Len Julians

Len Julians
Personal information
Full name Leonard Bruce Julians
Date of birth (1933-06-19)19 June 1933
Place of birth Tottenham, England
Date of death 17 December 1993(1993-12-17) (aged 60)
Place of death Southend-on-Sea, England
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Walthamstow Avenue
1955–1959 Leyton Orient 66 (35)
1959–1960 Arsenal 18 (7)
1960–1963 Nottingham Forest 58 (24)
1963–1967 Millwall 125 (58)
1968 Detroit Cougars 1 (0)
Total 268 (124)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leonard Bruce Julians (19 June 1933 – 17 December 1993) was an English footballer who played as a centre forward in the Football League for Leyton Orient, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Millwall and the Detroit Cougars during his footballing career. Julians also managed Kenyan club Gor Mahia, with him being one of the most successful and respected managers in the outfit's history.[1]

Career

He started as an amateur at Walthamstow Avenue before turning professional with Leyton Orient in 1956. He helped the Brisbane Road club to the Division Three South Championship with 11 goals in ten games in his first season, scoring 35 goals overall in his 66 games.

His goal scoring form attracted the attention of First Division Arsenal, who signed him in December 1958. His chances were limited but scored 10 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions. He was sent off by Referee Les Hamer in 53rd minute of the North London Derby at White Hart Lane in January 1959 for kicking Spurs centre half Maurice Norman which the Gunners won 4–1.[2][3]

In the Summer of 1960 he joined First Division Nottingham Forest where he scored 24 goals in 58 league games. He left Forest at the age 30, in January 1964, to join ex-teammate Billy Gray who had become Player–Manager at Millwall in Division Three.

While he was unable to prevent relegation to Division Four, Millwall would bounce back with successive promotions, Julians contributing 40 goals in these two seasons. He played in 52 games of Millwall's then League record home unbeaten record of 59 games, scoring 35 goals, which ended on 14 January 1967 with a 2–1 defeat to Plymouth.[4]

Len left Millwall at the end of the 1966/67 season for a short spell in United States with Detroit Cougars where he became their Coach after a playing injury. He also had a spell as Manager of Gor Mahia in Nirobi Kenya, where he steered Taya toward winning three league titles in 1983, 1985 and 1991.[1]

After retiring from football he ran a garage with former teammate Bryan Snowden in Meopham before his death in Southend on 17 December 1993.[1]

Honours

Millwall F.C. Hall of Fame[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Remembering Len Julian". Gor Mahia.net.
  2. ^ "Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal". Alamy.com.
  3. ^ "Len Julians". Arsenal.com.
  4. ^ ""Millwall's unbeaten Home Record"". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Millwall F.C. Hall of Fame". Millwall FC.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015.

Bibliography

  • Lindsay, Richard (1991). Millwall: A Complete Record, 1885–1991. Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 0-907969-94-1.
  • Len Julians at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database


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