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Which Players have played for both Leeds United & Newport County AFC?

21 August 2017

Club News

Which Players have played for both Leeds United & Newport County AFC?

21 August 2017

Thirteen players have worn the shirts of both Newport County AFC and Leeds United during their playing career. Eight of them have moved directly between the clubs, with the last transfer between the clubs being made in 1971. Here, you can find out about the players, as the clubs prepare to meet for only the second time in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday.

John Armand

Armand, a midfielder, is a notable figure in the history of Leeds United, being the first non-British player to sign for the club.

He played for the Whites between the years of 1st December 1922 until 1st May 1929, making 74 appearances and scoring 24 goals in all competitions.

He was sold by Leeds to Swansea City for £500 before moving to County on 1st August 1932. He remained with the Exiles for just over a year, before moving to Scarborough on 1st October 1933 where he finished his career.

 

Harry Duggan

Duggan, a right winger, was the first player to transfer directly between the clubs when County signed him from Leeds in 1936.

Prior to his spell with the Exiles, Duggan featured heavily for Leeds over 11 seasons, making 196 appearances and scoring 46 goals.

At County, Duggan was instrumental to the side, captaining the Exiles to the Third Division South Title in 1939.

Retiring from County in the summer of 1940, Duggan made 91 appearances and scored 14 goals. He also featured for County during the wartime 1939-40 season, making a further 13 appearances in the South-West Regional League.

Duggan made 12 appearances for Ireland during his career, the last of those whilst with County.

 

Arthur Hydes

Hydes, a striker, is another player to transfer between the clubs.

He signed a professional contract for Leeds in the summer of 1930, and was a prolific goal scorer for the club, netting 82 goals in 137 appearances.

That included being The Whites top scorer for three consecutive years, between the 1932/33 – 1934/35 seasons.

Hydes then moved to County in the summer of 1938 but could only manage 27 appearances and 13 goals over eight years with the club due to the Second World War.

He did, however, guest for clubs such as Bradford City, Barnsley, and Nottingham Forest during the wartime period.

In 1946, Hydes moved from County to Exeter City. Unfortunately, Hydes struggled with injury during his spell at the Grecians, making just four appearances before being forced to retire from persistent leg injuries.

 

Harry Fearnley

Fearnley, a goalkeeper, started his career at Bradford PA before moving to Leeds in 1945.

He struggled to become number one at Elland Road, making just 29 appearances, as Jim Twomey and Harry Searson started over him, so moved on to Halifax Town in January 1949.

County came calling that summer, and was the club where Fearnley featured the most.

In fact, he made 103 appearances for the club, before moving to Selby Town in 1953.

Spells with Rochdale and Winsford United soon followed, before his retirement in 1956.

Interestingly, Fearnley was one of two future Exiles to feature for Leeds in our FA Cup meeting on 8th January 1949 – County winning 3-1 in front of 31,500 at Elland Road.

 

Roly Deaper

Deaper, a centre-back, is another player to move between the clubs.

Starting in the non-league with Boston United, Leeds signed Deaper for £500 in 1948.

However, Deaper struggled to make an impact at Elland Road, and moved to County in 1949 after making just five appearances. He was used in a part-exchange for Harold Williams, with Deaper valued at £8000 in the deal.

Again, Deaper struggled to hold down a first-team spot, and moved to Shrewsbury Town in 1950 after making just 16 appearances for the Exiles.

He made 74 appearances for Shrewsbury, scoring five goals, before retiring in 1952.

Deaper is the other player to have started for Leeds in the Exiles 3-1 triumph at Elland Road in 1949.

 

Harold Williams

Williams, a right winger, has the accolade of being the only player to move between County and Leeds twice.

In his first spell at County, Williams made 75 appearances, scoring 17 goals, before moving to Leeds in 1949 for £12,000.

He became a club stalwart during his eight years at the club, making 228 appearances, scoring 35 goals.

He moved back to County for the second spell in March 1957, in a £500 deal, adding a further 10 appearances with the Exiles.

A move to Bradford Park Avenue came that summer, but Williams retired mid-way through the season.

Williams played for County in the 3-1 win at Elland Road, earning his move to Leeds after playing a starring role in the victory.

Interestingly, Williams was only part-time with County back then, and had to complete his milk round before being allowed to travel to the game with the team.

He also made four appearances for Wales during his playing career. 

 

Can you name the other seven? Head over to the club Twitter (@NewportCounty) and guess to see if you are right!

The seven other players that have worn both amber and white will be revealed in another article tomorrow. 


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