Roddy McLeod
Encyclopedia
Roderick McLeod was a Scottish
professional footballer who was part of the West Bromwich Albion
team which won the FA Cup
in 1892
, and was a losing finalist in 1895
.
, North Lanarkshire
. After representing Kilsyth & Kirkintillock Schools and Westburn FC, he turned professional with Partick Thistle
in April 1889. McLeod moved to England
in January 1891 to join West Bromwich Albion
for a £50 fee, making his debut the following month against Sheffield Wednesday
in the FA Cup third round. His arrival at Stoney Lane came too late to prevent Albion finishing the 1890–91 season
at the foot of the table and having to apply for re-election to the Football League
.
He started the following season
with two goals in the opening match against Everton
, but the remainder of the league season was again disappointing as Albion finished 12th (out of 14). In the FA Cup, however, Albion enjoyed great success reaching the final after a drawn out semi-final against Nottingham Forest
which went to three matches, with the second replay (won 6–2) taking place in a snowstorm. In the Final against Aston Villa
, played at Kennington Oval
on 19 March 1892, Albion’s Cup experience proved the difference between the two Midlands sides. McLeod’s cross to Jasper Geddes set up Albion’s first goal, and Albion finished 3–0 victors, with the other goals coming from Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds.
In the next season
McLeod was ever-present and finished with ten league goals as Albion finished mid-table. In the following season
McLeod scored in each of the first three matches. He continued to score regularly throughout the season, including a hat-trick on 27 December 1893 in an 8–0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers
, to finish the season as top scorer with fourteen league goals.
McLeod retained his place alongside Billy Bassett
in the heart of Albion’s forward line for the 1894–95 season
. Again this was disappointing in the league (finishing 13th out of 16), but Albion again reached the FA Cup Final
for the fifth time. The final
itself was disappointing with Aston Villa
’s defence dominating throughout as Villa avenged their defeat three years earlier, running out the victors with the only goal being credited to Bob Chatt
who scored the fastest goal in FA Cup
history, scored after just 30 seconds.
The 1895–96 season
was again disappointing with Albion finishing at the bottom of the table. McLeod was top scorer (jointly with William Richards
) with a meagre six goals. West Bromwich came through the end of season “test matches” to retain the place in the First Division.
Despite Albion’s poor form in the two preceding seasons, their directors retained most of the same team for 1896–97
. McLeod was once again on target for the opening match (a 2–1 success at Blackburn Rovers
), but this early-season promise was not fulfilled and Albion again struggled finishing in 12th position with McLeod only managing to contribute four goals.
In his seven seasons with West Bromwich Albion, McLeod made 169 appearances in all competitions and scored 57 goals.
with 13 league goals. A tempting offer from Brighton United
then persuaded him to move to the south coast in May 1898 to join them in the Southern League
. He scored on his debut for Brighton with the consolation goal in a 4–1 defeat in the opening match at Southampton
’s newly built stadium, The Dell. Despite being Brighton’s top scorer, the club’s financial troubles forced them to release McLeod from his contract in April 1899.
and played the final three matches of their 1898–99
Southern League championship season. Described by Holley & Chalk as “baby-faced and small in stature” he was “a splendid forward who had the ability to turn a game by using his deft footwork”. He retained his place for the start of the following season but after the first five matches, in which he failed to score, he lost his place to Archie Turner. McLeod eventually regained his place in the side in January and for the remainder of the season he vied with Jack Farrell
for the No. 9 shirt. He replaced the injured Farrell in an FA Cup match against Newcastle United
in which he scored twice in a 4–1 victory. He followed this with the winning goal in the next round in a 2–1 victory over his former club, West Bromwich Albion
.
McLeod also found his goal-scoring form in the league with a run of three goals in three matches at the start of April, but lost his place in the FA Cup side to Farrell. Saints reached the FA Cup Final
for the first time in their history, but failed dismally on the day going down 4–0 to Bury
. Saints’ failure in the final was later attributed to a dispute between the players, with the Scottish players wanting McLeod to play whereas the English players, and the board, went for Farrell, despite Farrell being off-form, having failed to score in any competition since January.
in August 1900, helping them take the Southern League Second Division title in 1901. He remained at Brentford until finally retiring from professional football in 1906.
