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Joe Leesley

{{short description|English footballer (born 1994)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Joe Leesley

|image =

|caption =

|fullname = Joe Sydney Leesley{{Cite web |date=11 September 2020 |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Harrogate Town |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |access-date=14 September 2020 |publisher=English Football League |page=33}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|3|29|df=y}}

|birth_place = Sheffield, England

|height = {{convert|1.82|m|order=flip}}

|position = Winger

|currentclub = Worksop Town

|clubnumber =

|youthyears1 = 2004–2010

|youthclubs1 = Doncaster Rovers

|years1 = 2011–2012

|clubs1 = Winterton Rangers

|caps1 =

|goals1 =

|years2 = 2012–2015

|clubs2 = Matlock Town

|caps2 =

|goals2 =

|years3 = 2015–2016

|clubs3 = Alfreton Town

|caps3 = 49

|goals3 = 2

|years4 = 2016–2022

|clubs4 = Harrogate Town

|caps4 = 122

|goals4 = 22

|years5 = 2019–2020

|clubs5 = → Stockport County (loan)

|caps5 = 10

|goals5 = 0

|years6 = 2020

|clubs6 = → Stevenage (loan)

|caps6 = 8

|goals6 = 0

|years7 = 2020–2021

|clubs7 = → Boston United (loan)

|caps7 = 9

|goals7 = 3

|years8 = 2021–2022

|clubs8 = → Boston United (loan)

|caps8 = 34

|goals8 = 3

|years9 = 2022

|clubs9 = Boston United

|caps9 = 10

|goals9 = 0

|years10 = 2022

|clubs10 = → Darlington (loan)

|caps10 = 7

|goals10 = 1

|years11 = 2022–2024

|clubs11 = Kidderminster Harriers

|caps11 = 27

|goals11 = 2

|years12 = 2024

|clubs12 = Scunthorpe United

|caps12 = 0

|goals12 = 0

|years13 = 2024–2025

|clubs13 = Darlington

|caps13 = 5

|goals13 = 0

|years14 = 2024–2025

|clubs14 = → Worksop Town (loan)

|caps14 = 18

|goals14 = 3

|years15 = 2025–

|clubs15 = Worksop Town

|caps15 = 2

|goals15 = 0

|nationalyears1 = 2016

|nationalteam1 = England C

|nationalcaps1 = 1

|nationalgoals1 = 0

|club-update = 20:18, 10 April 2025 (UTC)

}}

Joe Sydney Leesley (born 29 March 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for {{English football updater|WorksopT}} club Worksop Town.

He previously played in the Football League for Stevenage and has played for England C, the team that represents the country at non-league level.

Career

Leesley was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. He was on the books of Doncaster Rovers from the age of 10, but was not given a scholarship when he reached 16.{{cite news |url=https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/how-doncaster-rovers-heartbreak-inspired-former-harrogate-town-ace-joe-leesley-to-help-others-4036066 |title=How Doncaster Rovers heartbreak inspired former Harrogate Town ace Joe Leesley to help others |first=Steve |last=Jones |newspaper=Doncaster Free Press |date=21 February 2023 |access-date=16 November 2024}} He spent his early career with Winterton Rangers,{{cite web |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/gem-is-great-prospect-says-atkins-10117 |title=Gem is great prospect, says Atkins |first=David |last=Watters |publisher=Northern Premier League |date=11 August 2012 |access-date=22 October 2022}} Matlock Town, Alfreton Town, Harrogate Town and Stockport County, moving on loan to Stevenage on 6 January 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51010423 |title=Joe Leesley: Stevenage bring in Harrogate Town winger on loan until end of the season |website=BBC Sport |date=6 January 2020 |access-date=22 October 2022}} He made his debut two days later in the EFL Trophy. In November 2020 he moved on loan to Boston United.{{cite news |url=https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/sport/football/boston-united-add-double-promotion-winner-joe-leesley-to-squad-3031748 |title=Boston United add double promotion winner Joe Leesley to squad |website=LincolnshireWorld |date=10 November 2020 |access-date=22 October 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/sport/football/he-knows-what-success-looks-like-boston-united-lucky-to-land-winger-joe-leesley-3041031 |title="He knows what success looks like!" Boston United 'lucky' to land winger Joe Leesley |website=LincolnshireWorld |date=19 November 2020 |access-date=22 October 2022}} In June 2021, after Leesley agreed a season loan to Boston United, Harrogate manager Simon Weaver said he would be unlikely to play for his parent club again.{{cite news |url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/joe-leesley-unlikely-to-play-for-harrogate-town-again-after-loan-switch-to-boston-united-is-agreed-3284400 |title=Joe Leesley unlikely to play for Harrogate Town again after loan switch to Boston United is agreed |first=Rhys |last=Howell |newspaper=Harrogate Advertiser |date=23 June 2021 |access-date=22 October 2022}}

