Les Slatter

Les Slatter

After playing in a Boys Club international trial at Luton in February 1949 the Hatters were quick to sign the ball-playing inside forward leading to a sensational Football League debut as a 17 year old in a 0-0 home draw with Grimsby the following September.

‘An old head on young shoulders’ said the report at the time but Les did not get any further chances at Kenilworth Road and drifted off to Kettering. After moving to Belfast Crusaders he was invited back to England with Aston Villa keen on his services.

He did not make a first team appearance at Villa Park and finished his League career at York in 1954/55 before returning to live in Dunstable and turning out for Bedford amongst others.

Les, who still lives in Dunstable in retirement, was playing local football until he suffered a stroke at the age of 56.