Hookey Leonard

Hookey Leonard
Personal information
Full name James Leonard[1]
Date of birth 1906[1]
Place of birth Paisley, Scotland[1]
Date of death 1959 (aged 52–53)[1]
Place of death United States
Playing position Inside left
Youth career
0000–1923 Saltcoats Victoria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1923–1926 Cowdenbeath 70 (37)
1926–1927 Indiana Flooring 15 (8)
1927–1928 Cowdenbeath 27 (15)
1928–1930 New York Nationals 74 (49)
1930 Cowdenbeath 8 (6)
1930–1931 Sunderland 26 (17)
Rhyl Athletic
Colwyn Bay United
1932 Sunderland 9 (2)
Morton 7 (1)
Shelbourne
Shamrock Rovers
Dolphin
Fearons Athletic
Brideville
Shelbourne
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

James "Hookey" or "Hooky" Leonard (1906–1959)[2] was a Scottish professional footballer.

Leonard signed with Cowdenbeath in 1923.[3] He quickly became a club favourite with brilliant performances. However, during the 1924–25 season, he was suspended after missing several training sessions. Leonard was the third leading scorer in the Scottish League during the 1925–26 season, but shocked the team and league when he signed with Indiana Flooring of the American Soccer League in December 1926. He played fifteen league games, scoring eight goals, through the remainder of 1926–27.[4] Leonard returned to Cowdenbeath for the 1927–28 season but was back in the U.S., this time with the New York Nationals.[5] He remained with the Nationals through the 1929–30 season, then returned again to Cowdenbeath. The team then sold his contract to English club Sunderland for £3,000.[6] He made 35 appearances and scored 19 goals in two spells with the club.[7][8][9] In October 1932, Leonard joined Morton, his final Scottish League cub.[1]

Leonard may have ended his footballing career in the Irish League playing for Shelbourne in 1933–34, Shamrock Rovers in 1934–35, Dolphin in 1935–36, Fearons A, Brideville in 1938–39 and Shelborne in 1939–40.[10] Note that the birth & death dates given are 7 October 1904 in Paisley and 7 September 1959 which differ from those above.[10]

Leonard's exploits are chronicled in Ron Ferguson's Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil.[11] He was recently elected into the Cowdenbeath Hall of Fame.[6] After retiring, Leonard settled in the US with his family.[12] In July 2003 his family visited Cowdenbeath to receive a commemorative scroll.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 172. ISBN 190589161X.
  2. ↑ "Link to family friend". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  3. ↑ Cowdenbeath A to Z, Part One : David Allan (2003, Cowdenbeath, Cowdenbeath Supporters Club)
  4. ↑ Jose, Colin (1998). American Soccer League, 1921–1931 (Hardback). The Scarecrow Press. ( ISBN 0-8108-3429-4).
  5. ↑ "American Soccer League I Statistical Leaders". www.sover.net. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Cowdenbeath FC – Blue Brazil Online | Cowden | The Beath". www.cowdenbeathfc.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Sunderland AFC – Statistics, History and Records – from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "Sunderland AFC – Statistics, History and Records – from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "Sunderland AFC – Statistics, History and Records – from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  10. 1 2 Emms, Steve; Richard Wells (2007). Scottish League Players' Records 1890–91 to 1938–39. Soccerdata. ISBN 978-1-899468-66-9.
  11. ↑ 1993 Aberdeen, Northern Books for Famedram
  12. ↑ "Robert Philip, Daily Telegraph 7 January 2007". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  13. ↑ "Latest News". members.tripod.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
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