He subsequently fell on hard times, and in March 1911 Southampton made an appeal on his behalf for employment as a warehouseman. He later worked in a brewery and then as a boiler mechanic in London. He died in Lambeth
in December 1931.
Southampton
Brentford
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...
professional footballer who was part of the West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
team which won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1892
1892 FA Cup Final
The 1892 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at the Kennington Oval. West Bromwich Albion won 3–0, with goals by Jasper Geddes, Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds...
, and was a losing finalist in 1895
1895 FA Cup Final
The 1895 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 1–0, with Bob Chatt being credited with scoring the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history, scored after just 30 seconds...
.
West Bromwich Albion
McLeod was born in KilsythKilsyth
Kilsyth is a town of 10,100 roughly halfway between Glasgow and Stirling in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.-Location:...
, North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
. After representing Kilsyth & Kirkintillock Schools and Westburn FC, he turned professional with Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
in April 1889. McLeod moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in January 1891 to join West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
for a £50 fee, making his debut the following month against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in the FA Cup third round. His arrival at Stoney Lane came too late to prevent Albion finishing the 1890–91 season
1890-91 in English football
The 1890–91 season was the 20th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Everton started the 1890–91 season in superb form with five straight victories, with Fred Geary scoring in each of the first six matches...
at the foot of the table and having to apply for re-election to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
He started the following season
1891-92 in English football
The 1891–92 season was the 21st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Three new clubs joined the Football Alliance, following the expansion of the Football League to 14 teams, and the defection of Sunderland Albion to the Northern League...
with two goals in the opening match against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, but the remainder of the league season was again disappointing as Albion finished 12th (out of 14). In the FA Cup, however, Albion enjoyed great success reaching the final after a drawn out semi-final against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
which went to three matches, with the second replay (won 6–2) taking place in a snowstorm. In the Final against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, played at Kennington Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
on 19 March 1892, Albion’s Cup experience proved the difference between the two Midlands sides. McLeod’s cross to Jasper Geddes set up Albion’s first goal, and Albion finished 3–0 victors, with the other goals coming from Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds.
In the next season
1892-93 in English football
The 1892–93 season was the 22nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:The Football League and the Football Alliance formally merged, and so the Football League Second Division was formed, consisting mostly of Football Alliance clubs...
McLeod was ever-present and finished with ten league goals as Albion finished mid-table. In the following season
1893-94 in English football
The 1893–94 season was the 23rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:The 1893–94 season saw four of the most famous teams in English Footballing history join the Second Division: Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester City, and the first team based in London, Woolwich Arsenal...
McLeod scored in each of the first three matches. He continued to score regularly throughout the season, including a hat-trick on 27 December 1893 in an 8–0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, to finish the season as top scorer with fourteen league goals.
McLeod retained his place alongside Billy Bassett
Billy Bassett
William Isiah Bassett was an English association footballer, director and club chairman who served West Bromwich Albion for over half a century.-Playing career:...
in the heart of Albion’s forward line for the 1894–95 season
1894-95 in English football
The 1894–95 season was the 24th season of competitive football in England.-Football League:Following the collapse of Middlesbrough Ironopolis and the resignation of Northwich Victoria, three new teams were admitted to the Second Division, bringing it to 16 teams...
. Again this was disappointing in the league (finishing 13th out of 16), but Albion again reached the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
for the fifth time. The final
1895 FA Cup Final
The 1895 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 1–0, with Bob Chatt being credited with scoring the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history, scored after just 30 seconds...
itself was disappointing with Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
’s defence dominating throughout as Villa avenged their defeat three years earlier, running out the victors with the only goal being credited to Bob Chatt
Bob Chatt
Robert Chatt was an English footballer who was a member of the Aston Villa team which won the Football League championship three times in the 1890s. Chatt was credited with scoring the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history, scored after just 30 seconds in the 1895 FA Cup Final...
who scored the fastest goal in FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
history, scored after just 30 seconds.
