Leslie William Adlam (24 June 1897 – 1975) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Cardiff City, Oldham Athletic and Queens Park Rangers.[3] He began his career with non-League side Guildford United as a centre-forward before converting to a wing-half with Oldham where played more than 250 times.

Leslie Adlam
Personal information
Full name Leslie William Adlam[1]
Date of birth 24 June 1897
Place of birth Guildford, England
Date of death 1975 (aged 77–78)
Height 5 ft 10+12 in (1.79 m)[2]
Position(s) Right half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Farnham United Breweries
1922–1923 Guildford United 25 (17)
1923–1931 Oldham Athletic 279 (9)
1931–1932 Queens Park Rangers 56 (0)
1933–1934 Cardiff City 4 (0)
Guildford Post Office
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Adlam was playing for non-league side Guildford United, Adlam as a centre-forward when he attracted the attention of Oldham Athletic who signed him for a club record fee of £300 in March 1923,[4][5] beating off competition from Bristol Rovers.[6] He soon converted to a right-hand and in eight seasons with Oldham, he made over 250 appearances in all competitions.[5] He was granted a benefit match in April 1930 against Bristol City, guaranteeing him at least £500 from the fixture.[7] He left the club in 1931, spending two years with Queens Park Rangers where he captained the side. He left Rangers in 1933 after failing to agree a new deal.[8] He joined Third Division South side Cardiff City in December 1933.[9] After sitting out the club's first match due to his fitness levels,[8] he made his debut in a 3–1 defeat to Northampton Town on 23 December in place of John Duthie. He remained in the side for the three following matches, back-to-back games against Coventry City and a victory over Watford.[10][11] However, the club's directors decided to release Adlam in the first week of January 1934.[12]

Personal life

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Born in Guildford, Adlam's father Robert worked as a railway guard.[13] Before turning professional as a footballer, Adlam worked as a railway clerk.[7] He married May Turner, a shop assistant, on 19 February 1924 in Glodwick, Lancashire.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  2. ^ "The lure of promotion. Oldham Athletic". Athletic News. Manchester. 13 August 1923. p. 6.
  3. ^ Michael Joyce (October 2004). The Football League Player's Records 1888 to 1939. ISBN 1899468676.
  4. ^ Phillips, Stuart. The City Boys are in Town: the Who's Who of Guildford City Football Club 1921-1976. Knaphill Print Company Limited, 2016, p. 10. ISBN 978-1-78280-979-1
  5. ^ a b "Concerned About Benefit". Lancashire Evening Post. 29 December 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 19 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Soccer That Plays". Weekly Dispatch. 6 October 1929. p. 20. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b "A Rugby Recall". Lancashire Evening Post. 13 February 1930. p. 9. Retrieved 19 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ a b "City's New Player". Western Mail. 17 December 1933. p. 3. Retrieved 19 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Adlam Leaves Rangers". Middlesex County Times. 16 December 1933. p. 17. Retrieved 19 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ Shepherd, Richard (2002). The Definitive: Cardiff City F.C. Nottingham: SoccerData Publications. p. 35. ISBN 1-899-46817-X.
  11. ^ Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 10. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
  12. ^ "A Promising Full-back". Western Mail. 6 January 1934. p. 5. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Marriages at Christ Church in the District of Glodwick, Oldham". Lancashire Online. Retrieved 3 December 2016.