Len Badger

Leonard Badger (8 June 194520 May 2021) was an English footballer who played as a right-back. He spent the majority of his career at Sheffield United before moving on to a shorter spell at Chesterfield where he finished his career.

Early life Badger was born in the Darnall area of Sheffield on 8 June 1945. He played school football for both Sheffield Boys and England Schoolboys. He progressed through the junior ranks at Sheffield United and signed his first professional contract in August 1962. By the end of the 1963–64 season he established himself as first choice at right-back, replacing club stalwart Cec Coldwell and remained a regular there until 1975. He was appointed captain in 1968 by manager John Harris. This made him the youngest league captain in United history,

Chesterfield Badger left Bramall Lane soon after the arrival of new Blades manager Jimmy Sirrel, being sold to Chesterfield on 1 January 1976. He played for a further two seasons for the Spireites making 46 appearances before a series of knee injuries ended his career.

Later life After retiring from football, Badger became a publican in the Chesterfield area.

Badger died on 20 May 2021. He was 75, and had undergone a complicated surgical procedure.

1 0 0 0 1 0

2 0 1963–64 7 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 10 0 1964–65 36 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 40 0 1965–66 41 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 45 1 1966–67 35 0 4 0 3 0 3 0 45 0 1967–68 42 0 4 0 1 0 2 0 49 0 1968–69

40 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 44 2 1969–70 42 2 2 0 3 0 2 0 49 2 1970–71 42 0 1 0 2 0 4 0 49 0 1971–72

42 1 1 0 5 0

48 1 1972–73 35 0 2 0 5 0 4 0 46 0 1973–74 40 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 45 0 1974–75 37 1 2 0 4 0 3 0 46 1 1975–76 18 0

1 0 4 1 23 1

458 7 24 0 30 0 29 1 541 8

1975–76

15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 1976–77 25 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 31 0 1977–78 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 0

46 0 5 0 2 0 0 0 53 0

504 7 29 0 32 0 29 1 594 8