Billy Leeds

Career : 1903 - 1905
Debut : Round 1, 1903 vs Collingwood, aged 23 years, 28 days
Carlton Player No. 148
Games : 27
Goals : 14
Last Game : Round 9, 1905 vs Collingwood, aged 25 years, 95 days
Height :
Weight :
DOB : April 4, 1880


Although he only played 27 games for Carlton in three seasons, Billy Leeds holds a unique place in the history of Australian Football.

In 1904 he retired as a player to become an umpire. But Carlton, beset by injuries, convinced him to return for that year's finals. Playing on a half-back flank, Leeds was prominent across half-back in the Blues' 3-point Semi Final win over Essendon. Then a fortnight later, he was part of the first Carlton team to contest a VFL Grand Final, when the Blues were well-beaten by Fitzroy.

Billy therefore became the only man ever to umpire a VFL game - and play in a Grand Final - in the same year.

Leeds was born in Carlton, and recruited from Brunswick to the Blues. He passed away on the 6th April, 1955, aged 75.

Links

Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Billy Leeds | [file270|Leeds' Blueseum Image Gallery]