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Leon Cort

{{Short description|English footballer (born 1979)}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Leon Cort

| image =

| image_size = 180px

| caption =

| fullname = Leon Terence Anthony Cort{{Cite book| editor-first = Barry J.| editor-last = Hugman| title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11| year = 2010| publisher = Mainstream Publishing| isbn = 978-1-84596-601-0| page = 96 }}

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

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|9|11|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bermondsey, England

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = 1997–1998| youthclubs1 = Dulwich Hamlet

| years1 = 1998–2001 | clubs1 = Millwall | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2000–2001 | clubs2 = → Forest Green Rovers (loan) | caps2 = 12 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2001 | clubs3 = → Stevenage Borough (loan) | caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2001–2004 | clubs4 = Southend United | caps4 = 137 | goals4 = 11

| years5 = 2004–2006 | clubs5 = Hull City | caps5 = 86 | goals5 = 10

| years6 = 2006–2008 | clubs6 = Crystal Palace | caps6 = 49 | goals6 = 7

| years7 = 2007–2008 | clubs7 = → Stoke City (loan) | caps7 = 14 | goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2008–2010 | clubs8 = Stoke City | caps8 = 30 | goals8 = 4

| years9 = 2010–2012 | clubs9 = Burnley | caps9 = 19 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2010–2011 | clubs10 = → Preston North End (loan) | caps10 = 13 | goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2011–2012 | clubs11 = → Charlton Athletic (loan) | caps11 = 15 | goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2012–2014 | clubs12 = Charlton Athletic | caps12 = 33 | goals12 = 2

| totalcaps = 417 |totalgoals = 38

| nationalyears1 = 2010–2012

| nationalteam1 = Guyana

| nationalcaps1 = 6

| nationalgoals1 = 1

}}

Leon Terence Anthony Cort (born 11 September 1979) is a former footballer who played as a defender. He is the younger brother of Carl Cort and the older half-brother of Ruben Loftus-Cheek.{{cite web|title=Crystal Palace bring in Chelsea midfielder on loan|url=http://www.itv.com/news/2017-07-12/crystal-palace-bring-in-chelsea-midfielder-on-loan/|publisher=ITV|access-date=13 July 2017}}

Cort began his career as at non-league side Dulwich Hamlet before turning professional with Millwall in 1998. He was unable to break into the first team at the New Den and after loan spells with Forest Green Rovers and Stevenage Borough he left for Southend United. His career took off at Roots Hall and in 2004 he earned a move to Hull City. He helped the Tigers gain promotion to the Championship in 2004–05.

He joined Crystal Palace in the summer of 2006 before joining Stoke City in October 2007 in a swap deal with Clint Hill. Cort formed a strong defensive partnership with Ryan Shawcross at the Britannia Stadium as Stoke gained promotion to the Premier League. Cort was unable to hold on to his place in the top flight and joined Burnley in January 2010 for a fee of £1.5 million. He then had a short loan spell with Preston North End before ending his career at Charlton Athletic.

Born in England, he represented Guyana at international level.

Club career

=Southend United=

Born in Bermondsey, London, Cort began his career at local non-League side Dulwich Hamlet. He was invited by Mick Beard to trial at Millwall before signing pro-forms with his local league club Millwall in 1998. His career at The New Den never really took off, and after a loan spell at Forest Green Rovers and Stevenage Borough he joined Southend United on a free transfer. While at Southend Cort earned rave reviews and was tipped for greater things.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3099199.stm|title=Third Division eye catchers |access-date=15 July 2009 |publisher=BBC | date=1 August 2003}} He became a regular in the side, achieving a remarkable feat of appearing in 130 consecutive league matches without missing any through injury or suspension.

=Hull City=

In May 2004, Cort was offered a new contract at Southend United{{cite news|title=Southend deals for quartet|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/3708635.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 May 2004|access-date=10 March 2013}} but soon, Hull City manager Peter Taylor said he would be interested in signing Cort.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/3742007.stm|title=Taylor interested in Cort |access-date=15 July 2009 |publisher=BBC | date=24 May 2004}} Cort moved to newly promoted Hull City in the summer of 2004, again on a free transfer.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/3787065.stm|title=Hull secure Southends Cort |access-date=15 July 2009 |publisher=BBC | date=8 June 2004}} Hull were promoted again that season, to The Championship, and in this division Cort excelled himself as Hull survived comfortably. At the end of the season, Cort signed a two-year extensions.{{cite news|title=Hull duo sign contract extensions|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/4530087.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 May 2005|access-date=10 March 2013}} In a game between Hull and Carl's team at the time Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2006, Leon scored for Hull and Carl scored for Wolves.

