Arthur Leong (footballer)

Arthur William Leong (1931 – 30 August 2023) was an association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.[1] Born in Guangzhou, China, he emigrated to New Zealand as a two-year-old and became the first ethnic Chinese player to represent New Zealand in football.[2]

Arthur Leong
Personal information
Full name Arthur William Leong
Date of birth 1931 (1931)
Place of birth Guangzhou, China
Date of death (aged 92)
Place of death Hamilton, New Zealand
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Hamilton Technical Old Boys
International career
1962 New Zealand 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

As well as winning a Chatham Cup winners medal as captain of Hamilton Technical Old Boys on the 1st of September at The Basin Reserve, Wellington beating Northern 4–1, Leong played two official A-international matches for the All Whites in 1962 against visitors New Caledonia,[3] the first a 4–1 on 2 June 1962, his second a 4–2 win on 4 June.[1][4] They were to be his only official matches as New Zealand played no other official matches until 1967.[3]

In December 2013, Arthur and his wife Maureen, a retired midwife, were both awarded Community Awards by the Hamilton City Council at a special ceremony attended by their extended family, for service to the community.[5]

Leong died in Hamilton on 30 August 2023, at the age of 92.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "A-International Appearances - Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Asia:NZ Media Newsletter". Scoop. 13 September 2005.
  3. ^ a b "New Zealand International Matches 1904-2006". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  4. ^ "A-International Lineups". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  5. ^ "Awards celebrate years of community service". Waikato Times. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Former All White Arthur Leong dies". The New Zealand Herald. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Arthur Leong obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.