Leon Townley (born 16 February 1976) is an English retired semi-professional footballer, best remembered for his spell as a defender with Brentford in the Football League between 1997 and 1999. After his release, he dropped into non-League football and retired from senior football in 2005.
Career
Tottenham Hotspur Townley began his career as a trainee at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in 1992 and signed a professional contract at the age of 18 in 1994. Townley received his maiden call into the first team for Spurs' 1995 Intertoto Cup campaign, though he failed to make an appearance and was an unused substitute during an infamous 8–0 defeat to 1. FC Köln in July 1995. Townley left White Hart Lane in 1997, after failing to break into the first team.
Brentford On 18 September 1997, Townley joined Second Division club Brentford on a three-year contract for a £25,000 fee, rising to £55,000 on appearances. He made his debut the following day with a starting appearance in a 1–1 home league draw with Wycombe Wanderers. He scored his first Brentford goals in a 3–1 win over Blackpool on 13 December 1997, scoring his first after two Blackpool players were sent off on the hour mark and scoring again in the 78th minute. He fell out of favour with new manager Micky Adams in January 1998 and finished the 1997–98 season with 19 appearances and three goals.
After Brentford's relegation to the Third Division in May 1998, incoming manager Ron Noades elected to transfer-list Townley during the 1998 off-season. He failed to make a single appearance during the Bees' 1998–99 Third Division championship-winning season and instead played for the reserve team. Townley left the club in September 1999, when his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.
Non-League football Townley joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Slough Town on a one-month loan on 23 August 1999 and the move was made permanent in September 1999. A virtual ever-present, Townley made a total of 48 appearances in all competitions during the 1999–00 season and scored four goals. He made 33 appearances during the 2000–01 season and left the club after its relegation to the Isthmian League First Division in May 2001. Townley made a total of 81 appearances during his time at Arbour Park and scored four goals.
Between 2001 and 2009, Townley played in the Isthmian, Southern and Hertfordshire Senior County Leagues for Aldershot Town, St Albans City, Windsor & Eton, Boreham Wood, Hitchin Town and Debden Sports.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTottenham Hotspur1995–96Premier League00000000—00Brentford1997–98Second Division1821010—1Appearance in Football League Trophy1193Slough Town1999–00Isthmian League Premier Division35230——104 appearances and 1 goal in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, 4 appearances and 1 goal in Isthmian League Full Members Cup, 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup24842000–01Isthmian League Premier Division30000——31 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Full Members Cup0330Total65230——132814Aldershot Town2001–02Isthmian League Premier Division25100——00431St Albans City2002–03Isthmian League Premier Division16120——21 appearance and 1 goal in Herts Charity Cup, 1 appearance in Herts Senior Cup1202Boreham Wood2004–05Southern League First Division East2000——00202005–06Southern League First Division East2100——0021Total4100——0041Hitchin Town2005–06Southern League Premier Division60———2Appearances in FA Trophy080Career total134760100018415911
References
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