It takes a lot to reach what many call the “goal or dream of a lifetime” and try as some might, only a select few ever enter, regardless of the sport.
Recently we hear of the inductions for the Hockey Hall of Fame, now we are hearing of those selected to be entered into the Aberdeen Football Club Hall of Fame.
Over the weekend Soccer/Broadcaster legend Graham Leggat received probably what many might call his biggest achievements one can ever receive.
Sadly he passed away at the age of 81 and to many in the sport he was one third of the most media-savvy right-wing combinations in football history to ever play.
He played eight solid years with Fulham and the Scottish right-winger formed what would become the world class triangle of football called the “talking heads”.
Jimmy Hill was his partner who to most invented football punditry as we currently know and love it, but behind them was Bobby Robson, who was an exceptional engaging football talking head.
Leggat to many was simply known as “The Voice of Canadian Soccer, with
CBC who went on to host of the long-running Saturday Night Soccer Show.
He scored more than 200 goals in 400 senior games in British football, which is said to be more than a goal every two games managing to score 13 hat-tricks in his career.
Prior to his arrival on the scene in the mid-1950s, Scotland’s two outstanding outside rights were Rangers’ Willie Waddell and Hibs’ Gordon Smith with Waddell winning 17 caps, scoring six goals, while Smith managed 18 caps, notching four goals.
While both were exceptional players, Leggat managed to outscore both with eight goals that many list as Scotland’s best right-winger.
Even at the young age of ten playing with Woodside Primary School, he was listed as being an outstanding player and someone to watch.
He went on to represent Aberdeen Schools and eventually moved on to Torry FP in the youth ranks signing, as a 17-year-old, for Banks o’ Dee Juniors.
In 1953 he was snapped up by Aberdeen in 1953, having one game in the reserves before being blooded against Stirling Albion in September 1953 and from then on, he was a first pick.
He was “capped” by the Scottish League where he scored six goals in only five Inter-League “internationals”, prior to being a member of the inaugural 1955 Scotland under-23 team.
Later that season he scored a the winner helping Aberdeen defeat St Mirren to win the League Cup for the first time.
In 1956 he won his first Scotland cap, putting the Scots ahead in the annual game with England at Hampden.
The Fulham team he joined was a mixture of unique talented star players besides Haynes, Robson and Leggat.
Other’s included internationalists like Jim Langley (full-back) and centre forward Bedford Jezzard as well as outside-left “Tosh” Chamberlain.
He had a stint as Coach for Aston Villa that preceded his move to Canada, to a Player/Coach with Toronto Metros of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
This post lasted over a year that saw him move to the PR department of Carling O’Keefe Breweries.
Given his passion for soccer it’s no surprise that he started his long and impressive career as a football commentator and journalist as a colour commentator for CBC.
It was here that he excelled and covered the NASL, the Olympic Games, World Cup qualifying and the World Cup Finals, but in 1986, after coffee as VP and GM of the Edmonton Drillers (NASL) and also acting as the Executive Director of Ontario Special Olympics, he was hired by the Sports Network as a host and commentator.
The next 15 years would see him become the voice of soccer in Canada, analysing the CSL, Canadian Soccer League, Pan-American Games, Canada Games, Euro Championships and the World Cup Finals.
It was his passion to act as the host of Soccer Saturday and World of Soccer that earned him recognition eventually getting the nod May 5th, 2001 into Canada’s Soccer Hall of Fame.
In retirement, he continued to live in his adopted homeland. He is survived by his wife Marilyn and daughter Karen.
His son, Graham Leggat Junior, who was director of the San Francisco Film Society, died of cancer in 2011.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/aberdeen-football-legend-graham-leggat-inducted-hall-fame/
