Len Quested facts for kids

Wilfred Leonard Quested (born January 9, 1925 – died August 20, 2012) was a talented English footballer. People often called him Len. He even played one game for the England B team. He was also chosen as a reserve player for the main England team. In 1957, Len moved to Australia. There, he played for clubs like Auburn and Hakoah in Sydney. He also played in a special unofficial match for the Australian national team.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Len Quested started his football journey while serving in the Royal Navy. He was stationed at HMS Golden Hind. This was a Royal Navy base in Sydney, Australia. While there, he played for the Golden Hind football team. He played alongside future stars like Jack Aston and John Ball. These players later became famous in England.

Playing for English Clubs

After his time in Australia, Len went back to England. He played for Folkestone Town F.C. in 1946 and 1947. Then, he signed with Fulham F.C. He played for Fulham from 1947 to 1951. In 1951, he joined Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Len played for Huddersfield Town until 1957.

Moving to Australia

In 1957, Len Quested moved to Australia with his wife. She was born there. When they arrived in Sydney, he joined the Auburn football club. Auburn was part of the NSW state league.

Winning the State Championship

In September 1957, Len helped Auburn win the state championship. They beat Canterbury-Marrickville 4-3 in a thrilling game. More than 8,400 fans watched this match. Auburn was losing 1-3 at one point. But Len helped them score two goals to come back and win. In 1958, Auburn reached the grand final again. However, they lost 1-2 to the same team.

Playing for Australia

In May 1959, Len Quested got to play for Australia. This was a special test match. It took place at the Sydney Sports Ground in Moore Park. Australia played against the Scottish club Heart of Midlothian FC. Over 16,000 people watched the game. Australia lost the match 1-7.

Later Career in Australia

In April 1963, Len was moved to the reserve team for the first time in Australia. This happened during a match against Bankstown. He soon returned to the main team. However, his club decided to put him on the transfer list. This meant other clubs could buy him.

In May 1963, Len signed with Hakoah. He played only three matches for them. In July, he had to have an operation on his knee.

Coaching and Developing Young Talent

In January 1964, Len Quested became a non-playing coach. He joined a new team called Cumberland United. This club was formed by combining Auburn and Gladesville-Ryde. The team finished eighth in their league of 12 teams.

In 1965, Len played for a year with the team of Awaba. This club was near Newcastle. They finished fifth in their division. Awaba also reached the final of the Daniels Cup Winners. They lost 2-5 to Adamstown Rosebud.

In 1966, Len returned to coach Cumberland United again. He stayed until 1967. After that, the team changed its name and played as Auburn in a lower division.

In 1971, Len became the team manager for Auburn. For many years, Len used his football skills to help young players. He coached many future stars, including Robbie Slater.

Len Quested's son, Gary, also became a soccer player. Gary played for Australia twice. Len Quested lived in Kuluin, a suburb of Maroochydore in Queensland. He passed away peacefully on August 20, 2012.