Lievesley Leslie Image 1 Torquay United 1934

Description

Staveley, Derbyshire born wing half Leslie Lievesley started his career as an amateur with Rossington Colliery in 1928 before moving to Doncaster Rovers in 1929, making his Football League debut that August against Accrington Stanley as a centre forward, although by 1931 he had switched position to become a half back. After scoring 21 goals in 66 games, he was signed by Manchester United in March 1932 during one of their less successful eras, making 2 appearances the same month, but stuck in the United reserves he then went to Chesterfield without making a first team appearance during 1932-33.

He signed for Torquay United in the 1933 close season and spent four seasons at Plainmoor, scoring 5 goals in 144 appearances, and then two more at Crystal Palace, joining them in April 1937. His career was cut short by the advent of The Second World War having scored 3 goals in 88 appearances for Crystal Palace.

Following the War he became a coach in Netherlands, before he became the coach of Torino F.C. and in May 1949 he was one of 31 fatalities in the Superga air disaster that killed almost the entire Torino squad, when they were in the process of winning the Serie A title.

His father was Joe Lievesley, who kept goal for Sheffield United, additionally uncles Wilf and Fred Lievesley and his brothers Dennis and Ernest (Fred) Lievesley were also all professional footballers. He was also the great nephew of Sheffield United full back Harry Lilley. Of his brothers Fred played for Manchester City, Southend United and Rotherham United, and Dennis for Aldershot.