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Players Index Page Last Updated
17 January 2025
 
 

Alec Leake

Small Heath FC, Aston Villa FC

 5 appearances, 0 goals

P 5 W 4 D 1 L 0 F 9: A 3
90% successful
1901-05

captain: none
minutes played: 450

Timeline
  Alexander Leake
Birth Tuesday, 11 July 1871 at 5 Chamberlain Buildings, in Talford Street, Aston, Warwickshire.
  registered in Aston July-September 1871
Education Attended Green Lane School, King's Heath

According to the 1871 census, Hannah Leake (née Cecil) is pregnant with her fifth child, and she will give birth to Alexander in three months. She lives her blacksmith husband, Edward and their four children at 5 Chamberlain Buildings in Aston.

According to the 1881 census, Alexander has three younger siblings, making him the fifth of eight children to his father, Edward, still a blacksmith, and Hannah. They are all now living at 136 Grange Road in Aston.
His mother died in late 1887

According to the 1891 census, Alexander is a bicycle machinist boarding with Sophia Tye at 7 Read Street in Coventry.
Marriage to Ellen Christiana Bird, on Saturday, 17 April 1897, at Christ Church, Sparkwood, Warwickshire. Alec was a forger living at 44 Grace Road at the time.
  registered in Aston April-June 1897
Children Alec and Ellen Leake had three children together. Alexander Cecil (b.1898), Howard Sidney (b.1899) and Horace Victor (b.1904).
 

According to the 1901 census, Alexander is a Professional Footballer and is now married to Ellen C. They have two children, Alexander and Howard. They live at 51 Somerville Road in Aston.
 

According to the 1911 census, Alexander, though 39 years-old, is still a Professional Footballer, still married with a third child, Horace. They all live at 240 Somerville Roadin Small Heath.
Kelly's Directory for Birmingham (1912-13) states Leake is a grocer, living at 240 Somerville Road.
His father died in late 1917.
 

According to Midland Electoral Registers (1920-35), the Leake's were residing at 39 Yew Tree Lane in Yardley
According to the 1921 census, Alexander, now a machine gun profiler, still married and with two of their children, living at 39 Yew Tree Lane in Smethwick.
His wife, Ellen, will die on 4 February 1929.
Death Tuesday, 29 March 1938, in Selly Oak Infirmary, Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, Warwickshire. Living at 39 Yew Tree Lane in the South Yardley area of Birmingham
aged 66 years 261 days registered in Birmingham January-March 1938

Obituary
"FORMER VILLA AND BLUES PLAYER'S DEATH
 "The death has occurred in Selly Oak Hospital of Mr. Alec Leake, the international centre half-back, who commenced his League career with Small Heath and afterwards played for Aston Villa and Burnley. The funeral will take place tom-morrow afternoon at Sheldon.
"Mr. Alec Leake, who was born at Small Heath 66 years ago, was one of the most popular players in the city for a number of years. He joined Birmingham F.C., then known as Small Heath, in the 90's on the old Muntz-street ground. He regularly occupied the centre-half position until the arrival of Walter Wigmore, when he moved to left half-back. For a time he was captain of Small Heath. Leake was transferred to Aston Villa in June, 1902, and two seasons later played for England against Scotland and Ireland, whilst the following season he appeared in all three international games. He was at centre-halfback in the Villa team which defeated Newcastle United 20 in the F.A. Cup final in 1905. After five years with the Villa, Leake was transferred to Burnley in December, 1907, and spent three seasons with the Lancashire club. He subsequently assisted Wednesbury Old Athletic for a time. When his playing career was finished Leake acted as trainer for Crystal Palace for three seasons and also held a similar position with Merthyr Town for one season." - Birmingham Gazette, Thursday, 31 March 1938

"Alex Leake Dead.
"The death has taken place in hospital at Birmingham of Alec Leake, the former Aston Villa and Burnley centre half-back, who played for England on five occasions. He had been in poor health, but was present at the Birmingham and Manchester City game a fortnight ago. Subsequently he had a relapse. After five years with the Villa he went to Burnley in 1907 and stayed with them for three seasons. At the end of his playing career Leake had three seasons as trainer of Crystal Palace. Alec Leake was a member of one of the finest half-back lines the Villa has ever possessed—Pearson, Leake and Windmill, with George, Miles and Spencer behind them, and a front line composed of Brawn, Garrity, Hampton, Bache, and Hall." - Sunderland Echo, Thursday, 31 March 1938.
Funeral
Friday 3.00pm, 1 April 1938
St. Giles Church, Sheldon
"Burial of former Villa Player
"The funeral at St. Giles's Church, Sheldon, yesterday, of Mr. Alexander Leake, the former Aston Villa player, [of 39, Yew Tree-lane, South Yardley] was attended by many people prominent in the world of sport. The service was conducted by the Rev. A. W. Waugh." - Birmingham Gazette [Evening Despatch], Saturday, 2 April 1938
Source

