{{Short description|English footballer (1926–2012)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Les Devonshire | image = | fullname = Leslie Ernest Devonshire | height = | birth_date = {{birth date|1926|6|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Acton, England | death_date = {{death date and age|2012|12|19|1926|6|13|df=y}} | death_place = Southall, England | position = Winger | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1945–1948 | years2 = 1948–1949 | years3 = 1949–1950 | years4 = 1950–1951 | years5 = 1951–1955 | years6 = 1955–1956 | years7 = 1956–1960 | clubs1 = Queens Park Rangers | clubs2 = Brentford | clubs3 = Wealdstone | clubs4 = Chester | clubs5 = Crystal Palace | clubs6 = Margate | clubs7 = Canterbury City | caps1 = 0 | caps2 = 0 | caps3 = | caps4 = 44 | caps5 = 83 | caps6 = 23 | goals1 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | goals3 = | goals4 = 4 | goals5 = 12 | goals6 = 12 | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | managerclubs1 = | manageryears1 = | club-update = | ntupdate = }} '''Leslie Ernest Devonshire''' (13 June 1926 – 19 December 2012){{citation needed|date=February 2013}} was an English professional footballer who made 127 appearances in The Football League for Chester and Crystal Palace between 1950 and 1955. His son, Alan Devonshire, was capped by England.<ref name="Les Devonshire">{{cite web|url=http://www.margatefchistory.co.uk/lesdevonshire.htm |title=Les Devonshire |publisher=Margate FC History |accessdate=2008-02-23 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307055435/http://www.margatefchistory.co.uk/lesdevonshire.htm |archivedate= 7 March 2007 }}</ref>
==Playing career== Devonshire played as a winger and began his career with Queens Park Rangers and then Brentford without making league appearances for either.<ref name="Les Devonshire"/> After a spell with non-league Wealdstone, Devonshire joined Football League Third Division North side Chester in time for the 1950–51 season. Devonshire missed just two first-team games during the campaign for Chester, marking his home debut with a goal in a 3–1 win over Oldham Athletic on 23 August 1950.<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= stats section|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref>
He then returned south and joined Crystal Palace, where he spent four years involved in the first-team.<ref name="Les Devonshire"/> This was followed by a spell playing for non-league sides Margate and Canterbury City until 1960.<ref name="Les Devonshire"/>
Devonshire lived in Perivale, Middlesex in his last years.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} He died on 19 December 2012, leaving 11 grandchildren.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070307055435/http://www.margatefchistory.co.uk/lesdevonshire.htm Margate FC History profile]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devonshire, Les}} Category:1926 births Category:2012 deaths Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football wingers Category:English Football League players Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players Category:Brentford F.C. players Category:Wealdstone F.C. players Category:Chester City F.C. players Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players Category:Margate F.C. players Category:Canterbury City F.C. players Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Ealing Category:People from Acton, London Category:20th-century English sportsmen