Leon Legge

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Leon Legge
Personal information
Full nameLeon Clinton E. Legge[1]
Date of birth (1985-07-01) 1 July 1985
Place of birthBexhill-on-Sea, England[2]
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current clubGillingham
Number6
Youth career
2007Little Common
2007Sidley United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2002–2003Eastbourne UA
2003–2005Hailsham Town
2005–2008Lewes69(9)
2008–2009Tonbridge Angels39(10)
2009–2013Brentford93(9)
2013→ Gillingham (loan)5(0)
2013–Gillingham34(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of (16:32, 26 December 2013 (UTC)) (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Leon Clinton E. Legge (born 1 July 1985) is a professional English footballer who plays for Gillingham as a central defender.

Career

Legge began his career playing youth football for Little Common and Sidley United,[3] before joining Sussex County League club Eastbourne United. At the age of 17, Legge joined Hailsham Town, where he was appointed captain earning trials for Eastbourne Borough and Woking, before joining Lewes in the summer of 2005.[4] Following the departure of manager Steve King on promotion to the Conference National, Legge joined Tonbridge Angels before being handed a professional contract by Brentford in July 2009.[5] Before signing as a professional Legge had been working as a care worker for adults with learning difficulties and gave this up when signing for the Bees.[6] In an interview with the Hastings Observer, Legge says his working career as a footballer, playing for Brentford, just keep getting better and never expect his career to be positive.[7]

Legge made his debut in the Football League Trophy defeat against Norwich City in September 2009, having been named as an unused substitute in Brentford's two previous matches.[3] Legge made his League debut in the 2–0 defeat at Yeovil Town on 26 September 2009. His first goal for the Bees was the winner in the FA Cup Second Round game against Walsall which earned him the FA's "Player of the Round" award.[8] A month later after scoring his first goal, on 11 December 2009, it was announced that Legge had signed a contract extension, keeping him at Brentford until at least the end of the 2010–11 season.[9] The following month, on 26 January 2010, he scored his first league goal, in a 1–1 draw against Southampton when he scored a late equaliser.[10] Two months later, on 23 March 2010, he scored again in a 3–3 draw against Colchester United[11] At the end of the season, with an impressive debut at Brentford, Legge signed a new contract, that will keep him until 2012.[12]

The next season, Legge continued to retain his first team status throughout the season and scored four goals against Exeter City, Tranmere Rovers and Charlton Athletic. During the season, the club would progress their way to the Football League Trophy final, having even won the Southern Section in Area Final but lost against Carlisle United in the final at the Wembley Arena, where he made a start and was booked on a 24th minutes.[13] After the match, Legge described playing at the Wembley as 'privilege', though disappointed with the result.[14] Towards the game, Legge soon ruled out with an groin injury.[15] He eventually made a full recovery from injury by returning to full training[16] but made no appearance for the rest of the game. At the end of the season, Legge was linked with two unknown Championship clubs[17]

The club offered him a new contract to keep him at Brentford until 2014, after claiming his first goal of the season versus Leyton Orient on the fourth match day of the 2011–12 season.[18] At the end of August, Legge soon tore his hamstring in a defeat against Tranmere Rovers and will be out for seven weeks.[19] Two months later, Legge says he expected to come back from injury in November.[20] He made his return from injury by making appearance in a development game with Reading.[21] In mid-December, Legge scored two goals in consecutive games against Bournemouth and Milton Keynes Dons, which both goals were on injury time.[22] In March, his injury come back to haunt him again when he strained his hamstring injury,[23] He made his return two weeks later against Rochdale. He scored his fourth goal, on the final game of the season, in a 3–1 win over relegated League One side Chesterfield.

The following season, Legge first team opportunities soon became limited, having spent time on the bench, in numbers of games despite making impressive performance against Oldham Athletic. After the match, Manager Uwe Rösler stated: "It was crucial we had a player like Leon Legge who came on and played to his strengths, He showed what an important player he is for us. He came on and worked well. Players at our level need to understand it's a squad game. They will all play a part.”[24] However, Legge never play a game under Rösler, though he made appearance in the FA Cup campaign.

