Synopsis

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Loud and proud, Leigh Roose spent a significant amount of his career playing as an amateur when professionalism was dominating the sport. In addition to being a world-class goalkeeper, the eccentric Roose was well known for his Saville row suits and constant dapper appearance just as much as he was for being one of the best goalkeepers of the Ewardian age.

Roose spent the first six years of his career playing in Wales for semi-pro team, Aberyswth Town (as an amateur) while simultaneously studying at the local university. Although Roose later pursued a doctoral degree at Kings College in medicine (bacteriology) it does not appear that he ever completed the program. 

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After his time at Aberyswth, Roose split most of his career between Everton, Stoke and Sunderland where he played 10 of his last 12 seasons in the First Division while also amassing 21 international caps for Wales over a period of 11 years.

Although Roose’s off-field antics during this time were the stuff of legend (the web is filled with accounts of these events) they were mostly harmless and not the kind of acts that would have found him in front of the king’s bench – at least not on any serious charges.

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Most likely to what would have been the displeasure of his Presbyterian Minister father, Roose put his good looks and charismatic personality to full use and became one of societies most well-known (and well publicized) womanizers. Suffice it to say, if you had to choose one person on this list to go out for a night and hit the town with then hands down, Roose would have been your pick. 

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Roose’s style of play was unconventional for the day and well ahead of its time. In a period when goalkeepers rarely ventured far from their net, Roose loved to roam and often took part in the attack coming as far forward as the halfway line and in doing so, using the Game’s rules (and his athleticism) to his full advantage which allowed him to handle the ball anywhere in his own half.  In fact, it was Roose’s style of play that led the Association to change the game’s rules whereby the net minder would no longer be allowed handle the ball outside of his penalty area. Although his style of play was often described as “physical” there is no mention that he was ever characterized as either dirty or unsportsmanlike.

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Consistent with his on the field bravery, Roose enlisted for service in 1914 (even though he was well beyond the draft age) and soon went off to fight the Hun. The skills he developed throwing the football all those years were put to use by the British army who made Roose a grenade thrower.  Soon after his deployment, Roose was pressed into action in the theatres of France and Gallipoli where he was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery and promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal before eventually being killed in action at 39 years of age at an unknown location during the battle of the Somme.  

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Although his body was never recovered, Roose’s legend as one of Britain’s most beloved sportsman has lived on.

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Notable Accomplishments & Honors

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World XI                                         

Most Eligible Bachelor 2nd Place       

Military Medal Bravery