 Leary playing forGrimsby Town in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Antonio Leary[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1983-04-17)17 April 1983 (age 42)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Ealing,London, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–2002 | Luton Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2007 | Luton Town | 22 | (2) |
| 2005 | →Bristol Rovers (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2006 | →Walsall (loan) | 15 | (1) |
| 2006 | →Torquay United (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2007 | →Brentford (loan) | 17 | (0) |
| 2007–2009 | Barnet | 50 | (3) |
| 2009–2011 | Grimsby Town | 48 | (1) |
| 2011–2014 | Gainsborough Trinity | 107 | (12) |
| 2014–2016 | Spalding United | 47 | (7) |
| Total | 321 | (26) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:53, 27 January 2012 (UTC) | |||
Michael Antonio Leary (born 17 April 1983) is an English former professionalfootballer who played as amidfielder.
He played forLuton Town,Bristol Rovers,Walsall,Torquay United,Brentford,Barnet,Grimsby Town,Gainsborough Trinity andSpalding United.
Born inEaling, London, Leary began his career as a trainee withLuton Town, turning professional on 3 August 2001.[1] He played in twoFootball League Trophy games the following season and in May 2003 was handed a new two-year contract. He made his league debut on 20 September 2003 in a 1–1 draw at home toQueens Park Rangers. In August 2005 he joinedBristol Rovers onloan initially for a month. This was extended for another month after some decent performances and then until the end of the year.[2] In January 2006 he joinedWalsall on loan until the end of the season.[3] This meant that for most of the 2005–06 season he was a Luton player but not at the club. In the summer of 2006 Leary signed a contract extension of one year for Luton. In November 2006 Leary joinedTorquay United on loan,[4] making his debut as asubstitute in the 1–0 defeat away toWalsall on 4 November 2006. Leary signed for Brentford on a one-month loan deal on 4 January 2007.[5] This was extended to the end of the season on 31 January after doing well for Brentford during his initial deal.[6]
In May 2007, Luton released Leary on afree transfer. He signed forBarnet on 3 July, spending two years at the club. During his time he was also used as a centre back and put in some creditable performances in this position. Despite this he was released in the summer of 2009.
His next port of call was to join his former managerMike Newell atLeague Two sideGrimsby Town in July on a two-year contract.[7] Leary was in and out of the team on a regular basis, but had lost his way in the ranks under the new management ofNeil Woods. Grimsby were relegated at the end of the season to theConference National. During Grimsby's debut Conference season Leary served the side as a bit part player. He was eventually released by Grimsby's new managerial duoRob Scott andPaul Hurst after the conclusion of the 2010–11 season.
On 8 July Leary joinedConference North sideGainsborough Trinity on trial.[8] On 18 July he played for Gainsborough in their 8–0 friendly victory overBrigg Town, and the following day he played forBoston United in their 2–2 draw withStamford.[9] On 21 July he signed for Gainsborough on a one-year contract. Leary signed for another year following the completion of the 2011–2012 season.
During the 2012–13 season Leary became club captain and nearly helped The Blues reach the final of theFA Trophy, but despite beatingConference National sideWrexham 2–1 in the semi-final second leg at home (with Leary scoring the winner), the club went out 4–3 on aggregate. Leary was expected to sign for a cash rich and recently promotedNorth Ferriby United in May 2013 along with teammatesDaniel Hone,Jonathan D'Laryea andJamie Yates, but instead did a U-turn and signed a fresh one-year contract with The Blues on 4 June 2013.[10]
In July 2014, Leary signed a deal withSpalding United.[11]
