England Football Online
Goalkeepers Index Page Last Updated
7 November 2022
 
 

Leslie Gay

Cambridge University AFC, Old Brightonians AFC & Corinthians FC
      
3 appearances, 5 goals against

P 3 W 2 D 1 L 0 F 12: A 5
83% successful
1893-94

captain: none
minutes played: 270

Timeline
  Major Leslie Hewitt Gay BA
Birth Friday, 24 March 1871 at 5 Percival Terrace, in Brighton, Sussex [registered in Brighton, June 1871].
"GAY.—On the 24th inst., at 5, Percival-terrace, Brighton, the wife of the Rev. A. H. Gay, of a son." - The Morning Post, Tuesday, 28 March 1871.
 

According to the 1871 census, the eight-day old Leslie is the youngest child of three to Alfred Henry and Aga Kay (née Hewitt). They live with Susanna Gay, Alfred's mother, Leslie's grandmother, along with six servants, at Percival Terrace in Brighton. His father is the Curate.

 

According to the 1881 census, Leslie is a pupil at Windsor, boarding at The Wardens House in Alma Road, Clewer. His mother and two of his sisters are living with his Ada's parents, Augustus and Harriet Hewitt, at 28 Dorset Square in Marylebone in London. His father, Alfred, has remained at home, at The Rectory in Salisbury Road, Plaitford in Romsey.
 

According to the 1891 census, Leslie, now an undergraduate, is one of four children still at home with his clergyman father and mother. They live at The Rectory in Plaitford.

  "ADMISSIONS
"B.A.—Leslie Hewitt Gay, Clare." - The Cambridge Independent Press, 5 May 1893
Marriage to Marguerite Dora Becke, on Tuesday, 22 February 1898 at St. Matthias' Church, Earl's Court [registered in Kensington, March 1898]. Marguerite was born 1 December 1874 in Bombay, India.
Leslie was living at 41 Earls Court Square at the time, Marguerite at Brooklyn in Hawick Road.

"PRESENTATION TO MR. AND MRS. L. H. GAY.—
 "An interesting event took place on Tuesday evening at the parish school-room, when a supper was given by the Rector and Mrs. Gay in honour of the eldest son's marriage. There were about 60 present at the supper, which was served at seven o'clock. After the removal of the cloth Mr. G. Curtis, in a neat speech, presented Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Gay, on behalf of the parish, with a handsome silver salver, the inscription being as follows:—'Presented to Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Gay, with the good wishes of the parishioners of Plaitford, on their marriage, February 22nd, 1898.'—Mr. L. H. Gay, in acknowledging the gift, remarked that the use of the salver in distant Ceylon would always remind him of the warm hearts he had left behind him in the old country. Three cheers were given for the newly-married couple, and the singing of the National Anthem brought a very pleasant evening to a close"." - The Salisbury and Winchester Journal, and General Advertiser, Saturday, 19 March 1898.
 

Not on the 1901 census in the UK, but did appear on the 1901 census of Canada. Leslie H. and Margee D.. He is a rancher and are living in The Territories area of  Alberta.

 

According to the 1911 census, Leslie is still married, boarding with the Elliott's at 'The Hollies', Church Brampton in Northampton, with two servants. He is a land agent. His wife, Marguerite, was living at home with their two daughters, Phyllis Evelyn and Thelma Muriel, at Walsham, in Broadway Road, Exmouth.
 

According to the 1921 census, Leslie Hewitt is still married, but now the secretary of the East Devon Golf Club. He lives at Hazelwood on Station Road in Budleigh with two wards of court, Margaret Cookson and her son, Richard, and three servants.
  According to the 1939 census, Leslie H. is still married and retired from the army. Living at Lee Ford, Budleigh in Sidmouth, with three servants.
Death Tuesday, 1 November 1949 in The Lusways nursing home in Salcombe Hill, Sidmouth, Devon, aged 78 years 222 days [registered in Honiton, December 1949].

Obituary

"AN ALL-ROUND SPORTSMAN—Death At Sidmouth Of Major Gay
 "Major Leslie Hewitt Gay, aged 78, formerly of Lee Ford, Budleigh Salterton, whose death took place in a Sidmouth nursing home on Tuesday, was a noted sportsman, having played cricket and football for England. Born at 1871 he was a son of the late Rev. A. H. Gay, and was educated at Brighton College and Clare College, Cambridge. During the Great War he served in the 3rd South Lancs. Regt. He was an all-round athlete. Major Gay was secretary of Northamptonshire Golf Club and the East Devon Golf Club and played golf for Devon. In addition to playing cricket and football for England, he also played for Cambridge, the Gentlemen, Hampshire and Somerset. He played football for Cambridge, the Corinthians and Sussex." - Devon and Exeter Gazette, Friday, 4 November 1949.
Probate "GAY Leslie Hewitt of The Belmont Hotel Sidmouth Devonshire died 1 November 1949 at The Lusways Nursing Home Salcombe Hill Sidmouth Probate London 16 January to Lewis Kendray Archer and Ralph Lewis Archer solicitors.
 Effects £17,547 16s. 6d." [2019 equivalent: £605,797].

