Derek Leck Explained

Derek Leck
Fullname:Derek Alan Leck
Birth Date:8 February 1937
Birth Place:Deal, England
Death Place:Brighton, England
Position:Forward
Youthclubs1:Leyton Youth Club
Years1:1955–1958
Caps1:7
Goals1:2
Years2:1958–1965
Caps2:246
Goals2:45
Years3:1965–1966
Caps3:30
Goals3:0
Years4:1966–1969
Clubs4:Hastings United
Clubs5:Crawley Town
Totalcaps:283
Totalgoals:47

Derek Alan Leck (8 February 1937 – 11 July 2011) was an English professional footballer who played as a right half or centre forward in the Football League for Millwall, Northampton Town and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Life and career

Leck was born in 1937 in Deal, Kent. He joined Millwall from Leyton Youth Club and turned professional in 1955, but played little, and moved on to Fourth Division club Northampton Town in 1958. Converted from centre forward to wing half, he became a regular in the Northampton side that gained three promotions in the next six seasons to reach the First Division for the 1965–66 Football League season.[1] After 268 appearances in all competitions, he left the club in November 1965 for Brighton & Hove Albion where his league career ended prematurely because of injury.[2] He played on for non-league clubs Hastings United and Crawley Town, and worked as a baker in the Sussex area,[3] where he remained until his death from cancer in Brighton in 2011 at the age of 74.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Tim . Carder . Roger . Harris . Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. . Goldstone Books . Hove . 1997 . 142 . 978-0-9521337-1-1.
  2. News: Leck's stint with Albion cut short by injury . The Argus . Brighton . 4 March 2001 . 18 September 2018.
  3. Web site: In memoriam . Northampton Town F.C. . 18 September 2018.
  4. Web site: Derek Leck . The Argus . Brighton . 15 July 2011 . 18 September 2018.