Arthur Leonard

Arthur Leonard

Personal information
Full name	Arthur Leonard Bamford
Date of birth	1874
Place of birth	Leicester, England
Date of death	1921 (aged 47)
Playing position	Inside-forward
Youth career
	17th Leicestershire Regiment
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1897	Leicester Fosse	0	(0)
–	Rushden Town
–	Sheppey United
–	Glentoran
1901–1904	Small Heath	68	(25)
1904	Stoke	14	(3)
–	St Bernard's
–	Clapton Orient
1907–1908	Plymouth Argyle	36	(10)
–	Reading
Total		118	(38)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Arthur Leonard Bamford (1874 – 1921), known as Arthur Leonard, was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Small Heath and Stoke.^[1]

Career

Leonard, then known by his original surname of Bamford, signed for Leicester Fosse in 1895, but walked out on them. After playing for Rushden Town and Sheppey United, Small Heath spotted Leonard playing for Glentoran and signed him on the spot for a fee of £120. However, representatives of Leicester recognised him as their absent player, and when questioned as to the facts, he disappeared again. Persuaded to return to Birmingham, he admitted to being Bamford, and the matter was settled by Small Heath paying Leicester a further £20 to complete the transfer. In 1902–03 he was the club's top scorer with 16 goals.^[2]

Leonard then joined Stoke in January 1904 and played 14 matches in two seasons scoring three goals.^[1] After a short spell in Scotland with St Bernard's he moved to the Southern League with Clapton Orient, Plymouth Argyle before ending his career with Reading.^[1]

Career statistics

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Small Heath	1901–02	20	6	0	0	20	6
	1902–03	32	16	1	0	33	16
	1903–04	16	3	2	1	18	4
	Total	68	25	3	1	71	26
Stoke[1]	1903–04	10	3	0	0	10	3
	1904–05	4	0	0	0	4	0
	Total	14	2	0	0	14	3
Career total		82	28	3	1	85	29

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 228–29. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.

External links

• Arthur Leonard profile at greensonscreen.co.uk