Gleave: Colin

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

Right Half

Born: Stockport: 06-04-1919

Debut: v Barnsley (h): 06-01-1945

Height & Weight: Unknown

Gleave was a one club man, playing for his native team his whole career. However while he signed for them in February 1938, and was still there ten years later, his playing career with them was effectively only for two seasons, due to the Second World War. He did not play for Third Division North Stockport County before the start of the Second World War. He served in Durham Light Infantry during World War Two and was a POW in Italy. In those War Years he guested for Leeds United. He only played two games in consecutive fixtures in a 0-1 home defeat and a 0-5 drubbing at Oakwell in back-to-back games with Barnsley in the 1944-45 Football League Northern Section (Second Championship). During the War he also played once in the 1945-46 season for Aldershot, but, when available from serving in the Armed Forces, he played mainly for his own Stockport County, making four appearances in the 1939-40 season, two in 1940-41, nineteen in 1944-45 and thirty in 1945-46. He made his "peace-time" debut for County in the F.A. Cup of 1945-46, when the competition was recognised by the F.A., on 17th November 1945, in the 1-2 home defeat by Rochdale. He had to wait until 31st August 1946 before making his League debut in County's first fixture in the 1946-47 season as County beat Halifax Town at Edgeley Park by 4-1, but on his return, after the end of the Second World War he quickly established himself as the club's regular Centre Half and became a noted header of the ball and scored once in fifty-seven League games and also played in eleven F.A. Cup ties. His only goal for the club was in the Good Friday home fixture on 4th April 1947 and proved to be the only goal of the game against Wrexham. He played his final game for the Hatters in a 2-1 home win over Crewe Alexandra on 1st May 1948 in the final game of the 1947-48 season. He became the Player-Manager of Ashton United, making his debut for them in the Lancashire Combination League on 21st August 1948 at Rochdale Reserves. He went on to score ten goals in two hundred and sixty-one appearances before playing his final game at Stalybridge Celtic on 14th May 1955, he was Player/Coach in the final season. He died on 15th May 2004.