Jimmy Leadbetter
Encyclopedia
James Hunter "Jimmy" Leadbetter (15 July 1928 – 18 July 2006) was a Scottish
footballer who is most notable for his achievements as a left-winger with Ipswich Town
during the 1950s and 1960s.
He was born in Edinburgh
, Scotland
, on 15 July 1928, as the son of a local garage owner. He was a pupil at Balgreen Primary School, where he was six years above Dave Mackay.
Leadbetter played for several non-league clubs in the immediate postwar years before signing for Chelsea
in 1949. He failed to claim a regular place in the first team, playing just three games in as many years, before signing for Brighton and Hove Albion. He was a regular player at the Goldstone Ground
and achieved a one-in-four goal-per-game ratio, which saw him established as one of the best wingers outside the First Division
.
Scott Duncan
signed him for Ipswich Town
, then in the Football League Third Division South
, in 1955. He continued his fine form at Portman Road
and helped Ipswich win the division title in 1957, claiming promotion to the Second Division
. In 1961, Leadbetter helped Ipswich claim promotion to the First Division, just 23 years after joining the Football League. Jimmy remains the only Scottish footballer to win English 3rd, 2nd and 1st Division championship medals with the same club.
In their first season in the top flight
, Ipswich were champions of the Football League, but Alf Ramsey
left within months to take charge of the England team
. His successor Jackie Milburn
was unable to maintain Ipswich's form, and in 1964 they were relegated back to the Second Division. Leadbetter retired in 1964, his final season as a player coinciding with Ipswich's relegation in a season where they conceded a league record of 122 goals. Although approaching 34, he was still one of the most difficult players to play against in the English league. He had scored 49 goals in 373 games for Ipswich over a period of seven years, and is recognised as one of the club's all-time greats.
He later managed non-league Sudbury Town
, and returned to his native Edinburgh
in 1986. For the next 20 years he worked for The Scotsman Publications.
Leadbetter died on 18 July 2006, three days after his 78th birthday. He was survived by his wife and daughter.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer who is most notable for his achievements as a left-winger with Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
during the 1950s and 1960s.
He was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, on 15 July 1928, as the son of a local garage owner. He was a pupil at Balgreen Primary School, where he was six years above Dave Mackay.
Leadbetter played for several non-league clubs in the immediate postwar years before signing for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in 1949. He failed to claim a regular place in the first team, playing just three games in as many years, before signing for Brighton and Hove Albion. He was a regular player at the Goldstone Ground
Goldstone Ground
The Goldstone Ground was a football stadium and home ground of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. between 1902 and 1997. The club currently plays at American Express Community Stadium, a stadium on the outskirts of the city, following the move from their temporary stadium in the Brighton suburb of...
and achieved a one-in-four goal-per-game ratio, which saw him established as one of the best wingers outside the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
.
Scott Duncan
Scott Duncan
Adam Scott Mattheson Duncan was a Scottish professional footballer and manager.-Playing career:Born in Dumbarton, Duncan was working as a law clerk when he joined his home-town club Dumbarton in 1906. He moved to Newcastle United in March 1908 for a fee of £150...
signed him for Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, then in the Football League Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
, in 1955. He continued his fine form at Portman Road
Portman Road
Portman Road is an association football stadium in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It has been the home ground of Ipswich Town F.C. since 1884. The stadium has also hosted a number of England youth international matches, and one senior England friendly international match, against Croatia in 2003...
and helped Ipswich win the division title in 1957, claiming promotion to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. In 1961, Leadbetter helped Ipswich claim promotion to the First Division, just 23 years after joining the Football League. Jimmy remains the only Scottish footballer to win English 3rd, 2nd and 1st Division championship medals with the same club.
In their first season in the top flight
1961-62 in English football
The 1961–62 season was the 82nd season of competitive Football in England.-Overview:The season was notable for the remarkable achievement of Ipswich Town winning the League Championship. Under the managership of Alf Ramsey, the club progressed from the old Third Division South to the First Division...
, Ipswich were champions of the Football League, but Alf Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
left within months to take charge of the England team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. His successor Jackie Milburn
Jackie Milburn
John Edward Thompson 'Jackie' Milburn, , also known to fans as Wor Jackie and 'the first World Wor' in reference to his global fame, was a football player for Newcastle United and England...
was unable to maintain Ipswich's form, and in 1964 they were relegated back to the Second Division. Leadbetter retired in 1964, his final season as a player coinciding with Ipswich's relegation in a season where they conceded a league record of 122 goals. Although approaching 34, he was still one of the most difficult players to play against in the English league. He had scored 49 goals in 373 games for Ipswich over a period of seven years, and is recognised as one of the club's all-time greats.
He later managed non-league Sudbury Town
Sudbury Town F.C.
Sudbury Town F.C. was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1885, the club merged with Sudbury Wanderers in 1999 to form A.F.C. Sudbury.-History:...
, and returned to his native Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1986. For the next 20 years he worked for The Scotsman Publications.
Leadbetter died on 18 July 2006, three days after his 78th birthday. He was survived by his wife and daughter.
External links
- Jimmy Leadbetter, Neil Brown