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Leo Fortune-West

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Leo Fortune-West
Leo Fortune-West 3.png
Fortune-West warming up for Cambridge United before the 2008 Conference Premier play-off Final
Personal information
Full name Leopold Paul Osborne Fortune-West[1]
Date of birth (1971-04-09) 9 April 1971 (age 53)[1]
Place of birth Stratford, England
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1989 Tiptree United
1989–1992 Bishop's Stortford
1992–1993 Dartford
1993–1994 Dagenham & Redbridge
1994–1995 Stevenage Borough 17 (7)
1995–1998 Gillingham 67 (18)
1997 → Leyton Orient (loan) 3 (0)
1998 Lincoln City 9 (1)
1998 → Rotherham United (loan) 5 (4)
1998–1999 Brentford 11 (0)
1999–2000 Rotherham United 59 (26)
2000–2003 Cardiff City 92 (23)
2003–2006 Doncaster Rovers 90 (19)
2006–2007 Rushden & Diamonds 6 (0)
2006 → Torquay United (loan) 5 (0)
2006–2007 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 19 (7)
2007–2008 Cambridge United 23 (6)
2008 → York City (loan) 13 (2)
2008–2009 Alfreton Town 15 (5)
2009 North Ferriby United 2 (0)
2009–2010 Goole
2010–2013 Armthorpe Welfare
Total 436 (118)
Managerial career
2012–2013 Armthorpe Welfare
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leopold Paul Osborne "Leo" Fortune-West (born 9 April 1971) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Fortune-West started his career with Eastern Counties League side Tiptree United, and played for four more non-League sides before securing a move into the Football League with Gillingham in July 1995. He finished his first season with them as top scorer, and had several short stints with other League clubs before joining Cardiff City, where he played for three seasons. He played for the side as they achieved two promotions, but left on a free transfer.

Fortune-West spent three seasons with Doncaster Rovers, winning promotion in his first, but was released in 2006. He then moved back into non-League football with Rushden & Diamonds, but soon made loan returns to the League with Torquay United and Shrewsbury Town. Fortune-West joined Cambridge United in August 2007 before starting a spell on loan with York City in January 2008. He then had spells further down the pyramid with Alfreton Town, North Ferriby United, Goole and Armthorpe Welfare.

Career

Early career in non-League football

Fortune-West was born on 9 April 1971 in Stratford, London[1] and grew up as a supporter of Leyton Orient.[2] He started his football career in non-League football with Tiptree United in the Eastern Counties League at the age of 17, with whom he played one season, filling the roles of full-back, centre-back and striker.[2] He moved onto Bishop's Stortford and joined Dartford in the season they went out of business.[2] A period at Dagenham & Redbridge followed this before he signed for Stevenage Borough in the Football Conference in 1994.[2] He scored seven goals in seventeen league appearances for Stevenage in 1994–95,[3] after which he moved into the Football League with Gillingham on 12 July 1995.[1] The fee of £5,000 was raised for the cash-strapped Kent club by its Supporters' Club.[4] Becoming a full-time professional necessitated giving up a degree course at the University of Greenwich.[2][5]

Football League

Fortune-West's first season at Gillingham, 1995–96, saw him score in each of his first three league matches.[6] He was Gillingham's top scorer with fifteen goals from forty-five appearances,[7] as the club earned promotion into the Second Division as Third Division runners-up.[8] After having made eight appearances and scored three goals for Gillingham during 1996–97, he joined Leyton Orient on loan in March 1997 until the end of the season, making three appearances.[9] He signed for Second Division side Lincoln City on a free transfer in June 1998, and after making eleven appearances and scoring one goal, was loaned out to Rotherham United in the Third Division.[10] He scored four goals in five appearances during a one-month loan spell, before Brentford signed him for a £60,000 fee in November 1998.[10] His debut for Brentford came in a 2–1 away defeat to Leyton Orient on 21 November 1998, and scored one goal in fifteen appearances, before returning to Rotherham for a fee of £35,000 in February 1999.[10]

