Townsend: Leonard Francis (Len)

WW2 Guest: 1940-1941 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Brentford: 31-08-1917

Debut: v Middlesbrough (h): 09-11-1940

Height & Weight: Unknown

Townsend started his career with Isleworth Town and then Hayes before joining his local club Brentford in May 1937. He had only played four League games and one in the F.A. Cup, but had quickly shown his ability to score goals and had already put four in the net. During the War he played with Belfast Celtic, where he was picked to represent the Northern Ireland League, and guested with Leeds United. He was at Leeds in the 1940-41 North Regional League and made his debut at Centre Forward on 9th November 1940 in a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at Elland Road and he got the first Leeds goal. His first four games brought him seven goals as Leeds won the next three fixtures which were all at home, against Bradford City 6-0, and Hull City and Newcastle United both 3-2, with Townsend scoring twice in each game. He missed the next game at home to Burnley but then played in the next six fixtures at Centre Forward as Leeds lost 0-3 at Chesterfield, drew 2-2 with Halifax Town at The Shay, with Townsend getting the Leeds second goal, beat Bradford Park Avenue 2-1 in the Xmas Day fixture at Elland Road, with Townsend getting the second goal, lost 1-2 at home to Chesterfield, won 4-2 at Chesterfield with Townsend scoring twice, and then lost 2-3 to Chesterfield at home. He played his final game for Leeds a fortnight later as they beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 at Elland Road on 22nd March 1941. He had played in one War Cup match on 15th February 1941 when he got a hat-trick in the first Leg of the first game as United beat Halifax Town at The Shay by 3-2. He returned to Brentford after the War and scored eight goals in twenty-nine League games and scored twice in seven F.A. Cup ties before moving to Third Division South Bristol City in June 1947. At Ashton Gate he rediscovered his goal-scoring flair with forty-five goals, five from penalties, in seventy-four League games in two seasons as well as five goals in six F.A. Cup ties. He returned to London with Third Division South Millwall in July 1949 but only scored once in the five games he played before finishing his career in Non-League football with Guildford City, Hayes, Slough Town and Maidenhead United. He died in 1997.