Les Spencer

Les Spencer

Les was working in a newspaper office in his native Manchester when he pestered one of the sports reporters to get him a trial at Rochdale. After a few reserve outings, Les was plunged into the Rochdale first team and finished up as top scorer in his first full season.

Spotted by Luton scout George Martin when playing at Watford, Les signed on for the Hatters in 1960 in exchange for £4,000.

After a promising start at Kenilworth Road the talented inside-forward suffered a groin pain which was miss-diagnosed leading to septicaemia and 18 months in plaster from neck to ankle and an abrupt end to his playing career.

After a testimonial game, which was the least the Town could do in the circumstances, Les returned to the newspaper office from where he started and lived in Manchester until his death in 2012..