Thompson: Leslie

WW2 Guest: 1939-1944 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Wing Half

Born: Unknown: Unknown

Debut: v Bradford City (h): 28-10-1939

Height & Weight: Unknown

Although not much is know about him, Thompson had won three English Schoolboy International caps in 1936. He had joined Leeds from Middlecliffe Rovers, the club that had produced Wilf Copping and Ken Gadsby, in 1937. He had not made a senior appearance for Leeds by the start of the Second World War but was on the Leeds Ground-staff in the War period. He made his debut on 28th October 1939 at Left Half in the first Wartime game in a 3-0 win over Bradford City at Elland Road. He went on to play all but three games in the 1939-40 Regional League North East Division, with twelve games at Left Half, two at Centre Half and one at Centre Forward. He also played in all four War Cup games that campaign, with three games at Left Half and one at Centre Half. He also registered his first goal for Leeds in that Competition when he scored the first Leeds goal in a 6-3 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on 20th April 1940 in the first game in the first leg. He made ten appearances in the 1940-41 North Regional League with three games at Left Half, three at Centre Half and four at Right Half. He played his final three games for Leeds in the 1943-44 Football League Northern Section. He was at Outside Right in the 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers at Elland Road on 30th October 1943 and at Right Half the following week as United lost 1-6 at Bradford Park Avenue in the First Championship. His final game was in the Second Championship at Right Back in a 1-4 defeat by Huddersfield Town at Leeds Road on 22nd January 1944. He lost his life at the age of twenty-five in 1945.