Legge joined Gillingham during the 2012–13 season on a month's loan with a view to a permanent move.[25] After the move, Manager Martin Allen says Legge's signing was "pushing the boat out" and credit chairman Paul Scally for the capture.[26] Legge, himself, says Myles Weston played the role of him joining Gillingham.[27] Legge made his debut for the club, in a 1–0 win over Southend United.[28] Shortly after his debut, with five appearance, it was announced that he had signed a two and a half-year contract with the Kent-based club.[29] Legge's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis, was against Wycombe Wanderers, which Gillingham lost 1–0. A few week later, Legge scored his first goal for the club against Dagenham & Redbridge. His second goal soon came in a 1–1 draw against Aldershot Town. After the match, Allen praised Legge and Adam Barrett for their performances.[30]

Personal life

Legge was 16 years-old when he discovered he suffered from epilepsy.[31][32] He is an ambassador for the charity, Young Epilepsy

References

  1. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 438. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8. 
  2. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Newstead, Simon (2 September 2009). "Legge Makes Brentford Debut". Hastings & St Leonards Observer (Johnston Press). Retrieved 3 September 2009. 
  3. ↑ "Hailsham Star Legge Joins Lewes". Eastbourne Herald (Johnston Press). 18 June 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2009. 
  4. ↑ "Local lad signs for Brentford". Hastings Observer. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  5. ↑ Amos, Stuart (23 November 2009). "Brentford's Legge on the up in a hurry". Streatham Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2010. 
  6. ↑ "Legge living the dream with Bees". Hastings Observer. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  7. ↑ "Wembley beckons for Leon". The FA. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2010. 
  8. ↑ "Brentford defender Leon Legge extends his contract". BBC Sport. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2009. 
  9. ↑ "Brentford 1–1 Southampton". BBC Sport. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Colchester 3–3 Brentford". BBC Sport. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  11. ↑ "Bees get two-year Legge up". Sky Sports. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Brentford 0–1 Carlisle". BBC Sport. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Local lad Legge plays at Wembley". Hastings Observer. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  14. ↑ "Brentford wait on Leon Legge injury". Hunslow Chronicle. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Leon Legge set for Brentford return to ease defensive crisis". Hunslow Chronicle. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  16. ↑ "Championship clubs eye Brentford star". Hunslow Chronicle. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  17. ↑ "Brentford defender Leon Legge signs new contract". BBC Sport. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  18. ↑ "Brentford hit by injury crisis". Hunslow Chronicle. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  19. ↑ "Brentford defender on the comeback trail". Hunslow Chronicle. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  20. ↑ "Bees defender set to step up his recovery from injury against Reading". Hunslow Chronicle. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  21. ↑ "Bees given a Legge up by Leon". Hastings Observer. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  22. ↑ "Brentford defender suffers injury blow". Hunslow Chronicle. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  23. ↑ "Legge stakes a claim for Bees place". Hunslow Chronicle. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  24. ↑ "Leon Legge: Gillingham to sign Brentford defender on month loan". BBC Sport. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  25. ↑ "Gillingham: Martin Allen praises Leon Legge capture". BBC Sport. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  26. ↑ "Leon Legge's decision to join Gillingham was influenced by advice from former team-mate Myles Weston". Kent Online. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  27. ↑ "Local lad Leon makes Gills debut". Hastings Observer. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  28. ↑ "Gillingham: Leon Legge deal made permanent". BBC Sport. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  29. ↑ "Gillingham defenders Leon Legge and Adam Barrett praised for their efforts by manager Martin Allen". Kent Online. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  30. ↑ Johnson, Simon (9 December 2010). "Epilepsy has not stopped Leon Legge achieving his goal". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 June 2011. 
  31. ↑ "Brentford defender Leon Legge reveals fight with epilepsy". BBC Sport. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 

External links

Gillingham F.C. – current squad
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