Les Bruton
Encyclopedia
Leslie Hector Ronald "Les" Bruton (1 April 1903 – 2 April 1989) was an English footballer who played at centre-forward in the 1920s and 1930s for various clubs, having his most successful period with Blackburn Rovers
.
, Coventry
and played for his local non-league side where he was spotted by a scout
from Southampton
. He signed for the "Saints" for a fee of £15 in November 1922; after spending a season in the reserves, Bruton made his first-team debut on 6 October 1923, when he took the place of Arthur Dominy
at inside-left at home to Bristol City
. He retained his place for five matches before Doniny's return. Failing to make much impression, Bruton had to wait a further two years before any further first-team action, but after two more games at the end of the 1925–26 season, he was released.
Bruton then dropped into non-league football
when he joined Peterborough & Fletton United
of the Southern League
in the summer of 1926. This was followed by a move to Scotland, when he joined Raith Rovers
in November 1927.
In May 1929, he returned to England with Blackburn Rovers
for a fee of £10,000. In his first season at Ewood Park
, Bruton took over from Clarrie Bourton
at centre-forward, making twelve league appearances, scoring five goals. In the following season, Bruton scored 18 goals from 24 league appearances, making him Rovers' second-best top-scorer, just behind his unrelated namesake Jack Bruton
on 19. Les Bruton also made an important contribution to Rovers' run in the FA Cup, scoring five goals including a hat-trick
in the Fourth Round victory over Bristol Rovers
.
For the 1931–32 season, Bruton lost his regular place at centre-forward to Ernie Thompson and made only two further appearances, before a move to Liverpool
in February 1932.
He made his Liverpool debut away to West Ham United
on 20 February 1932. He also played in the Anfield FA Cup defeat by Chelsea
a week later. He made six more league appearances the following season plus another in the FA Cup, with his only goal for the club being at Chelsea on 27 December 1932.
In July 1933, he returned to non-league football with Leamington Town. He later had a spell on Coventry City
's coaching staff.
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
.
Football career
Bruton was born in FoleshillFoleshill
Foleshill is a suburb in the north of Coventry in the West Midlands of England.Longford. Courthouse Green and Rowley Green are to its north and Keresley is to its west.- History :...
, Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
and played for his local non-league side where he was spotted by a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. He signed for the "Saints" for a fee of £15 in November 1922; after spending a season in the reserves, Bruton made his first-team debut on 6 October 1923, when he took the place of Arthur Dominy
Arthur Dominy
Arthur Albert Dominy was an English professional footballer, who played as an inside-forward, and football manager, spending most of his career with Southampton....
at inside-left at home to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. He retained his place for five matches before Doniny's return. Failing to make much impression, Bruton had to wait a further two years before any further first-team action, but after two more games at the end of the 1925–26 season, he was released.
Bruton then dropped into non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
when he joined Peterborough & Fletton United
Peterborough & Fletton United F.C.
Peterborough & Fletton United F.C. was an English football club based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. The club existed from 1923 until 1932 and played at London Road.-History:...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
in the summer of 1926. This was followed by a move to Scotland, when he joined Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
in November 1927.
In May 1929, he returned to England with Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
for a fee of £10,000. In his first season at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
, Bruton took over from Clarrie Bourton
Clarrie Bourton
Clarence "Clarrie" Bourton was an English footballer, who played for Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City....
at centre-forward, making twelve league appearances, scoring five goals. In the following season, Bruton scored 18 goals from 24 league appearances, making him Rovers' second-best top-scorer, just behind his unrelated namesake Jack Bruton
Jack Bruton
Jack Bruton was a professional footballer and manager who spent the major part of his career in both capacities with Blackburn Rovers.-Playing career:...
on 19. Les Bruton also made an important contribution to Rovers' run in the FA Cup, scoring five goals including a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in the Fourth Round victory over Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
.
For the 1931–32 season, Bruton lost his regular place at centre-forward to Ernie Thompson and made only two further appearances, before a move to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in February 1932.
He made his Liverpool debut away to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
on 20 February 1932. He also played in the Anfield FA Cup defeat by 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...
a week later. He made six more league appearances the following season plus another in the FA Cup, with his only goal for the club being at Chelsea on 27 December 1932.
In July 1933, he returned to non-league football with Leamington Town. He later had a spell on Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
's coaching staff.