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Players Index Page Last Updated
4 August 2022
 
 

Leslie Compton

Arsenal FC

 2 appearances, 0 goals, one own goal

P 2 W 1 D 1 L 0 F 6: A 4
75% successful
1950

captain: none
minutes played: 180

Timeline
  Leslie Harry Compton
Birth 12 September 1912 in Woodford, Essex [registered in West Ham, December 1912].
Marriage to Kathleen I.P. Shillabeer [registered in Hendon, September 1935].
Death 27 December 1984 in Hendon, aged 72 years 106 days [registered in Hendon, December 1984]. He died following complications with diabetes, his foot had been amputated two years previously. He was cremated in Golders Green Crematorium, where his ashes remain.

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Biographies x
 

x. - A Football Compendium, Peter J. Seddon (1999).

Club Career
Club(s) Started his career playing schoolboy football in Hendon, and then playing with Bell Lane Old Boy's FC, a junior club in Hendon. When he was seventeen years old, he was playing with Hampstead Town FC. He signed for Arsenal FC on amateur forms in 1931, signing professionally in February 1932. He did play for the army during the second world war and retired in July 1952 having played 253 league matches, scoring five goals.
Club honours Football League Champions 1947-48; FA Cup winners 1949-50;
Individual honours Football League (one appearance)
Distinctions Also played first class cricket with Middlesex CC, as their wicket-keeper between 1938-56.
Older brother of Dennis Compton
Height/Weight 6' 1½", 13st. 6lbs [1949].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of three who became the 699th players (700) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-half
First match No. 260, 15 November 1950, England 4 Wales 2, a British Championship match at Roker Park, Roker, Sunderland, aged 38 years 64 days.
Last match No. 261, 22 November 1950, England 2 Yugoslavia 2, a friendly match at Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, London, aged 38 years 71 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1950-51;
Team honours None
Individual honours England Wartime (seven appearances)
Distinctions The twentieth Essexer to represent England.
The oldest outfield player to debut for England, and in his following match, maintained his record as the oldest outfield player, until Stan Matthews took the mantle in the 1954 World Cup Finals. Compton is also the oldest player to score an England own goal.

Beyond England
Remained on Arsenal FC's coaching staff until February 1956. Was also landlord of The Prince of Wales' in Highgate, London. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.71/72.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
2 2 1 180 0 1 none
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
2 1 1 0 6 4 +2 0 0 3 2 75 +1
both his matches were played at a home venue and in a white shirt

Competition Record

Competition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
British Championship 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 0 0 4.00 2.00 100.0 +1
Friendly 1 0 1 0 2 2 =0 0 0 2.00 2.00 50.0 =0

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1950-51 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 0 0 4.00 2.00 100.0 +1
BC All 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 0 0 4.00 2.00 100.0 +1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 0 0 4.00 2.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 0 0 4.00 2.00 100.0 +1

Match History
 
 Club: Arsenal F.C. - two full appearances (180 min) manager: Walter Winterbottom - two full appearances (180 min)x

apps match pic match details comp res. rundown shirt

Age 38
1 260 15 November 1950 - England 4 Wales 2
Roker Park, Sunderland		 BC HW   5
  

one of three who became the 699th player (700) to appear for England.
one of two who became the twentieth Arsenal player to represent England
overtakes Jesse Pennington as England's oldest outfield player

2 261 22 November 1950 - England 2 Yugoslavia 2
Arsenal Stadium, Highbury		 Fr HD 41 5
  

the ninth own goal conceded by England
the oldest player to score own goal


  

 
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