| George Leslie | |
| Fullname: | George William John Leslie[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1907 7, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Slough, England |
| Death Date: | [2] |
| Death Place: | Colchester, England |
| Height: | 6feet |
| Position: | Centre-half |
| Clubs1: | Slough Town |
| Years2: | 1930–? |
| Clubs2: | Charlton Athletic |
| Caps2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Clubs3: | Red Star Olympique |
| Years4: | 1932–1936 |
| Clubs4: | Walsall |
| Caps4: | 88 |
| Goals4: | 2 |
| Years5: | 1936–1937 |
| Clubs5: | Guildford City |
| Years6: | 1937–1939 |
| Clubs6: | Colchester United |
| Caps6: | 65 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Totalcaps: | 153 |
| Totalgoals: | 2 |
George William John Leslie (9 July 1907 – 22 November 1986) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre-half in the Football League for Walsall. Leslie was also on the books at Charlton Athletic but failed to make a first-team appearance. He additionally featured for Slough Town, Red Star Olympique in Paris, France, Guildford City and Colchester United.
Born in Slough, Leslie began his career with Slough Town[2] before making a move to Charlton Athletic in 1930. He failed to break into the first-team, instead opting to move to France to ply his trade,[1] featuring for Paris-based Red Star Olympique.[3] He returned to England in 1932, joining up with Football League club Walsall.[1] With Walsall, Leslie featured in an FA Cup giant killing when his Third Division North side defeated First Division Arsenal 2–0 in the third round of the 1932–33 competition.[4]
Leslie would go on to make 88 Football League appearances for Walsall, scoring twice before drifting back into non-league football with Guildford City. Colchester United manager Ted Davis signed him from Guildford for the newly formed Southern League club in the summer of 1937.[1] Leslie made his debut for the U's in their first-ever professional match on 28 August 1937 as Colchester fell to a 3–0 defeat to Yeovil & Petters United at the Huish.[5] Leslie suffered from a string of injury problems while with Colchester as he was required to undergo a cartilage operation in May 1938, and suffered further setbacks in October 1938, requiring further fitness training at Highbury, London. On his return to first-team action, Leslie was named club captain, having been voted as the best centre-half in the Southern League for the 1937–38 campaign. He was just behind Jack Hodge in becoming the first player for the club to reach 100 first-team appearances.[1] Leslie ended his time with Colchester during the 1939–40 season, when the league was abandoned due to the onset of World War II. He made his final appearance in a 0–0 draw against Ipswich Town Reserves on 2 September 1939,[6] bringing his total appearances to 102 in all competitions.[2]
Following the war, Leslie assisted fellow former Colchester United player Cecil Allan in running the Colchester Casuals junior side.[1]
Leslie died in Colchester at the age of 79 on 22 November 1986.[1] [2]
All honours referenced by:[2] [7] [8]