Hugh Lester

Hugh Lester (1891 — 5 August 1933) was an American professional association footballer. He began his career with Liverpool in 1911, making two appearances in the Football League as an outside-forward. He later played for Oldham Athletic, where he converted to playing as a full-back, and Reading. A former amateur sprinter, he was considered "the fastest player in professional football" at the time.[2]

Hugh Lester
Personal information
Date of birth 1891
Place of birth Lehigh, United States
Date of death 5 August 1933 (age 42)
Place of death Abergele, Wales
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Playing position(s) Outside-forward/Full-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1911 St. Helen's Recreation
1911–1913 Liverpool 2 (0)
1913–1915 Oldham Athletic 1 (0)
1919–1920 Reading
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born in Lehigh, Iowa, Lester was an amateur sprinter and recorded a personal best time of 10.5 seconds in the 100 metres.[3] After moving to Britain, he took up football and played for local amateur teams Earlestown and St. Helen's Recreation. In 1911, he joined First Division side Liverpool. After initially featuring for the club's reserve side in the Central League,[4] he made his professional debut on 8 April 1912 in a 2–0 victory over Bradford City. His appearance made him the first non-British player to feature for the club.[3]

He made one further appearance for the club, on 14 October 1912 in a 4–1 defeat against Sheffield United,[3] before joining Second Division side Oldham Athletic in May 1913.[5] He converted to playing as a full-back at Oldham but made just one senior appearance for the club.[1][6] The Football League was suspended in 1915 due to the outbreak of World War I, with Lester appearing as a guest player for Prescot during the hostilities. When competitive football resumed in 1919, he joined Southern Football League side Reading where he spent one season.[2]

He later played for amateur clubs Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and Weston-super-Mare before retiring. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on 5 August 1933 along with his passenger when they collided with a car in Abergele.[7]

Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool 1911–12[3] First Division 1000000010
1912–13[3] First Division 1000000010
Liverpool total 2000000020
Oldham Athletic 1913–14[1] Second Division 0000000000
1914–15[1] Second Division 1000000010
Total 3000000030
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References
  1. "Hugh Lester". Play Up Liverpool. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. "Hugh Lester transferred to Reading". The Globe. 13 April 1919. Retrieved 12 March 2018 – via Play Up Liverpool.
  3. "Hugh Lester". LFC History. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  4. "Liverpool Reserves V Burnley Reserves 7–2". Play Up Liverpool. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  5. "Hugh Lester transferred to Oldham Athletic". Manchester Courier. 21 May 1913. Retrieved 12 March 2018 – via Play Up Liverpool.
  6. "Oldham Athletic squad 1914/15". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  7. "The Death of Hugh Lester". Gloucester Citizen. 9 August 1933. Retrieved 12 March 2018 – via Play Up Liverpool.
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