Arthur Leonard

Arthur Leonard
Personal information
Full name Arthur Leonard Bamford
Date of birth 1874
Place of birth Leicester, England
Date of death 1921
Playing position Inside-forward
Youth career
17th Leicestershire Regiment
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1895 Leicester Fosse
– Rushden Town
– Sheppey United
– Glentoran
1901–1904 Small Heath 68 (25)
1904 Stoke 14 (3)
– St Bernard's
– Clapton Orient
– Plymouth Argyle
1905–1909 Reading
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Arthur Leonard Bamford (born 1874 in Leicester, deceased), known as Arthur Leonard, was an English professional footballer who played as an inside-forward.

Career

Leonard, then known by his original surname of Bamford, signed for Leicester Fosse in 1895, but walked out on them. Small Heath spotted Leonard playing for Glentoran and signed him on the spot for a fee of £120. However, representatives of Leicester recognised him as their absent player, and when questioned as to the facts, he disappeared again. Persuaded to return to Birmingham, he admitted to being Bamford, and the matter was settled by Small Heath paying Leicester a further £20 to complete the transfer. In 1902–03 he was the club's top scorer with 16 goals. After leaving Small Heath he played briefly for several clubs before settling at Reading where he spent four seasons.[1]

Career statistics

Club Season League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Small Heath 1901–02
1902–03
1903–04
Total 68 25 68 25
Stoke 1903–04 10 3 0 0 10 3
1904–05 4 0 0 0 4 0
Career Total 82 28 0 0 82 28

Source:[2]

References

  1. ^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 228–29. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9. 
  2. ^ Matthews, Tony: "The Encyclopedia of Stoke City " (Lion Press, 1994, ISBN 1-85983-100-1)