Leiper Joe Image 1 Derby County 1895

Description

Govan, Glasgow born full back Joe Leiper began his career with junior club Minerva in 1890 before joining Partick Thistle in 1891. He moved south to join First Division Derby County in 1892, making his Football League debut against Everton that November. He was a runner up in the League Championship in 1895-96 and played in the FA Cup Final as The Rams lost 3-1 to local rivals Nottingham Forest at The Crystal Palace. However he lost his place in the Derby team the following season and didn’t play in the 1899 Cup Final, which Derby again contested and lost, this time to Sheffield United. After 180 appearances for Derby he joined Grimsby Town in the 1900 close season and won the Second Division Championship in his first season, 1900-01, sending Grimsby into the top flight for the first time in their history. Leiper played a single season back in the First Division before joining Chesterfield Town in the 1902 close season after 46 appearances for The Mariners. He had a single season with The Spireites, making 27 appearances, before returning to Partick Thistle in 1903, although he didn’t stay long joining Motherwell later the same year. He returned to Humberside in 1904 and joined Hull City, playing for Aberdare Town later the same year. He finally joined Belper Town in 1905 before retirement.