Stuart Leary
Encyclopedia
Stuart Edward Leary was a South Africa
n who played football as a centre-forward and cricket as an all-rounder.
Leary started his career with Cape Town
side Clyde before moving to English
side in 1950 along with team-mate Eddie Firmani
. He was one of a number of South Africans to move to The Valley in this era. After making his debut in 1951, he became a prolific goal-scorer scoring a record number of league goals for the club. Despite being South African born, he appeared for the England U23 team but was prevented from representing the full team
by the Football Association
who banned non-English-born players from representing the national team. During his period of National Service
he served with the Royal Air Force
. In all, he made 403 appearances for the Addicks, scoring 163. After failing to agree a new contract, he joined in 1962 and remained there until his retirement in 1966.
Leary also had a long and successful career as a first-class cricket
player of Kent County Cricket Club
between 1951 and 1971. He scored 16,517 runs at an average of 31 and took 146 wickets at an average of 34.
His body was discovered dead on Table Mountain
in South Africa on 23 August 1988; it was believed he had died two days earlier.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n who played football as a centre-forward and cricket as an all-rounder.
Leary started his career with Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
side Clyde before moving to English
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...
side in 1950 along with team-mate Eddie Firmani
Eddie Firmani
Edwin Ronald "Eddie" Firmani is a retired football player and manager. He was born in South Africa but represented Italy internationally.-Playing career:...
. He was one of a number of South Africans to move to The Valley in this era. After making his debut in 1951, he became a prolific goal-scorer scoring a record number of league goals for the club. Despite being South African born, he appeared for the England U23 team but was prevented from representing the full 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...
by the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
who banned non-English-born players from representing the national team. During his period of National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
he served with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. In all, he made 403 appearances for the Addicks, scoring 163. After failing to agree a new contract, he joined in 1962 and remained there until his retirement in 1966.
Leary also had a long and successful career as a first-class cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
player of Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
between 1951 and 1971. He scored 16,517 runs at an average of 31 and took 146 wickets at an average of 34.
His body was discovered dead on Table Mountain
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
in South Africa on 23 August 1988; it was believed he had died two days earlier.