On 1 August 2022, Leesley signed for Boston United on a permanent deal having left Harrogate Town.{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonunited.co.uk/news/united-clinch-leesley-signature-2717768.html |title=United clinch Leesley signature |first=Craig |last=Singleton |publisher=Boston United F.C. |date=1 August 2022 |accessdate=22 October 2022}} In October, he joined league rivals Darlington on loan for a month.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-sign-joe-leesley-on-loan |title=Quakers sign Joe Leesley on loan |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=21 October 2022 |access-date=21 October 2022}} After an impressive seven-match spell during which he demonstrated versatility and leadership, both he and Darlington wanted to extend the loan, but Boston would only allow him to leave for a fee, which put him out of their reach.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23134861.darlington-lose-loan-ace-joe-leesley-kidderminster/ |title=Darlington lose out on loan ace Joe Leesley to Kidderminster |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=18 November 2022 |access-date=24 November 2022}} Leesley signed for another National North club, Kidderminster Harriers, on 18 November 2022, on a contract to run until the end of the 2023–24 season.{{cite web |url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2022/11/18/joe-leesley-joins-harriers/ |title=Joe Leesley joins Harriers |first=Matty |last=Paddock |publisher=Kidderminster Harriers F.C. |date=18 November 2022 |access-date=24 November 2022}} After his time with the club was disrupted by injury, he left by mutual consent in February 2024.{{cite web |url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2024/02/14/joe-leesley-departs/ |title=Joe Leesley departs |first=Matty |last=Paddock |publisher=Kidderminster Harriers F.C. |date=14 February 2024 |access-date=4 April 2024}}

On 1 April 2024, Leesley joined National League North club Scunthorpe United on a short-term deal until the end of the season,{{cite web |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2024/april/iron-add-versatile-joe-leesley-to-ranks/ |title=Iron add versatile Joe Leesley to ranks |first=James |last=Moody |publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C. |date=1 April 2024 |access-date=4 April 2024}} but made no first-team appearances. He rejoined Darlington on a one-year contract on 24 May 2024,{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-sign-joe-leesley-for-the-second-time |title=Quakers sign Joe Leesley for the second time |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=24 May 2024 |access-date=24 May 2024}} but was unable to establish himself in the first team, and signed on a month's loan for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Worksop Town on 15 November.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/joe-leesley-goes-out-on-loan |title=Joe Leesley goes out on loan |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=15 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}} He remained on loan until 25 March 2025, when his Darlington contract was cancelled by mutual consent, and three days later he joined Worksop Town on a contract to run until the end of the 2025–26 season.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/joe-leesley-leaves-the-club |title=Joe Leesley leaves the club |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=25 March 2025 |access-date=11 April 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worksoptownfc.com/news/joe-leesley-signs-for-the-tigers-permanently?id=447430 |title=Joe Leesley signs for the Tigers permanently |publisher=Worksop Town F.C. |date=28 March 2025 |access-date=11 April 2025}}

Career statistics

{{updated|match played 5 April 2025}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Season

!rowspan="2"|Club

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|EFL Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="3"|Alfreton Town

|2014–15{{cite web |url=http://www.alfretontownfc.com/content/2014--15-apps-and-goals-210.htm |title=The squad – 2014/15 apps/goals |publisher=Alfreton Town F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523173832/http://www.alfretontownfc.com/content/2014--15-apps-and-goals-210.htm |archive-date=23 May 2016}}

|Conference Premier

|11

000colspan="2"|—00110
2015–16For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds: match reports linked from {{cite web |url=http://www.alfretontownfc.com/info/fixtures.asp?seasonYear=2015 |title=Fixtures: 2015/2016 |publisher=Alfreton Town F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818004800/http://www.alfretontownfc.com/info/fixtures.asp?seasonYear=2015 |archive-date=18 August 2016}}
For FA Trophy: {{cite news |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/alfreton-town-knocked-out-of-fa-trophy-at-first-hurdle-after-nuneaton-town-defeat-2190313 |title=Alfreton Town knocked out of FA Trophy at first hurdle after Nuneaton Town defeat |newspaper=Derbyshire Times |date=29 November 2015 |access-date=21 October 2022}}

|National League North

|38

220colspan="2"|—1{{efn|name=FAT}}0412
colspan="2"|Total

!49

220colspan="2"|—10522
rowspan="6"|Harrogate Town

|2016–17For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds: match reports linked from {{cite web |url=http://www.harrogatetownafc.com/match/fixtures |title=Fixtures & results |publisher=Harrogate Town A.F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624093057/http://www.harrogatetownafc.com/match/fixtures |archive-date=24 June 2017}}
For FA Trophy 3rd qualifying round: match reports linked from {{cite web |url=https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/results/?season=2016/2017 |title=Results archive: 2016/17 |publisher=Salford City F.C. |access-date=21 October 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021175412/https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/results/?season=2016/2017 |archive-date=21 October 2022}}

