his regimental side at Oswestry after joining the Artillery in 1956. After the war, Lawrie signed pro forms with Hibernian following a trial that war-time compatriot and Hibs player Jock Buchan had suggested he apply for. He was in the Hibs side that reached the 1958 Scottish Cup Final, which they lost 1–0 to Clyde. After playing 98 matches for the Easter Road side he moved to Airdrie in November 1959 for £4,475 and became club captain. Leslie spent two seasons at Broomfield Park helping the "Diamonds" to two mid table finished in the Scottish First Division.

In English football

Leslie moved to West Ham United in 1961 for £14,000 and won 'Hammer of the Year' in 1962. He went on to make 61 league and cup appearances for the east London club. He joined Stoke City for a fee of £14,000 in October 1963 and in his first season with the club helped the reach the final of the League Cup.[1] Leslie played in the first leg of the final the Stoke's Victoria Ground in a 1–1 draw but he was injured for the decisive second leg meaning that reserve 'keeper Bobby Irvine stepped in and Stoke lost 3–2.[1] In the 1964–65 season Leslie made the number one spot his own as the missed just two matches out of 50.[1] He lost his first choice status in 1965–66 due to the emergence of John Farmer and he left in the summer of 1966 for Millwall.[1] He spent two season at The Den before finishing his career with Southend United.

After his retirement from playing, Leslie coached at Southend and later became Millwall's trainer. He has since been involved in coaching schools football.

International career

He won five caps for the Scottish national team while with Airdrie, all during the 1960–61 season. Leslie was due to play for Scotland in the infamous 9–3 defeat by England at Wembley. He was injured one week beforehand and Frank Haffey was selected instead.[2]

Career statistics

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hibernian 1956–57 Scottish First Division 1200000120
1957–58 Scottish First Division 3307060460
1958–59 Scottish First Division 3004060400
Total 750110120980
Airdrieonians 1959–60 Scottish First Division
1960–61 Scottish First Division
Total 420420
West Ham United 1961–62 First Division 3701010390
1962–63 First Division 2000020200
Total 5701030610
Stoke City 1963–64 First Division 2505050350
1964–65 First Division 4103040480
1965–66 First Division 1200020140
Total 78080110970
Millwall 1966–67 Second Division 4202020460
1967–68 Second Division 2501020280
Total 6703040740
Southend United 1968–69 Fourth Division 1300020150
Career Total 33202303003850

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ↑ Vallance, Matt (15 April 2011). "Luckiest 'unlucky' goalkeeper who missed Scotland's 9–3 humiliation". The Scotsman. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
General
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