He scored eight goals in seventeen appearances as Rotherham made the Third Division play-offs, which saw them lose to Leyton Orient in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-final.[10] The 1999–2000 season saw Fortune-West finish as Rotherham's top scorer with seventeen goals in forty-three appearances,[11] while the club won promotion into the Second Division as Third Division runners-up.[12] After a month into 2000–01, he joined Cardiff City of the Third Division for a fee of £300,000 on 11 September 2000.[1] They earned promotion into the Second Division as Third Division runners-up,[13] and he scored thirteen goals from forty-one appearances over the season.[14] By the end of the season, Cardiff's rivals Swansea City were believed to be ready to make an attempt at signing Fortune-West.[15] He scored Cardiff's second goal in their play-off semi-final first leg match against Stoke City, which finished as a 2–1 victory at the Britannia Stadium in April 2002.[16] However, after featuring in a 2–0 defeat in the second leg at Ninian Park, Cardiff missed out on making the final after losing 3–2 on aggregate.[17] He finished 2001–02 with forty-four appearances and eleven goals.[18] He earned a second promotion with Cardiff in 2002–03 after they won the play-offs,[19] but was released following the completion of this season,[20] in which he made twenty-eight appearances and scored four goals.[21]

Bristol Rovers denied that they were interested in signing Fortune-West in June 2003,[22] before Doncaster Rovers of the Third Division signed him on a two-year contract.[23] His first season with the club, 2003–04, saw him score twelve goals in forty-three appearances[24] as they won the Third Division championship, earning a place in the Second Division.[25] During this season, he formed a strike partnership with Gregg Blundell.[26] Fortune-West suffered a knee injury caused by wear and tear to the knee joint in October 2004, which resulted in him undergoing surgery, and he returned to the side in March 2005.[27] He was to be offered a new deal in April 2005[28] and finished the season with seven goals in twenty-eight appearances.[29] The 2005–06 season was his last with Doncaster, as he was released[30] after scoring four goals in thirty-three appearances.[31]

Rushden & Diamonds and Shrewsbury Town

File:Leo Fortune-West 2.png
Fortune-West warming up for Cambridge United before the 2008 Conference Premier play-off Final

He returned into non-League football after he signed for Conference National club Rushden & Diamonds in June 2006 on a two-year contract.[32] He joined Torquay United of League Two on loan in September 2006 as cover for the injured Mickey Evans,[33] but was recalled by Rushden due to an injury crisis in early November 2006.[34] He had made five appearances for Torquay.[35] Days later, he signed for another League Two team, Shrewsbury Town, originally on a two-month loan deal.[36] His Shrewsbury debut came as a sixtieth-minute substitute in a 2–0 away defeat to Milton Keynes Dons on 18 November 2006,[35] after hoping he would be able to play in the FA Cup tie against Hereford United.[37] The loan was extended to the end of 2006–07 in January 2007.[38] Following Shrewsbury's 2–0 win home over Notts County in February, manager Gary Peters referred to Fortune-West as 'Ronseal', as he does "exactly what it says on the tin".[39] His final appearance for Shrewsbury came in the 2007 Football League Two play-off Final against Bristol Rovers at Wembley Stadium on 26 May 2007, coming on as a substitute in the eightieth-minute, as Shrewsbury lost 3–1.[40] With the season over, Fortune-West returned to his parent club Rushden,[41] who he left by mutual consent in August 2007.[42]

Return to non-League football

He signed for Conference Premier team Cambridge United in August 2007 after playing for them in a pre-season friendly.[43][44] He started his Cambridge career by scoring four goals in the first three matches, which included a hat-trick in their 5–1 home victory over Farsley Celtic on 21 August 2007.[45] He was named as the Conference Premier Player of the Month for August 2007.[46] He signed for Conference Premier rivals York City on loan until the end of 2007–08 on 31 January 2008,[47] after which he said he was looking to sign for the club permanently in the summer.[48] He scored on his debut, a 2–0 home win over Grays Athletic[49] after coming on as a 46th-minute substitute for Richard Brodie on 9 February 2008.[50] He started ahead of Brodie in the following matches against Halifax Town and Histon,[51] but struggled during these matches.[52] Cambridge attempted to recall him from his loan in March 2008, but league rules meant that he would not be able to return.[53] He returned to Cambridge following the expiration of his loan spell at York in April 2008,[54] in which he made thirteen appearances and scored two goals.[49] He featured in Cambridge's play-off semi-final second leg 2–1 win over Burton Albion; this result meant the team reached the final 4–3 on aggregate.[55] He came on for the last fifteen minutes of the final against Exeter City at Wembley Stadium on 18 May 2008, but Cambridge lost 1–0.[56] He was released by the club in May 2008[57] after making thirty-three appearances and scoring seven goals.[45]