The 1895–96 season
1895-96 in English football
The 1895–96 season was the 25th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Loughborough replaced Walsall Town Swifts in the Second Division.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
was again disappointing with Albion finishing at the bottom of the table. McLeod was top scorer (jointly with William Richards
William Richards (footballer)
William Stanley Richards is a Welsh footballer who plays as a Midfielder for AFC Telford United.-Playing career:Richards made his debut first team appearance against Northwich Victoria at The Victoria Stadium, Northwich in pre-season 1–0 win on 15 July 2009...
) with a meagre six goals. West Bromwich came through the end of season “test matches” to retain the place in the First Division.
Despite Albion’s poor form in the two preceding seasons, their directors retained most of the same team for 1896–97
1896-97 in English football
The 1896–97 season was the 26th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Aston Villa became the second team to complete "the Double" of winning the Football League Championship and the FA Cup. No other team would complete the double for 64 years.The Cup Final was played on 10 April...
. McLeod was once again on target for the opening match (a 2–1 success at 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....
), but this early-season promise was not fulfilled and Albion again struggled finishing in 12th position with McLeod only managing to contribute four goals.
In his seven seasons with West Bromwich Albion, McLeod made 169 appearances in all competitions and scored 57 goals.
Leicester Fosse and Brighton
In the summer of 1897 McLeod moved to spend a season with Leicester Fosse, where he was top scorer for 1897–981897-98 in English football
The 1897–98 season was the 27th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
with 13 league goals. A tempting offer from Brighton United
Brighton United F.C.
Brighton United F.C. were an association football club based in Brighton, Sussex who were active for a few years at the end of the 19th century....
then persuaded him to move to the south coast in May 1898 to join them in 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...
. He scored on his debut for Brighton with the consolation goal in a 4–1 defeat in the opening match at 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...
’s newly built stadium, The Dell. Despite being Brighton’s top scorer, the club’s financial troubles forced them to release McLeod from his contract in April 1899.
Southampton
McLeod was persuaded to remain in the Southern League with SouthamptonSouthampton 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...
and played the final three matches of their 1898–99
Southern Football League 1898-99
The 1898-99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Division Two was split into two regional leagues, with the overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated...
Southern League championship season. Described by Holley & Chalk as “baby-faced and small in stature” he was “a splendid forward who had the ability to turn a game by using his deft footwork”. He retained his place for the start of the following season but after the first five matches, in which he failed to score, he lost his place to Archie Turner. McLeod eventually regained his place in the side in January and for the remainder of the season he vied with Jack Farrell
Jack Farrell (footballer)
John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in...
for the No. 9 shirt. He replaced the injured Farrell in an FA Cup match against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in which he scored twice in a 4–1 victory. He followed this with the winning goal in the next round in a 2–1 victory over his former club, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
.
McLeod also found his goal-scoring form in the league with a run of three goals in three matches at the start of April, but lost his place in the FA Cup side to Farrell. Saints reached the FA Cup Final
1900 FA Cup Final
The 1900 FA Cup Final was contested by Bury and Southampton at Crystal Palace. Bury won 4–0, with goals by Jasper McLuckie , Willie Wood and John Plant. This final was the last of the 19th Century and the first victory in the FA Cup for Bury, who beat a team who similarly had never reached...
for the first time in their history, but failed dismally on the day going down 4–0 to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
. Saints’ failure in the final was later attributed to a dispute between the players, with the Scottish players wanting McLeod to play whereas the English players, and the board, went for Farrell, despite Farrell being off-form, having failed to score in any competition since January.
After Southampton
Understandably disappointed he moved to join BrentfordBrentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in August 1900, helping them take the Southern League Second Division title in 1901. He remained at Brentford until finally retiring from professional football in 1906.
He subsequently fell on hard times, and in March 1911 Southampton made an appeal on his behalf for employment as a warehouseman. He later worked in a brewery and then as a boiler mechanic in London. He died in Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
in December 1931.
Honours
West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 18921892 FA Cup FinalThe 1892 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at the Kennington Oval. West Bromwich Albion won 3–0, with goals by Jasper Geddes, Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds... - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finalist: 18951895 FA Cup FinalThe 1895 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 1–0, with Bob Chatt being credited with scoring the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history, scored after just 30 seconds...
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...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe 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...
championship: 1898–99
Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
- Southern League Division TwoSouthern Football LeagueThe 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...
Championship: 1900–01