McLeod was wizard of the pitch
ONE of the greatest footballers ever to come out of the Highlands has died at 83.
Brora’s George McLeod played for Luton Town, Brentford and Queens Park Rangers, and at the time commanded the highest ever fee for a Highland player. George’s ashes were scattered into the Brora River last Friday. He died in Luton, Bedfordshire, where he had retired.
One of five brothers, George was born in Inverness but grew up in Brora. He played for Brora Rangers before joining Highland League side Clachnacuddin.
George’s big breakthrough came when he moved to England to sign for Division Two high-flyers Luton Town in early 1955.
The following year he made 15 appearances and scored his first goal for the club before establishing himself in the team during the 1957/58 campaign, making 34 appearances and scoring four goals.
But he departed the club in October 1958 to drop down to Division Three to join Brentford in a £6000 deal. He quickly went on to establish himself in the team and was rarely absent, including chalking up a run of 132 consecutive appearances. They included a career-high 52 games during the 1961/62 season. George was an ever-present figure in the 1962/63 Division Four championship-winning season, making 49 appearances as Brentford were promoted back to Division Three at the first attempt.
By the time he departed Griffin Park in January 1964 he had made 232 appearances and scored 22 goals during his six years with the Bees. He then signed for Division Three West London rivals Queens Park Rangers in a part-exchange deal which saw Mark Lazarus move to Brentford for £8000.
George made 41 league appearances and scored four goals before departing at the end of the 1964/65 season.
George saw out his career with a spell in South Africa at National Football League side Port Elizabeth City, playing under former Brentford teammate Matt Crowe.
His wife Jacqueline died about four years ago. The couple have a daughter Lisa, who travelled from her home in Germany to help scatter her father’s ashes.
George’s brother Gavin, 78, is a committee member at Brora Rangers –- for whom he used to play centre half for many years.
"I would say George was one of the best players to come out of the Highlands. He was very fast and full of trickery – he was a real footballer," said Gavin. "I don’t think I could have marked him, he was too quick and clever for me. He always came back up to Brora when he could to see the places he knew as a lad.
"He loved the area. That’s why it was very poignant scattering his ashes here in the river."
Two of George’s other brothers – Albert and Jackie – died before him, but his sister Hazel, 85, lives in Brora and his youngest brother David is based in Inverness.
The family’s footballing traditions have been kept-up with relatives Alasdair Sutherland, who plays for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and John Macleod who plays for Buckie Thistle.
