Carleton Craig Leonard (born 3 February 1958) is an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

former

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...

who played 298 games as a defender for

Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third tier of English football. The club plays its home games at the New Meadow, having mov ...

between 1975 and 1983.Ex-Shrews Carleton Leonard enjoying Ellesmere role « Shropshire Star
/ref>Ex-players offer Wembley tips « Shropshire Star
/ref>Sscfa - Players From The Past
/ref>

Early life

Carelton was born in 1958, the seventh of thirteen children to Peter Leonard (1927 - 2010), a baker and Barbara née Garside (1918 - 2007).LEONARD, Peter - Obituaries - Shropshire Star Announcements
/ref> He was educated at the Oswestry Boys High School, in his home town.

Football career

Carleton played for the Shropshire Schools U19s from the age of 16, and was subsequently signed by Shrewsbury Town, making his debut in 1975. The highlight of his time with The Shrews was helping them lift the old

Division Three The Football League Third Division was the third tier of the English football league system in 1920–21 and again from 1958 until 1992. When the FA Premier League was formed, the division become the fourth tier level. In 2004, following the f ...

title in the 78-79 season. In his 227 league games, Leonard scored one goal against

Swindon Town Swindon Town Football Club is a professional football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The team currently competes in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. The club has played home matches at the County Ground sin ...

on 19 March 1977.Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk - Shrewsbury Town - Swindon Town, Saturday, 19 March 1977
/ref> After playing 298 games for Shrewsbury, he joined

Hereford United Hereford United Football Club was an association football club based in Hereford, England. They played at Edgar Street for their entire history. They were nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites', after their predominantly white kit, or 'Th ...

in June 1983. He later went on to play for

Cardiff City Cardiff City Football Club ( cy, Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Caerdydd) is a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales. It competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1899 as R ...

,Shrewsbury Town v Charlton Athletic
/ref> with whom he was suffered relegation to the Fourth Division in the 85-86 season.

Later life

After leaving football Carleton has had numerous coaching roles, including for

Ellesmere Rangers Ellesmere Rangers Football Club is a association football, football club based in Ellesmere, Shropshire, Ellesmere, Shropshire, England. They are currently members of the and play at Beech Grove. History The club was established in 1969 followi ...

, Shrewsbury Town Youth Team. Carleton is the manager of Oswestry's only nightclub, Gibsons; in which capacity he is an advocate of liberal alcohol laws.Border Counties Advertizer - Ghost Town Warning
/ref> In 2009 this establishment won the Shropshire Best Bar None award, for best night club in Shropshire.Best Bar None, Shropshire :: Shropshire Best Bar None 2009 Awards
/ref> He is also a publican, having operated Oswestry's The Bell, The Oak and The Pedigree. He has a son Nathan, who has played for

and

Guilsfield F.C. Guilsfield Football Club is a football team, founded in 1957 in Guilsfield, near Welshpool, Wales. Guilsfield play in the Cymru North, which is in the second level of the Welsh football league system The Welsh football league system (or pyr ...

Guilsfield FC
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Carleton Living people 1958 births English men's footballers Men's association football defenders English Football League players Shrewsbury Town F.C. players Cardiff City F.C. players Footballers from Oswestry