Teddy Leighton

John Edward Leighton (26 March 1865 – 15 April 1944) was an English amateur footballer who played on the wing for Nottingham Forest and the Corinthians in the 1880s and made one appearance for England in 1886.

Teddy Leighton
Personal information
Full name John Edward Leighton
Date of birth (1865-03-26)26 March 1865
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Date of death 15 April 1944(1944-04-15) (aged 79)
Place of death Nottingham, England
Position(s) Outside-forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1884–1888 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
1885–1889 Corinthian 0 (0)
International career
1886 England 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

Leighton was born in Nottingham and after playing schoolboy and junior football in the town, he joined Nottingham Forest in 1884.[1] He joined Forest prior to the advent of the Football League and was thus restricted to friendly and cup matches. Leighton scored a goal in the 4–1 victory over local rivals, Notts Olympic in the second round of the FA Cup in November 1885; the following year he scored twice against Grimsby Town in the second round, repeating this in November 1887 against Mellors Ltd.[2]

His England call-up came on 13 March 1886 when, along with his Nottingham Forest teammate Tinsley Lindley, he was one of eight new caps selected to play against Ireland at Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast. England "totally dominated"[3] the match as Benjamin Spilsbury scored four goals in a 6–1 victory.[4]

Leighton also played for the Corinthians between 1885 and 1889, during which time he made seven appearances.[5]

Life outside football

By profession, Leighton was a wholesale stationer and paper merchant in Nottingham.[1] He was a supporter of Nottingham Forest and watched most of their matches at the City Ground at all levels;[1] he collapsed and died at the City Ground on 15 April 1944, aged 79.[6]

References
  1. Betts, Graham (2006). England: Player by player. Green Umbrella Publishing. p. 155. ISBN 1-905009-63-1.
  2. Collett, Mike (2003). The Complete Record of the FA Cup. Sports Books. p. 453. ISBN 1-899807-19-5.
  3. Gibbons, Philip (2001). Association Football in Victorian England – A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900. Upfront Publishing. pp. 85–86. ISBN 1-84426-035-6.
  4. "Ireland 1 England 6". www.englandstats.com. 13 March 1886. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  5. Cavallini, Rob (2007). Play Up Corinth – A History of the Corinthian Football Club. Tempus Publishing. p. 276. ISBN 978-0-7524-4479-6.
  6. "John Leighton". England players. www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
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