Leon Jeanne

A talented winger, Jeanne was spotted at the age of ten by Arsenal scout Eddie Prenderville.[3] He spent time with the London-based club as a schoolboy before joining Queens Park Rangers on a YTS scheme at the age of thirteen.[2][4] He made his debut in February 1999 against Watford, but problems began to arise nearly as soon as he became a professional when he disappeared for over a week when he was meant to be reporting for Wales under-21 duty. However, manager Gerry Francis revealed that it was not the first time the youngster had gone missing, stating "We've covered up for Leon enough now. This is not a one off." Francis also commented that Jeanne was on his last chance at the club after being arrested for drink-driving the previous year.[5]

He left QPR in 2001 to sign for his hometown club Cardiff City in the hope of ending his disciplinary problems. The transfer was arranged by Jeanne's agent John Fashanu who had worked with Cardiff chairman Sam Hammam at his former club Wimbledon and described how Hammam had been a positive influence over him and hoped that he could do the same for Jeanne.[6] However, just weeks after joining, he tested positive for a class A drug and was handed a two-year suspended sentence by the Football Association of Wales.[7] The FAW also stipulated that Jeanne should undergo an education programme to help him learn to read and write and find a family to live with, eventually moving into the home of former Cardiff player Ronnie Bird.[8]

In January 2002, he was named in the starting line-up for a 3–0 victory over Newtown in the FAW Premier Cup, scoring his side's first goal of the match with a header.[9] However, he was substituted in the second half by manager Alan Cork for "showboating".[10] He was named as an unused substitute for a league match against Wycombe Wanderers in but, less than a month later, Jeanne was admitted to the Priory Hospital in an attempt to overcome an alcohol problem. Cardiff manager Cork stated his belief that Jeanne had a "big problem" with alcohol and that he kept a breathalyzer in his office and had once taken Jeanne to a local Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.[10][11] In May 2002 Jeanne was selected for random drugs testing and sent his sample away but the results came back only to show that the sample he had submitted was not urine. He refused to provide a second sample which led to Cardiff terminating his contract and he left the club.[12] On the morning of the drugs test, Jeanne had agreed a new contract with the club but this was revoked following the incident.[3]

After his release from Cardiff he attempted a comeback with Havant & Waterlooville in a pre-season friendly against League of Wales side Barry Town but was withdrawn from playing after officials at Barry questioned if he was allowed to play at which point it was revealed that he was currently banned from playing football.[13] He was allowed to resume playing a short while later and enjoyed a prosperous spell at Port Talbot Town but yet again he was involved in a scandal. In September 2002 he was arrested, along with two other men, on suspicion of dealing class A drugs. During the court case he revealed that he used to be addicted to cocaine. Eventually he and the other two men were cleared of all charges.[14]

After the case ended he returned to football with Newport County followed by spells at Dinas Powys and Barry Town.[15] After a spell playing for Maesteg Park, Jeanne joined amateur side Carpenters Arms.[16] On 7 July 2009, Jeanne was arrested on suspicion of money-laundering after a police raid on his home.[17]

Jeanne featured in two pre-season friendlies for Conference South side Weston-super-Mare on 9 and 11 July before signing on non-contract terms, making his debut on the opening day of the season in a defeat to Staines Town.[18] However, he was released the following month due to a lack of fitness.[19]

In November 2010, Jeanne left Welsh League side Cardiff Corinthians, and signed for Conference National side Bath City on a non-contract pay-as-you-play basis.[20] Jeanne also signed on for Cinderford Town of the Southern League South & West Division on dual registration and spent the majority of the 2010–11 season with Cinderford.

In June 2011, Jeanne joined Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion for pre-season training in a bid to earn a contract and play football at a high level once more. He started the 2011–12 season playing for Welsh Premier League side Afan Lido but left before the start of the 2012–13 season to join Carmarthen Town.[21]