*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Les McGuire
Appearances: 53 Goals: 11
Date / Year of birth: 31st January 1929
Position: Striker
Season of first appearance: 1952/53
Season of last appearance: 1955/56
Also played for: Gillingham (6,2), Tonbridge, Ramsgate Athletic, Guildford City and Dover
5' 10" tall striker born in Bethnal Green, London who had two spells with Margate.
Les played for London Schoolboys as a youth and turned out for Eastern Command during his time in the army. In 1949 Gillingham signed him and on 17.1.51 Les made a sensational first team debut for the Gills, scoring twice in a 9-4 win over Exeter at Priestfield. He went on to make five further senior appearances spanning the 1950/51-1951/52 seasons but never scored again and in July 1952 Les signed for Margate shortly after being released by Gillingham.
He made his debut in a 2-0 win over Whitstable at Hartsdown on 28.8.52 and went on to score six goals in 22 appearances during the 1952/53 campaign. However Les wasn't a big favourite with Margate's supporters and he was regularly 'barracked'. That was a factor in him deciding to leave the club in the summer of 1953.
Les joined Tonbridge and spent the 1953/54 and 1954/55 seasons with them. On 26.2.55 he scored a hat-trick against Margate in a Kent Senior Cup game at Hartsdown Park that Tonbridge won 6-1.
In June 1955 he returned to Hartsdown Park and during the 1955/56 season Les played 31 games but only managed to score five times in a season during which his performances were hampered by numerous niggling injuries. On 19.11.55 he was in the Margate side that drew 2-2 with Walsall at Hartsdown Park in the FA Cup 1st Round and Les also played in the replay at Walsall on 24.11.55 that the home side won 6-1.
In July 1956 He left the club once more and this time signed for Ramsgate. A month later Les scored a hat-trick as the Rams drew 3-3 with Margate at Southwood in a special 'gala' friendly match to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Kent County Football Association. He stayed with the Rams for the 1957/58 season too.
In the summer of 1959 Les signed for Dover but he was forced to retire due to injury at the end of the 1959/60 campaign. He was only 31 at the time.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1952/53 (MFC) |
22 (43) |
N/A |
6 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (11TH OF 17) |
PR |
2R |
RU |
JW |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1955/56 (MFC) |
31 (45) |
N/A |
5 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2ND OF 17) |
1R |
1R |
RU |
1R |
|
Played in FA Cup
1st Round (19.11.55 - drew 2-2 with Walsall at
home). Played in FA Cup 1st Round replay (24.11.55 - lost 6-1 at Walsall). | |||||||||