Baker: Leonard Henry (Len)

1923-1925 (Player Details)

Centre Half

Born: Sheffield: 18-11-1897

Debut v Hull City (a): 22-09-1923

5’10” 12st (1920)

The son of a Somerset-born policeman, he started with Darnell Old Boys and Beighton FC before he joined Second Division Blackpool and broke into their first team in 1919-20, making his debut for them in a 1-0 over Bury at Bloomfield Road on 2nd April 1920. He made nineteen appearances at Bloomfield Road in four seasons. Bill Norman was his manager at Blackpool and when he became Assistant Manager at Leeds he recommended him to Arthur Fairclough, the Manager. He was the understudy to the United stalwart Ernie Hart and was mainly a reserve player. However he won a West Riding Senior Cup medal in 1922-23, when he was at left-half as Leeds beat Halifax Town 1-0 on 25th October 1922 at Elland Road. He also appeared in the final the following season, playing at right-half, but this time he was not a winner, as United went down by 2-1 to Bradford Park Avenue on 10th May 1924. He moved on to Second Division Barnsley in May 1925, where he became more of a regular, making seventy-eight League appearances in four seasons and scoring one goal, as well as playing in one F.A. Cup tie, before moving to Third Division Rochdale in June 1929 and making thirty-four League appearances for them. He joined another Third Division team, Nelson, in August 1930, after just one season at Rochdale. He made his debut for them on 2nd September 1930 in a 0-2 home defeat by Hull City, however, they lost their Football League status at the end of that season, and, after he had played seven League games for them, he had his contract cancelledon 27th March 1931. He died in early 1979.