Unlikely Superstars

 

                                                                      Limp Along Leslie

 

Limp Along Leslie was the most romantic story of a footballer who had a pronounced limp when playing. He was son of the great John Tomson of theb famous Darbury Rangers (red-black colours), when he played in 20s.
Leslie survived when his parents, John Tomson and his wife died in a car accident, but he suffered a bad leg injury leaving his left leg shorter than his right, and he walked with a slight limp, hence the nickname.

 

"Leslie could not move as fast as other players, but what he lacked in speed he more than make up for in skill and craft". Amongst his skills was an amazing ability to bend the ball in an uncanny manner, something which in those days was largely limited to foreign players  In 1951 (Wizard) he managed to get in the Darbury Rangers B team and later with Ted Ingram as manager, became a first team player. In 1953, 1954, 1955 Leslie led his team to Wembley and also became an international footballer with England.

                           Chris Waddle

 

Signed for just £1,000 from Northern League outfit Tow Law Town, first impressions of Waddle were mixed, with many questioning his gangly running style and lack of strength. Both Sunderland and Coventry City had already rejected him, but Newcastle took a gamble on the then 19-year-old and handed him a one-year contract during the summer of 1980.

He went on to play in the European Cup with Marseille, in an FA Cup final with Tottenham and, perhaps most famously of all, at the World Cup finals with England. But there was a time when Christopher Roland Waddle was little more than a sausage seasoner from Gateshead.

However he went on to become one of the most talked about talents in the English game, and his quick feet, creativity and eye for goal helped make his transition to the top flight an effortless one.