Leland Archer

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Leland Archer

| image =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|1|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=4}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Charleston Battery

| clubnumber = 5

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = St. Ann's Rangers

| collegeyears1 = 2014–2017

| college1 = Charleston Cougars

| collegecaps1 = 68

| collegegoals1 = 11

| years1 = 2017

| clubs1 = South Georgia Tormenta

| caps1 = 14

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2018–

| clubs2 = Charleston Battery

| caps2 = 157

| goals2 = 3

| nationalyears1 = 2012–2013

| nationalteam1 = Trinidad and Tobago U17

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2015

| nationalteam2 = Trinidad and Tobago U20

| nationalcaps2 =

| nationalgoals2 =

| nationalyears3 = 2021–

| nationalteam3 = Trinidad and Tobago

| nationalcaps3 = 3

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| medaltemplates =

| club-update = 4 November 2024

| nationalteam-update = 31 March 2023

}}

Leland Archer (born 8 January 1996) is a Trinidadian professional footballer who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Charleston Battery and the Trinidad and Tobago national team.

Career

=Youth and college=

Archer played four years of college soccer at NCAA Division I program College of Charleston between 2014 and 2017.{{cite web|url=https://cofcsports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3258|title=Leland Archer - Men's Soccer|website=College of Charleston Athletics}}

While at college, Archer appeared for USL League Two side South Georgia Tormenta during their 2017 season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uslpdl.com/roster_players/18033516 |title=South Georgia Tormenta FC - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - #20 - Leland Archer - |access-date=9 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135827/https://www.uslpdl.com/roster_players/18033516 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}

=Professional=

On 10 May 2018, Archer signed a professional contract with USL Championship club Charleston Battery.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlestonbattery.com/news_article/show/916744-charleston-battery-signs-former-cougar-captain-|title=Charleston Battery signs former Cougar captain|first=Sarah|last=Cardamone|date=10 May 2018|website=Charleston Battery - USL}}

At the end of the 2020 USL Championship season, Archer was named Charleston Battery's Defensive Player of the Year and team MVP.{{cite tweet |author=Charleston Battery |author-link=Charleston Battery |user=Chas_Battery |number=1341885136812445696 |date=23 December 2020 |title=How about one more before the holidays? The MVP is BACK. @leland_archer will return for 2021! ✅ 2020 Derek Revord Defensive Player of the Year ✅ 2020 Nigel Cooper Most Valuable Player ✅ Haggis aficionado??? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Welcome back Leland! 🗞️ : https://t.co/AZ2elBSehI https://t.co/NRScC58kZW |language=en |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223231657/https://twitter.com/Chas_Battery/status/1341885136812445696 |archive-date=23 December 2020 |url-status=live}} That season, Archer was also named onto the USL Championship All-League Second Team.{{cite web | url=https://www.charlestonbattery.com/roster/leland-archer/ | title=Leland Archer }}

On 11 November 2020, Scottish Premiership club Hibernian FC offered Archer 3-week trial at the club.{{cite web | url=https://www.guardian.co.tt/sports/archer-hoping-to-jump-start-european-career-at-hibs-6.2.1253165.74a67e9760 | title=Archer hoping to jump start European career at Hibs }}

Archer scored his first professional goal on 22 September 2021, against New York Red Bulls II, in his 66th appearance with the club.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.facebook.com/charleston.battery/videos/1769787183208419/ |title=22 reactions {{!}} Leland Archer scores his first goal! {{!}} #CB93 {{!}} A night to remember for Leland ✨🏹 In his 66th appearance with the Battery, Archer headed home his first career goal! #CB93 {{!}} #UpTheBattery {{!}} By Charleston Battery {{!}} Facebook |language=en |access-date=2024-10-20 |via=www.facebook.com}} He scored again the following match, on 25 September 2021, against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. He was subsequently named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for his complete performance that matchweek.{{cite web | url=https://www.charlestonbattery.com/news/2021/09/28/leland-archer-named-to-usl-team-of-the-week-week-23/ | title=Leland Archer Named to USL Team of the Week Week 23 }}

Archer played his 100th match for the Battery, across all competitions, on 15 October 2022, in a 1-1 draw with Loudoun United FC.

International career

He made his debut for Trinidad and Tobago national football team on 31 January 2021 in a friendly game against the United States. He played the full game.{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=592927|title=United States v Trinidad and Tobago game report|date=31 January 2021}} Archer has been called up to numerous national team camps since his debut and made his second appearance on 29 January 2023 in a friendly against Saint Martin, playing a full 90 minutes in the 2-0 victory.{{cite tweet |author=Charleston Battery |author-link=Charleston Battery |user=Chas_Battery |number=1620091397251686408 |date=30 January 2023 |title=🏹 A full 90' in with the Soca Warriors for @leland_archer in their 2-0 victory over Saint Martin last night! 🇹🇹👏 https://t.co/6zUraB43Ro |language=en |access-date=25 March 2023}}

Archer was named as part of Trinidad and Tobago's 2023 CONCACAF Nations League squad for fixtures against Bahamas and Nicaragua.{{cite web | url=https://tt.loopnews.com/content/eve-names-squad-concacaf-nations-league-fixtures | title=Eve names squad for Concacaf Nations League fixtures | Loop Trinidad & Tobago }} He played 45 minutes in the victory over the Bahamas, entering the match as a substitute at halftime, and was unused off the bench against Nicaragua.