Owens Les Image 1 Norwich City 1950

Description

Monkwearmouth, Sunderland born centre forward Les Owens began his football career with Hylton Colliery Juniors in 1934, playing for Ditchburn Social Club in 1935 and Washington Chemical Works in 1936 before being signed by First Division Charlton Athletic in September 1937, ironically making his Football League debut two months later at Sunderland in a 1-1 draw. Never a regular at Charlton, he scored 7 goals in 15 appearances before joining Third Division Doncaster Rovers in February 1939, before his career was severely interrupted by the Second World War. He played both sides of the War for Rovers, helping them win the Third Division (North) Championship in 1946-47 before leaving to join Southport in December 1947 after 11 goals in 26 appearances over an 8 year period.

He scored 12 goals in 57 appearances for the Haig Avenue outfit in a struggling Southport team before joining Hartlepools United in July 1949, where he had less than a single season scoring 13 goals in 31 appearances. In March 1950 he signed for Norwich City but couldn’t get a regular place in their team that finished as Third Division (South) runners up in 1950-51, joining Reading after 8 goals in 20 appearances in July 1951. He was again with the club that finished as Third Division (South) runners up in his single season at Elm Park, though he contributed only 4 goals in 8 appearances. He joined Brighton & Hove Albion in June 1952 for what proved his final season in League football, scoring 7 goals in 18 appearances for The Seagulls before joining non league Dartford in 1953, spending a year there before finishing his career at Hellesdon.