| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael John Christopher Leach | ||
| Date of birth | 16 January 1947 | ||
| Place of birth | Hackney, England | ||
| Date of death | 11 January 1992 (aged 44) | ||
| Height | 6ft | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1964-1978 | Queens Park Rangers | 313 | (61) |
| 1978 | Detroit Express | 23 | (3) |
| 1978-1979 | Cambridge United | 19 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Michael 'Mick' Leach (16 January 1947 – 11 January 1992) was a footballer with Queens Park Rangers in the 1960s and 1970s.
Leach signed professional forms in 1964 and made his debut in 1965 in a 5-0 win against Colchester United. During this early period of his career he was, as part of QPR's quest to finding more gems in the East End of London (himself and the Morgan twins), given coaching/scouting duties at Beaconsfield school in Walthamstow. Throughout the late 1960s he began to establish himself as a regular member of the first team and was ever present in 1968 when QPR won promotion to the First Division for the first time.
Leach stayed around the first team for ten years and despite at times being overshadowed by more skilful team mates such as Rodney Marsh and Stan Bowles, he was a useful member of the squad. When called upon, he could usually be relied on to score vital goals. He played his final game for QPR in an FA Cup tie at Loftus Road against Wealdstone in January 1978. He then moved to play in the NASL for Detroit Express before coming home to play for Cambridge United where he ended his career. After his playing career he had a spell as coach at Chelsea.
In total, Leach played 313 league games for QPR, scoring 61 goals. He died in January 1992, aged just 44.