Keith Leonard

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Keith Leonard
Personal information
Full name Keith Andrew Leonard [1]
Date of birth (1950-11-10) 10 November 1950 (age 73) [1]
Place of birth Birmingham, England [1]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Kidderminster Harriers
Darlaston
Highgate United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1972–1976 Aston Villa 38 (11)
1973–1974 → Port Vale (loan) 13 (1)
Total51(12)
Managerial career
1986 Birmingham City (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Keith Andrew Leonard (born 10 November 1950) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker for Aston Villa. He also played on loan at Port Vale. He played non-League football for Kidderminster Harriers, Darlaston, and Highgate United. He won the League Cup with Villa in 1975, and was also promoted out of the Second Division. He later became a coach and led the Aston Villa youth team players to FA Youth Cup victory in 1980; he later served Birmingham City as caretaker manager in 1986.

Contents

Playing career

Born in Birmingham, Leonard worked as a draughtsman whilst playing non-League football with Highgate United before he joined Aston Villa in April 1972. [2] [3] He made his debut against Fulham but after just a few appearances fractured his right leg in two places in a road accident on Boxing Day 1972. [2] After recovering from his injuries he spent a few months on loan to Port Vale to regain fitness. [1] Arriving at Vale Park in November 1973, he scored once in 13 Third Division appearances, and his performances persuaded the club to offer Villa £5,000 for his services permanently. [1] The bid failed and he returned to Villa Park in February 1974. [1] "Valiants" manager Roy Sproson doubled the offer in September 1974 but was again rebuffed. [1]

On his return he played alongside Brian Little in their 1974–75 Second Division promotion campaign and in the 1975 League Cup final 1–0 victory over Norwich City at Wembley. A knee injury forced his retirement in 1976 and prompted manager Ron Saunders to sign Andy Gray from Dundee United as his replacement. [4]

Coaching career

Leonard took up coaching under Saunders at Aston Villa and led the youth team to victory in the FA Youth Cup in 1980. When Saunders joined Birmingham City in 1982, he appointed Leonard as first-team coach. [5]

After Saunders' resignation in 1986, Leonard acted as Birmingham's caretaker manager for one game before being dismissed when John Bond was appointed as Saunders' permanent successor. [6] He went on to coach at West Bromwich Albion before leaving football to work at the Solihull Land Rover plant. [7]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition [8] [9]
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 1972–73 Second Division 20000020
1973–74 Second Division71000071
1974–75 Second Division22732533012
1975–76 First Division 73001184
Total381132644717
Port Vale (loan) 1973–74 Third Division 1310000131
Career total511232646018

Honours

Player

Aston Villa

Youth team coach

Aston Villa

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 172. ISBN   0-9529152-0-0.
  2. 1 2 3 "Keith Leonard interview". onevalefan.co.uk. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "Leonard, Keith Andrew". Aston Villa Player Database. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  4. ↑ "On This Day: November 10". Aston Villa F.C. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  5. ↑ "Roeber returns to Germany". The Times (Times Digital Archive 1785–1985). 9 July 1982. p. 20.
  6. ↑ "Bond favourite for Birmingham job". The Times . 23 January 1986. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  7. ↑ Struthers, Greg (17 October 2004). "Caught in Time: Aston Villa win the League Cup, 1975". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  8. ↑ Keith Leonard at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  9. ↑ "ASTON VILLA : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Neil Brown stat site. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
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