Source

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

Cambridge University Alumni
GAY, Leslie Hewitt.
Adm pens. at CLARE, June 15, 1889.
s. of Alfred Henry, R. of Plaitford, Wilts.
b. May 24, 1871.
 Sch: Marlborough College (Jan.1885) and Brighton College (1887).
Matric.Michs.1889. B.A. 1893.		 Football (assoc.) 'blue,' 1892; cricket 'blue', 1892, 1893.
Played cricket and association football for England.
Served in the Great War (Capt., South Lancs. Regt.; Major, R. Defence Corps, 1917).
 Of Budleigh Salterton, Devon, in 1936.
(Marlborough Coll. Reg.; Brighton Coll. Reg.; Univ. War. List)

Source

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

Playing Career
Club(s) Attended Brighton College and played football in 1889, he then attended Clare College, Cambridge University, earning his blue in 1892. By default then, he became an Old Brightonian.
Corinthians 1891-94
Club honours None
Individual honours Sussex FA
Distinctions Wicketkeeper for Cambridge University (1892-93), Somerset CCC (1894) and Hampshire CCC (1900), and the MCC throughout. He also played golf for Devon.
Height/Weight not known

Source

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

England Career
Player number 210th player to appear for England. 24th goalkeeper to appear.
Position(s) Goalkeeper
First match No. 49, 1 April 1893, England 5 Scotland 2, a British Championship match at Athletic Ground, Kew Foot Road, Richmond, London, aged 22 years 8 days.
Last match No. 52, 7 April 1894, Scotland 2 England 2, a British Championship at Celtic Park, Kerrydale Street, Parkhead, Glasgow, aged 23 years 14 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1892-93, 1893-94;
Team honours British Championship winners 1892-93;
Individual honours None
Distinctions Also played Test Cricket for England against Australia on 14-20 December 1894 at Sydney Cricket Ground (scored 37 across two innings, caught three times, stumped once). England one the First Test by ten runs. But lost the Ashes Series.

Beyond England
Gay was a land agent as a profession and also worked as a coffee planter in Ceylon during the 'nineties. Served in the 3rd South Lancs. Regiment. Later, became secretary of the Northamptonshire Golf Club and the East Devon Golf Club. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.105.

 

The Numbers
parties Apps Comp
Apps		 minutes GA GA Av.
min		 Comp GA Clean
Sheets		 Cln
Sht Av		 captain
3 3 3 270 5 54 min 5 0 0% 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
3 2 1 0 12 5 +7 0 0 4.00 1.667 83.3 +2

Match Record

Venue & Competition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts % W/L
Home British Championship 1 1 0 0 5 2 +3 0 0 5.00 2.00 100.0 +1
Away 2 1 1 0 7 3 +4 0 0 3.50 1.50 75.0 +1

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1892-93 1 1 0 0 5 2 +3 0 0 5.00 2.00 100.0 +1
BC 1893-94 2 1 1 0 7 3 +4 0 0 3.50 1.50 75.0 +1
BC All 3 2 1 0 12 5 +7 0 0 4.00 1.667 83.3 +2

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 3 2 1 0 12 5 +7 0 0 4.00 1.667 83.3 +2
3 2 1 0 12 5 +7 0 0 4.00 1.667 83.3 +2

Match History

 

F.A. International Select Committee - three full appearances (270 min)x

 Clubs: Cambridge University AFC, Old Brightonians A.F.C. & Corinthians F.C. - one full appearance (90 min)  

Age 20
u/o 19 December 1891 - England 6 Canada 1, The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington Fr HW Start gk
   

Age 22
1 49 1 April 1893 - England 5 Scotland 2, Athletic Ground, Richmond BC HW Start gk
   

 Clubs: Old Brightonians A.F.C. & Corinthians F.C. - two full appearances (180 min)  

Age 23
2 51 12 March 1894 - Wales 1 England 5, The Racecourse, Wrexham BC AW Start gk
3 52 7 April 1894 - Scotland 2 England 2, Celtic Park, Glasgow BC AD Start gk
   

Notes

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