Len Newcombe

DOB: 28th February 1931

Position: Winger

Season of first appearance: 1947/48

Season of last appearance: 1947/48

Full Appearances: 1

Substitute: 0

Goals: 0

Also played for:

Fulham (23,3), Brentford (89,8), Guildford City and Sittingbourne.

Player Profile:

Swansea-born forward who was spotted playing youth football in South Wales by a former Fulham goalkeeper called Ossie Evans who immediately recommended Len to the Cottagers.

He joined Fulham's ground staff at the start of 1947, shortly before his 16th birthday, and in January 1948 Len joined Margate on loan.

He was still a few weeks short of his 17th birthday when he made his debut in a 2-0 Kent League defeat away to Gillingham Reserves on 31.1.48 but it was Len's only game for Margate. Although the local press said he showed some nice touches he was considered to be a little lightweight for the Kent League and quickly returned to Fulham.

Len went on to spend just under eight years with the Cottagers and made his first team debut in a 1-0 defeat at Burnley in the 1st Division on 25.8.51. In total he made 23 Football League appearances for Fulham and also played in many reserve team matches.

In April 1956 Len was transferred to Brentford and he was a first team regular up until the end of the 1958/59 season, making 89 senior appearances in all.

He moved on to Guildford City for the 1959/60 campaign and then had a spell with Sittingbourne that included the 1960/61 season.

Len's real Christian name was Bernard and he died in Swansea in August 1996 aged 65.