|National League North

|42

542colspan="2"|—4{{efn|name=FAT}}2509
2017–18For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds and FA Trophy 3rd qualifying round: match reports linked from {{cite web |url=https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/fixtures-results/results/ |title=Results |publisher=Harrogate Town A.F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321172149/https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/fixtures-results/results/ |archive-date=21 March 2018}}

|National League North

|39

1441colspan="2"|—8{{efn|Six appearances and six goals in FA Trophy, two appearances and one goal in National League North play-offs}}75122
2018–19

|National League

|35

220colspan="2"|—3{{efn|Two appearances in FA Trophy, one in National League play-offs}}0402
2019–20

|National League

|6

100colspan="2"|—0061
2020–21{{soccerbase season|81023|2020|access-date=28 March 2021}}

|League Two

|0

000000000
colspan="2"|Total

!122

221030015914734
Stockport County (loan)

|2019–20

|National League

|10

010colspan="2"|—00110
Stevenage (loan)

|2019–20{{soccerbase season|81023|2019|access-date=28 March 2021}}

|League Two

|8

000002{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}0100
rowspan="2"|Boston United (loan)

|2020–21

|National League North

|9

300colspan="2"|—3{{efn|name=FAT}}1124
2021–22For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds: {{cite web |url=https://www.bostonunited.co.uk/teams/24809/player/joe-leesley-2638743/78232 |title=First team: Joe Leesley: 2021/2022 |publisher=Boston United F.C. |access-date=21 October 2022}}

|National League North

|34

332colspan="2"|—2{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}}0395
rowspan="2"|Boston United

|2022–23For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds: {{cite web |url=https://www.bostonunited.co.uk/teams/24809/player/joe-leesley-2638743/82751 |title=First team: Joe Leesley: 2022/2023 |publisher=Boston United F.C. |access-date=22 October 2022}}

|National League North

|10

030colspan="2"|—00130
colspan="2"|Total

!53

662colspan="2"|—51649
Darlington (loan)

|2022–23

|National League North

|7

100colspan="2"|—0071
rowspan="3"|Kidderminster Harriers

|2022–23

|National League North

|13

1colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—5{{efn|Two appearances in FA Trophy, three in National League North play-offs}}0181
2023–24

|National League

|14

100colspan="2"|—00141
colspan="2"|Total

!27

200colspan="2"|—50322
Scunthorpe United

|2023–24

|National League North

|0

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—0000
Darlington

|2024–25{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/joe-leesley/278966/ |title=J. Leesley |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=13 November 2024}}For FA Cup 3rd qualifying round: {{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/darlington-v-gainsborough-updates-1 |title=Quakers beaten at home in the Cup |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=28 September 2024 |access-date=29 September 2024}}

|National League North

|5

010colspan="2"|—0060
Worksop Town (loan)

|2024–25{{cite web |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/worksop-town/appearances/joe-leesley/979286 |title=Worksop Town – Appearances – Joe Leesley – 2024–2025 |website=Football Web Pages |access-date=27 February 2025}}

|Northern Premier League Premier Division

|18

3colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—2{{efn|One appearance in FA Trophy, one in Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup}}0203
Worksop Town

|2024–25

|Northern Premier League Premier Division

|2

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—0020
colspan="3"|Career total

!301

3620500301035151

{{notelist}}

Honours

Harrogate Town

  • National League play-offs: 2019–20{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53541549 |title=Harrogate Town 3–1 Notts County |first=Jay |last=Freeman |website=BBC Sport |date=2 August 2020 |access-date=2 August 2020}}

Kidderminster Harriers

  • National League North play offs: 2019–20{{cite web|url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2023/05/16/recap-harriers-promoted-to-national-league/|title=Recap: Harriers promoted to National League|date=16 May 2023|publisher=Kidderminster Harriers F.C. |access-date=20 August 2023}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{2017–18 National League North Team of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leesley, Joe}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Sheffield

Category:English men's footballers

Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers

Category:Men's association football wingers

Category:Winterton Rangers F.C. players

Category:Matlock Town F.C. players

Category:Alfreton Town F.C. players

Category:Harrogate Town A.F.C. players

Category:Stockport County F.C. players

Category:Stevenage F.C. players

Category:Boston United F.C. players

Category:Darlington F.C. players

Category:Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players

Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players

Category:Worksop Town F.C. players

Category:Northern Premier League players

Category:National League (English football) players

Category:English Football League players

Category:21st-century English sportsmen