Full name John Edward Leighton Name Teddy Leighton Playing position | Role Footballer | |
Date of birth (1865-03-26)26 March 1865 Date of death 15 April 1944(1944-04-15) (aged 79) Died April 15, 1944, Nottingham, United Kingdom | ||
Place of birth Nottingham, England | ||
John Edward "Teddy" Leighton (26 March 1865 – 15 April 1944) was an English amateur footballer who played on the wing for Nottingham Forest and the Corinthians in the 1880s and made one appearance for England in 1886.
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Football career
Leighton was born in Nottingham and after playing schoolboy and junior football in the town, he joined Nottingham Forest in 1884. He joined Forest prior to the advent of the Football League and was thus restricted to friendly and cup matches. Leighton scored a goal in the 4–1 victory over local rivals, Notts Olympic in the second round of the FA Cup in November 1885; the following year he scored twice against Grimsby Town in the second round, repeating this in November 1887 against Mellors Ltd.
His England call-up came on 13 March 1886 when, along with his Nottingham Forest teammate Tinsley Lindley, he was one of eight new caps selected to play against Ireland at Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast. England "totally dominated" the match as Benjamin Spilsbury scored four goals in a 6–1 victory.
Leighton also played for the Corinthians between 1885 and 1889, during which time he made seven appearances.
Life outside football
By profession, Leighton was a wholesale stationer and paper merchant in Nottingham. He was an avid supporter of Nottingham Forest and watched most of their matches at the City Ground at all levels; he collapsed and died at the City Ground on 15 April 1944, aged 79.