Leonard Nicholas Weare (23 July 1934 – 21 September 2012) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He has the distinction of being one of a relatively small group of British footballers to play 500 English Football League matches for one club, the only other Welshmen being Ryan Giggs, Neville Southall and Roger Freestone.

Len Weare
Personal information
Full name Leonard Nicholas Weare[1]
Date of birth (1934-07-23)23 July 1934
Place of birth Newport, Wales
Date of death 21 September 2012(2012-09-21) (aged 78)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Temple Street YMCA[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1955–1970 Newport County 525 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Weare holds the record for the most football league appearances for Newport County with 525 from 1955 to his retirement as a player in 1970.[2] In all competitions Weare made over 600 appearances for Newport County, his only club. Weare was selected for Wales international squads but never attained a full cap.

Weare died on 21 September 2012. He was 78 years old. A minute's applause was held in his honour at Newport County's match versus Southport on 22 September 2012. He was entered into the Newport County Hall of Fame as part of the Centenary Celebrations at Newport's Celtic Manor Resort. He died weeks before the event but knew about the plans. His family received the award on his behalf.

His brother, Jack, was also a footballer.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Len Weare". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  2. ^ Len Weare at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  3. ^ Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. p. 212. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.