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

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Played schoolboy football in Birmingham, particularly Jenkins Street & Little Green Lane Schools in Bordesley Green, Hoskins and Sewell FC, Kings Heath Albion FC, Saltley Gas Works FC and Singers FC. 'He first played as a pro. in the season 1891-2 for Oldhill Wanderers' FC. Joined Small Heath Alliance FC as a forward in 1894, reverting to the half-back line and eventually becoming club captain for five seasons. Joined Aston Villa FC on 16 June 1902 for £200. Went on to Burnley FC for a £600 transfer fee on 18 December 1907, from where he was permitted to remain in Birmingham, to once again, becoming a club captain...
  'An accident in London terminated his career as a professional in one of the leading clubs of the country. Burnley had been playing Fulham [on 5 March 1910], and as Alec Leake was alighting from a motor 'bus at Euston Station his head came in contact with a low iron girder. It bruised his head severely, and rendered him unconscious.'
  Returned six weeks later to feature in the final three league matches of the season, before being released. Signed for Wednesbury Old Athletic FC on 29 September 1910, remaining for one season.

League honours
407 appearances 30 goals		 Small Heath FC 1895-1902 199 appearances, 21 goals
debut: 5 October 1895 Preston North End FC 3 Small Heath FC 2.
Aston Villa FC 1902-07 127 appearances, seven goals
debut: 13 September 1902 Nottingham Forest FC 2 Aston Villa FC 0.
Burnley FC 1907-10 81 appearances, two goals
debut (division two): 21 December 1907 Glossop FC 3 Burnley FC 1.
last (division two): 30 April 1910 Burnley FC 3 Lincoln City FC 0.
Club honours Football League Division Two third place 1899-1900 (29ᵃ 8ᵍ), runners-up 1900-01 (31ᵃ 3ᵍ); Division One runners-up 1902-03 (28ᵃ 3ᵍ), 1907-08 (4ᵃ);
FA Cup winners 1903-04 (6ᵃ 1ᵍ);
Individual honours Football League (one appearance);
Distinctions/font> None
Height/Weight 5' 8½", 12st. 1lb [1904].
Source

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

England Career
Player number 297th player to appear for England.
Position(s) Left-half
First match No. 81, 12 March 1904, Ireland 1 England 3, a British Championship match at Cliftonville Gardens, Cliftonville, Belfast, aged 32 years 245 days.
Last match No. 85, 1 April 1905, England 1 Scotland 0, a British Championship match at Sports Arena, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, aged 33 years 264 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1903-04, 1904-05;
Team honours British Championship winners 1903-04, 1904-05;
Individual honours The North (three appearances, February 1902-February 1905)
Distinctions Cousin of Jimmy Windridge, through the Bird family.
Died twenty days after Charles Wilson, 23 days after Jackie Mordue and 24 days after Robert Ogilvie. Second time four ex-England players have died in a calendar month.

Beyond England
After retiring from playing, he 'went into business at Birmingham, where he had a tobacco and confectionary store.' Leake joined Crystal Palace FC as a trainer from August 1913 to 1915. He took up the same position after the war with Merthyr Town FC from October 1919 for the rest of that season. His full-time involvement with football ceased but did a little coaching with Walsall FC from 14 September 1932. A blacksmith by trade. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.155.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
6 5 5 450 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
5 4 1 0 9 3 +6 0 2 1.8 0.6 90 +4
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 0 1 1.667 0.667 83.3 +2
Away 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2.00 0.50 100.0 +2

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1903-04 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2.00 0.50 100.0 +2
BC 1904-05 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 0 1 1.667 0.667 83.3 +2
BC All 5 4 1 0 9 3 +6 0 2 1.80 0.60 90.0 +4

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 5 4 1 0 9 3 +6 0 2 1.80 0.60 90.0 +4
5 4 1 0 9 3 +6 0 2 1.8 0.6 90 +4

Match History

 Club: Aston Villa F.C. - five full appearances (450 min) F.A. International Select Committee - five full appearances (450 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Tour of FA 25 September 1901 - England 10 Germany 0, Hyde Road, Manchester tour HW   lh

Age 30 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, February 1902;

Age 32    
one appearance - The South vs. The North, January 1904;

80 29 February 1904 - Wales 2 England 2, The Racecourse, Wrexham BC AD reserve
1 81 12 March 1904 - Ireland 1 England 3
 Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AW   lh

the 297th player to appear for England
the eighteenth Aston Villa FC player to represent England

2 82 9 April 1904 - Scotland 0 England 1
 Celtic Park, Glasgow		 BC AW   lh

Age 33 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 13 February 1905;

3 83 25 February 1905 - England 1 Ireland 1
Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough		 BC HD   lh
4 84 27 March 1905 - England 3 Wales 1
Anfield Road, Liverpool		 BC HW   lh
5 85 1 April 1905 - England 1 Scotland 0
Sports Arena, Crystal Palace		 BC HW   lh
 


  

 
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