Leon Townley

Tottenham Hotspur

Growing up in Loughton, Essex, England, Townley began his career as a trainee at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in 1992. He signed professional terms at the age of 18 in 1994. Townley received his maiden call into the first team for Spurs' 1995 Intertoto Cup campaign, though he failed to make an appearance and was an unused substitute for an infamous 8–0 defeat to Cologne. Townley left in 1997 after failing to break into the first team.

Brentford

Townley signed for Division Two side Brentford on 18 September 1997 in a £25,000 deal (rising to £55,000 on appearances), signing a three-year contract and linking up with former Spurs teammates Kevin Dearden, Ijah Anderson, Simon Wormull and Simon Spencer. Manager Eddie May commented "he's big, strong and quick for a defender. He tries to play football and doesn't waste the ball, but he is also a big boy and has a presence in the penalty box". Townley made his debut the following day with a starting appearance in a 1–1 home league draw with Wycombe Wanderers. After the match, he commented that "it was more physical than the reserves. I got a bad whack on the hip, but fortunately I could carry on". He scored his first Brentford goals in a 3–1 win over Blackpool on 13 December, bagging the winner after two Blackpool players were sent off on the hour mark and scoring again in the 78th minute. He scored in his first appearance in the Football League Trophy, grabbing an injury time consolation in a 2–1 second round defeat to Luton Town on 13 January 1998. He made only two more appearances that season and was unable to help prevent Brentford's relegation to Division Three. Townley made 19 appearances during the 1997–98 season and scored three goals. New manager Ron Noades elected to transfer-list Townley and he failed to make a single appearance during the 1998–99 Division Three title-winning season, instead appearing for the reserve team. Townley left the club in September 1999 after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

Slough Town (loan & permanent transfer)

Townley joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Slough Town on a one-month loan on 23 August 1999, linking up with former Brentford teammate Paul Barrowcliff. He had a dream start, scoring on his debut in a 3–0 league win over Purfleet. He scored again three games later in a 4–0 demolition of Billericay Town. Townley signed permanently for the club in September. He scored his third goal for the club in a 2–1 Isthmian League Full Members Cup victory over Carshalton Athletic on 16 November. He scored his maiden Berks & Bucks Senior Cup goal in a 3–0 victory over Hungerford Town on 22 February 2000. A virtual ever-present, Townley made a total of 48 appearances in all competitions during the 1999–00 season and scored four goals. He made 33 appearances during the 2000–01 season and left the club after their relegation to the Isthmian League Division One. Townley made a total of 81 appearances during his time at Slough and scored four goals.

Aldershot Town

Townley signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Aldershot Town on 18 August 2001. He made 43 appearances during the 2001–02 season and scored one goal. He left the club after the season.

St Albans City

Townley joined Isthmian League Premier Division side St Albans City on 28 July 2002. He scored on his debut in a 4–0 Herts Charity Cup first round win over Ware on 3 August. He scored his second goal with a scrambled equaliser in a 2–2 league draw with Purfleet on 1 October. Townley made 20 appearances in all competitions and scored two goals during the 2002–03 season.

Windsor & Eton (loan & permanent transfer)

Townley signed on loan for Isthmian League Division One South side Windsor & Eton in November 2002 and later joined permanently. He scored two goals in two FA Trophy games against Vauxhall Motors and Aylesbury United in February 2003.

Boreham Wood

Townley signed for Southern League Eastern Division side Boreham Wood in September 2004. Townley scored a headed goal versus Berkhamsted on 29 August 2005. He left the club after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent in early October 2005. He made five appearances during the 2005–06 season and scored one goal.

Hitchin Town

Townley joined Southern Premier League side Hitchin Town on 13 October 2005. He made six league appearances for the club.

Debden Sports

Townley resurfaced with Herts Senior County League side Debden Sports in 2007. Playing for the club's reserve team, he scored seven goals during the 2007–08 season. He scored 16 goals during the 2008–09 season and also managed the side.

Fleetwood

In 2012, Townley joined Fleetwood, playing five-a-side football in a local league in Harlow.