LEEKS AND COBBLERS

OK, I admit it I was so besotted by BBC lady newsreaders, that I did get my knickers in a twist and mixed up Anna Ford and Fiona Bruce in the Youdan trophy blog. Needless it was pointed out to me by one of my regulars, so I looked them both up on "Images" and actually if you choose the correct "age" they are remarkably attractive. You choose. So moving on!

Mr Hardstaff, who does point out these things to me, mentioned a
buddy of his from way back who had a second cousin who played international football for Wales. Given that Pele cannot make the Rio Olympics due to ill health, I thought it only appropriate to mention his wonderful "debut" appearance at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, when he cut his teeth so to speak. Unfortunately Chris' chum, Richard Leek, told us that this second cousin chap was picked for the Welsh squad in 1958 but never got a game. Close!

This relation was Kenneth Leek, a memorable name for a Welsh man, who was born in Ynysybwl in 1935. At the ripe age of 17, after playing rugby at school, he signed on for Northampton Town (1952-8) where as an inside forward he scored 27 goals in 71 games.  1958 was when he nearly met Pele.
Ken's international career ran between 1960-5 with 13 caps and 5 goals. Two of these came in the final minutes against Scotland in a British Home International Championship(1965) resulting in a 3-2 victory.

Ken moved on to Leicester and had a game/goal ratio of 93/34 and despite this return, he was left out of Leicester's FA Cup Final team against the Spurs in 1961, who beat the Foxes and did the Double, 3-1. On the strength of this lack of selection he left for Newcastle United in 1961 (13/6), went to Montreal for a short spell, hooked up with Birmingham City back (104/49) and returned briefly to the Cobblers 1964-5 (16/4). He helped the Brum win the Football League Cup against Villa.

His contribution helped the Cobblers reach the First Division as Second Division runners up in 1964-5, a very unexpected addition to the big boys league. The Town came straight back down the next season and then fell through the bottom of the Second Division the following season! Bit of a shock.

Next was 99 games at Bradford City with 25 goals and slowly retired from ther main leagues as player/coach at Rhyl, Merthyr Town and Ton Pentre. Overall he scored nearly 150 goals in almost 400 games.

Ken's grandson, Karl Darlow, is a goalkeeper who is presently at Nottingham Forest.