Les Burgess

We are sad to announce that former Corinthian-Casuals Schools' XI player Les Burgess has died aged 81.

He began playing for the Schools' XI in the late 1990s and appeared intermittently for about seven seasons. He went on two 'Veterans' tours  - to China in 2002 and to South Africa. The trip to Shanghai, China, was memorable for the fact that Les lost his passport en route to Heathrow and the ensuing drama meant that he only arrived two days after the rest of the party!

Before playing for C-C, Les had captained Chesham United in the F.A. Amateur Cup Final in April 1968 against Leytonstone. He played at centre-half in front of 52,000 spectators at Wembley and, although losing 0-1 in the final, he was the dynamo behind Chesham's successful season. He was described at the time at the best pivot in the Athenian League. Chesham has the rare distinction of reaching the final having had to play through from the preliminary round. 

Beginning his footballing career as a junior at Watford, Les gained Hertfordshire County honours, then moved to Queen's Park Rangers, Finchley, then Chesham. For many years he was employed as a public relations officer in the admiralty.

Leslie Reginald Frederick Burgess was born at Hendon in 1939; he died unexpectedly but peacefully, aged 81, in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, on 12th August, 2021.