=Crystal Palace=

At the end of that season manager Peter Taylor departed to Crystal Palace and made Cort his first signing for £1.25m, and gave him a return to his native South London.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crystal_palace/5119366.stm|title=Palace snap up Hull defender Cort |access-date=15 July 2009 |publisher=BBC | date=30 June 2006}} He again impressed and became popular with the Palace fans, winning the Player of the Year Award in 2007. The following season started poorly for the Eagles and saw Taylor sacked and replaced by Neil Warnock, and Cort soon departed on loan to Stoke City.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/7076752.stm|title=Potters complete Cort loan deal |access-date=15 July 2009 |publisher=BBC | date=3 November 2007}}

=Stoke City=

Cort's last game for Palace was at Selhurst Park against Stoke. Cort's career at the Britannia Stadium began very well, with assured performances featuring a remarkable tally of eight goals in just six months from the defender helping the Potters gain promotion to the Premier League.{{cite news|title=Stoke 0-0 Leicester|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7368631.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 May 2008|access-date=1 January 2016}} However the next season, Cort find himself further down the pecking order as Ryan Shawcross and Abdoulaye Faye was preferred to be used in central defence.{{cite news|title=Cort prepared to fight for place|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/7661103.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 October 2008|access-date=10 March 2013}}

=Burnley=

Cort signed for Premier League side Burnley on 27 January 2010 for £1.5 million signing a three-and-a-half-year deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10310~1946731,00.html |title=Cort Joins Burnley In £1.5 Million Deal |access-date=27 January 2010 |publisher=Stoke City F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129035823/http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10310~1946731%2C00.html |archive-date=29 January 2010 }} After appearing on the bench without being used for Burnley, Cort finally made his debut in a 1–1 draw against his former club Stoke City where he made his first start in the Premier League since 2008 when Cort at his former club Stoke. On 6 March 2010, Cort provided his first assist in the Premier League for David Nugent in a 3–1 loss against Arsenal. Following Burnley relegation to Championship after losing 4–0 to Liverpool, Cort believes the Clarets to climb back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.{{cite news|title=Cort – Clarets can bounce back|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/6118396/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=26 April 2010|access-date=6 June 2012}}

However, after the Clarets were relegated, he found opportunities limited after reduced of playing time and on 25 November 2010, Cort joined Preston North End on a monthlong loan. On 27 November 2010, Cort made his debut in a 0–0 draw against Millwall. On 1 January 2011, Cort loan spell at Preston has extended until 23 January.{{cite news|title=Preston extend Cort deal|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/6628843/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=1 January 2011|access-date=6 June 2012}}

=Charlton Athletic=

On 29 August 2011, Cort was once again sent out on loan, this time to Charlton Athletic.{{cite web |url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2435448,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022451/http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2435448,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 April 2012 |title=Cort joins on season-long loan |access-date=29 August 2011 |publisher=Charlton Athletic F.C. }} Cort made his debut for the club in a 3–2 win over Rochdale on 17 September 2011 as a substitute in the late minute. While at loan at Charlton, Cort made six appearances and didn't get more playing time so he was on the bench without been used due to good central defence performance from Michael Morrison and Matt Taylor. Cort was released by Burnley on 9 January 2012 after not making appearance for the club that season.{{cite news |title=Burnley terminate the contract of defender Leon Cort |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16476840.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 January 2012 |access-date=9 January 2012}} On 12 January 2012, Cort signed a permanent deal with Charlton.{{cite news|title=Cort recruited on permanent deal|url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2574688,00.html|publisher=Charlton Athletic|date=12 January 2012|access-date=30 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114155940/http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2574688,00.html|archive-date=14 January 2012|url-status=dead}} From late March to nearly end of April, Cort able to get more playing time and led the club promoted to the Championship. On 18 August 2012, Cort scored his first league goal for The Addicks, on the opening day of the Championship season, in the 1–1 draw with Birmingham City.{{cite news|title=Birmingham 1–1 Charlton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19221628|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 August 2012|access-date=10 March 2013}} On 16 May 2013, Cort signed a one-year contract extension.{{cite news|title=Addicks opt to release Haynes|url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130516-haynes-cort-825658.aspx|publisher=Charlton Athletic|date=16 May 2013|access-date=16 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522143821/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130516-haynes-cort-825658.aspx|archive-date=22 May 2014}} On 22 May 2014, he was released from Charlton Athletic.{{cite web|url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20140522-charlton-released-list-1568946.aspx|title=Charlton announce list of released players|date=22 May 2014|publisher=Charlton Athletic|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801155717/http://www.cafc.co.uk//news/article/20140522-charlton-released-list-1568946.aspx|archive-date=1 August 2016}}

