Abbott

The much-travelled Leslie Pearce Abbott was either one of the first football mercenaries, or a young man who wasn’t interested in lasting attachments. During a nine-year career in the early years of the VFL, he turned out for no less than five different teams.

Between 1904 and 1912, Abbott played at Collingwood (1 game) Carlton (1 game) Richmond (31 games) Melbourne (3 games) and South Melbourne (3 games). But even then, he wasn’t quite finished, because in-between and afterwards, he also pulled on his boots for VFA clubs Brunswick, Port Melbourne and North Melbourne!

His one appearance for Carlton came in round four of 1905 at Princes Park, when the Blues lost to Fitzroy by 36 points. Les lined up on a half-forward flank on that Saturday afternoon, but was hardly sighted and didn’t trouble the scorers.

Five years later, in the 1909 VFA Grand Final, Abbott’s career peaked when Brunswick defeated Prahran to claim their first Association flag. Les played in a back pocket for the Magpies that day, while another former Blue in Dave Gillespie (who would tragically lose his life eight years later during World War 1) was a star at centre half-back.

Born in the suburb and originally recruited from Collingwood Juniors, Abbott passed away at Coburg on the 28th September, 1947, aged 62.

Les Abbott's brother Clarence played 2 games with Collingwood in 1907 and 1 game with Melbourne in 1912.

NB: Image: Courtesy collingwoodforever web site