On 11 June 2008, Fortune-West joined Conference North outfit Alfreton Town on a one-year contract for 2008–09.[58] He made his debut in a 3–2 home victory over Hyde United on 9 August 2008[59] and scored two headers late on in the following match, a 2–2 draw with Solihull Moors.[60] He scored a sixty-first-minute equaliser with a close range header against Bury Town in the FA Cup first round on 8 November 2008, bringing the score to 2–2, which eventually finished as a 4–2 victory, seeing Alfreton progress to the second round.[61] After struggling to affirm a place in the team, he was released by Alfreton on 28 January 2009.[62] He signed for North Ferriby United of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and made his debut as a sixty-fifth-minute substitute in a 4–0 away defeat to Nantwich Town on 28 February 2009.[63] Fortune-West joined Northern Premier League Division One South club Goole in July 2009,[64] debuting in the 1–1 home draw with Carlton Town on 15 August 2009.[65] In November 2010 he linked up with Northern Counties East League Premier Division side Armthorpe Welfare.[66] In May 2012 he became player-manager of Armthorpe, following the resignation of long-term boss Des Bennett.[67] On 4 April 2013 he resigned from his position.[68]

Personal life

Fortune-West has two nephews who are professional footballers; Clayton Fortune and Jonathan Fortune.[69] He married Radmila Cvijetinovic in Tower Hamlets, London in June 1996,[70] and the couple had a child in 2000.[71]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stevenage Borough 1994–95[3] Football Conference 17 7 — 17 7
Gillingham 1995–96[7] Third Division 40 12 3 2 2 1 0 0 45 15
1996–97[9] Second Division 7 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 8 3
1997–98[72] Second Division 20 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 22 4
Total 67 18 4 2 4 2 0 0 75 22
Leyton Orient (loan) 1996–97[9] Third Division 3 0 — — — 3 0
Lincoln City 1998–99[10] Second Division 9 1 0 0 2 0 — 11 1
Rotherham United (loan) 1998–99[10] Third Division 5 4 — — — 5 4
Brentford 1998–99[10] Third Division 11 0 1 0 — 3[lower-alpha 1] 1 15 1
Rotherham United 1998–99[10] Third Division 15 8 — — 2[lower-alpha 2] 0 17 8
1999–2000[73] Third Division 39 17 2 0 2 0 0 0 43 17
2000–01[14] Second Division 5 1 — 2 0 — 7 1
Total 59 26 2 0 4 0 2 0 67 26
Cardiff City 2000–01[14] Third Division 37 12 4 1 — 0 0 41 13
2001–02[18] Second Division 36 9 4 1 1 0 3[lower-alpha 3] 1 44 11
2002–03[21] Second Division 19 2 5 1 2 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 1 28 4
Total 92 23 13 3 3 0 5 2 113 28
Doncaster Rovers 2003–04[24] Third Division 39 11 1 0 2 1 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 43 12
2004–05[29] League One 24 6 0 0 3 1 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 28 7
2005–06[31] League One 27 2 1 0 3 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 2 33 4
Total 90 19 2 0 8 2 4 2 104 23
Rushden & Diamonds 2006–07[74] Conference National 6 0 — — — 6 0
Torquay United (loan) 2006–07[35] League Two 5 0 — — 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 6 0
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2006–07[35] League Two 19 7 1 0 — 3[lower-alpha 4] 0 23 7
Cambridge United 2007–08[45] Conference Premier 23 6 5 1 — 5[lower-alpha 5] 0 33 7
York City (loan) 2007–08[49] Conference Premier 13 2 — — — 13 2
Alfreton Town 2008–09[59] Conference North 15 5 4 3 — 2[lower-alpha 6] 0 21 8
North Ferriby United 2008–09[63] NPL Premier Division 2 0 — — 0 0 2 0
Career total 436 118 32 9 21 4 25 5 514 136
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearances in Third Division play-offs
  3. ↑ One appearance in Football League Trophy, two appearances and one goal in Second Division play-offs
  4. ↑ Appearances in League Two play-offs
  5. ↑ Two appearances in FA Trophy, one in Conference League Cup, two in Conference Premier play-offs
  6. ↑ One appearance in Conference League Cup, one in FA Trophy

Honours

Doncaster Rovers

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 Williams; Williams, eds. Non-League Club Directory 2009. pp. 164–165.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  65. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  71. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  72. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  73. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  74. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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