Booth: William Samuel (Sam)

WW2 Guest: 1944-1945 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Centre Half

Born: Hove: 07-07-1920

Debut: v Bradford City (a): 04-11-1944

Height & Weight: Unknown

Booth started his football career with his local club Hove Penguins before signing with his hometown club of Brighton and Hove Albion, then playing in the Third Division South, early in the 1938-39 season. He left for another Third Division South side, Port Vale, in February 1939 and he made nine League appearances for the club from the Potteries before moving to another Third Division South club, Cardiff City, in May 1939. He never played a League game for the Bluebirds as Football League fixtures were suspended by the Second World War. It was during the War period that he made two guest appearances for Leeds United. They were on consecutive Saturdays and in both games the opposition was Bradford City and he played both games at Right Half. The first at Valley Parade saw United triumph by 6-2 and the second, at Elland Road, saw United again victorious 4-1. It was a very rare occurrence, as United’s War record was abysmal and they rarely managed two wins on the trot, but a hat-trick in both games by George Ainsley did the trick. During the War he also guested for Birmingham City, where he made six appearances in 1944-45, and Cardiff City, where he made twenty-seven appearances in 1939-40 and one in 1944-45, but didn't score for either team. On the resumption of the Football League fixtures Booth joined Brighton and Hove Albion in August 1947 and he played twenty-eight League games, scoring six times, while in the F.A. Cup he scored in his only game. He stayed there until 1948-49 when he left for Non-League Hastings United, where he played out his last football days. He died in 1990.