Billy Leeds
FullnameWilliam Edward Michael Leeds
Birth date4 April 1880
Birth placeCarlton, Victoria
Death date6 April 1955 (aged 75)
Death placeCarlton, Victoria
OriginalteamBrunswick
PositionForward/Defender
Statsend1905
Years 11903–1905
Club 1Carlton
Games goals 127 (14)

William Edward Michael Leeds (4 April 1880 – 6 April 1955)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Leeds, who could play both forward and down back, had his first season for Carlton in 1903 but then retired to pursue an umpiring career. After officiating in two games early in the 1904 VFL season, Carlton lured him back to the club to fill a gap left by injuries and he starred from the half back flank in their semi-final win over Essendon. He also played in their losing Grand Final that year which makes him the only league footballer to umpire a match and appear in a Grand Final in the same season.

References

  1. ^ "Billy Leeds". Blueseum - Online Carlton Football Club Museum. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  • Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.