‘How I Began’…Mick Leach 

The following article appeared in ‘Scorcher & Score’ in the early 1970’s: 

‘Mick Leach has spent the whole of his professional soccer career with Queen’s Park Rangers. 

In that time, he has seen the club rise from the Third Division – to the Second Division – to the First Division – and back to the Second again. 

Only an unexplainable slump shortly after the start of the New Year stopped Rangers climbing back again last season, but they are one of the favourites this term. 

One reason for this is Mick Leach himself, whose unselfish running and considerable skills are sometimes not fully appreciated by the Rangers fans. Mick takes up his story for ‘Scorcher & Score’: 

“I was a fan of the great Spurs’ League and Cup Double winning side of the early sixties and it was always my dream to play in a super side like that.” 

“But my own football experience started in far more humble surroundings – at Churchfields School in Woodford Green – and, of course, it is the only way to begin.” 

“From Churchfields I went on to McEntee Technical School in Walthamstow and it was then that I started to be noticed.” 

“I was playing wing-half at the time in the Walthamstow Boys team that reached the quarter-finals of the English Schools Trophy.” 

“It was a great side that year with Roger and Ian Morgan on the wings, Derek Bellotti – who has since played with Charlton, Gillingham and Southend – in goal, and Dennis Bond, now at Charlton, at inside-forward.” 

“Roger, Ian and myself all signed for Queen’s Park Rangers after manager Alec Stock had come to watch us – and I’m sure that none of us have regretted it.” 

“At that time, I was playing for my school in the morning and a Rangers side that played in the North Harrow League in the afternoon. It was then that I became a striker and rarely went to a game without a couple of goals.” 

1964-65 was a big breakthrough season for Mick. A month after his 18th birthday he made his first-team debut and at the of the season he was capped by the England Youth team against Spain.  

He continues: “I was given my first-team chance after Rangers had been beaten 5-2 by Brentford in a local derby. It was a dream start because we beat Colchester 5-0 at the ‘Bush’ – and I scored one.” 

“I received my Youth cap in the international Youth Tournament in Germany as centre-forward, but Spain held us to a goalless draw and Chelsea’s Peter Osgood replaced me for the next game.” 

Mick’s greatest moment was still to come, however. He headed a vital goal for Rangers in the final match of the 1967-68 season at Aston Villa – which meant that the club beat Blackpool to the First Division on goal average. 

Rangers were unfortunately relegated at the end of their first season in Division One, but they are now all set for a return. 

If they do win promotion in 1973 the name of Mick Leach is sure to receive the acclaim it deserves – and not only from Rangers’ fans!’ 

I was at that Colchester game but don’t recall his debut goal, but I clearly remember his first away goal at the Old Den in October 1965. 

Derek Bellotti was an apprentice at the Club and after turning professional he later moved on to Gillingham in 1966. 

Steve Russell