Following his release from Charlton, Cort began training with his former club Southend United but announced his retirement in July 2014.{{cite web|title=Leon Cort confirms retirement and will not be coming back to Southend United|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/11354629.Leon_Cort_confirms_retirement_and_will_not_be_coming_back_to_Southend_United/|website=Echo News|access-date=4 May 2015}}

International career

In October 2011, Cort was called up to Guyana for their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Barbados and Bermuda.{{cite news| url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend_messenger/sport/2011/october/4/ricky_shakes.aspx| title=Ebbsfleet United striker Ricky Shakes called up for Guyana World Cup squad |date=4 October 2011|publisher=Gravesend Messenger|access-date=4 October 2011}} He scored his only international goal on 11 November 2011 in a World Cup qualifier in a 2–1 win against Trinidad and Tobago.

Career statistics

=Club=

Source:{{cite web|title=Leon Cort|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=13759|website=Soccerbase|access-date=4 May 2015}}

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

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Millwall

|2000–01{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2000}}

|Second Division

|0

000000000
Forest Green Rovers (loan)

|2000–01

|Conference National

|12

000colspan="2"|—00120
Stevenage Borough (loan)

|2000–01

|Conference National

|9

000colspan="2"|—0090
rowspan="4"|Southend United

|2001–02{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2001}}

|Third Division

|45

440101Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy0514
2002–03{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2002}}

|Third Division

|46

6411010527
2003–04{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2003}}

|Third Division

|46

1501060581
colspan="2"|Total

!137

11131308016112
rowspan="3"|Hull City

|2004–05{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2004}}

|League One

|44

6301000486
2005–06{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2005}}

|Championship

|42

41000colspan="2"|—434
colspan="2"|Total

!86

104010009110
rowspan="3"|Crystal Palace

|2006–07{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2006}}

|Championship

|37

71000colspan="2"|—387
2007–08{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2007}}

|Championship

|12

0000000120
colspan="2"|Total

!49

7100000507
rowspan="4"|Stoke City

|2007–08

|Championship

|33

82000colspan="2"|—358
2008–09{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2008}}

|Premier League

|11

00030colspan="2"|—140
2009–10{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2009}}

|Premier League

|0

01030colspan="2"|—40
colspan="2"|Total

!44

83060colspan="2"|—538
rowspan="4"|Burnley

|2009–10

|Premier League

|15

00000colspan="2"|—150
2010–11{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2010}}

|Championship

|4

00010colspan="2"|—50
2011–12{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2011}}

|Championship

|0

00000colspan="2"|—00
colspan="2"|Total

!19

0001000200
Preston North End (loan)

|2010–11

|Championship

|13

00000colspan="2"|—130
rowspan="4"|Charlton Athletic

|2011–12

|League One

|15

0101000170
2012–13{{Soccerbase season|id=13759|season=2012}}

|Championship

|30

20010colspan="2"|—312
2013–14

|Championship

|3

00020colspan="2"|—50
colspan="2"|Total

!48

2104000532
colspan="3"|Career total

!417

382211508046239

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

=International=

Source:{{NFT player |id=45130}}

class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan=2|Guyana

|2012

41
201320
colspan=2|Total61

Honours

Southend United

  • Football League Trophy runner-up: 2003–04{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3517244.stm |title=Blackpool 2–0 Southend |website=BBC Sport |date=21 March 2004 |access-date=17 March 2024}}

Hull City

Stoke City

Charlton Athletic

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20120819115806/http://www.cafc.co.uk/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=180949&tcmuri=24471 Leon Cort player profile] at cafc.co.uk
  • {{Soccerbase}}
  • {{NFT player|id=45130}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards

|bg = gold

|fg = navy

|list1 =

{{Southend United F.C. Player of the Year}}

{{Crystal Palace F.C. Player of the Year}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cort, Leon}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Southwark

Category:People from Bermondsey

Category:English men's footballers

Category:English people of Guyanese descent

Category:Sportspeople of Guyanese descent

Category:Guyanese men's footballers

Category:Guyana men's international footballers

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Dulwich Hamlet F.C. players

Category:Millwall F.C. players

Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players

Category:Stevenage F.C. players

Category:Southend United F.C. players

Category:Hull City A.F.C. players

Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players

Category:Stoke City F.C. players

Category:Burnley F.C. players

Category:Preston North End F.C. players

Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players

Category:Premier League players

Category:English Football League players

Category:National League (English football) players

Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. non-playing staff