Leon Jeanne

Leon Charles Jeanne (born 17 November 1980) is a Welsh former professional footballer. He began his career with Queens Park Rangers before joining his hometown team Cardiff City. However, he suffered from drug and alcohol addiction and was given a two-year suspended ban by the Football Association of Wales after testing positive for a class A drug. Continued disciplinary problems eventually led to his release from Cardiff. He later played for numerous clubs in the Welsh Premier League and lower divisions. And at the moment is in police custody for class A drug dealing.

Leon Jeanne
Personal information
Full name Leon Charles Jeanne
Date of birth (1980-11-17) 17 November 1980
Place of birth Cardiff, Wales
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Bridgend Street
Number 11
Youth career
Arsenal
Queens Park Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2001 Queens Park Rangers 12 (0)
2001–2002 Cardiff City 12 (3)
2002 Havant & Waterlooville 0 (0)
2002 Newport County 2 (0)
2002 Port Talbot 7 (2)
2003 Barry Town 12 (3)
2003 Dinas Powys
2003–2004 Barry Town 3 (1)
2006 Merthyr Tydfil
2007–2008 Maesteg Park
2008–2009 Carpenters Arms 8
2009 Weston-super-Mare 2 (0)
2009 → Maesteg Park (loan) 0 (0)
2010 Cardiff Corinthians 9 (1)
2010–2011 Bath City 1 (0)
2010–2011 Cinderford Town (dual registration) ? (?)
2011–2012 Afan Lido 1 (0)
2012 Carmarthen Town 0 (0)
2012–2013 Bridgend Street
2013–? Weston-super-Mare
2015 Port Talbot Town 6 (0)
National team
Wales U21 8 (?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:08, 19 August 2011 (UTC)

Early life

Jeanne was born in Cardiff and grew up in the Llanrumney area of the city.[1] He attended Llanrumney High School.[2]

Career

Football League

A talented winger, Jeanne was spotted at the age of ten by Arsenal scout Eddie Prenderville.[3] He spent time with the London-based club as a schoolboy before joining Queens Park Rangers on a YTS scheme at the age of thirteen.[2][4] He made his debut on February 1999 against Watford, but problems began to arise nearly as soon as he became a professional when he disappeared for over a week when he was meant to be reporting for Wales under-21 duty. However, manager Gerry Francis revealed that it was not the first time the youngster had gone missing, stating "We've covered up for Leon enough now. This is not a one off." Francis also commented that Jeanne was on his last chance at the club after being arrested for drink-driving the previous year.[5]

He left QPR in 2001 to sign for his hometown club Cardiff City in the hope of ending his disciplinary problems. The transfer was arranged by Jeanne's agent John Fashanu who had worked with Cardiff chairman Sam Hammam at his former club Wimbledon and described how Hammam had been a positive influence over him and hoped that he could do the same for Jeanne.[6] However, just weeks after joining, he tested positive for a class A drug and was handed a two-year suspended sentence by the Football Association of Wales.[7] The FAW also stipulated that Jeanne should undergo an education programme to help him learn to read and write and find a family to live with, eventually moving into the home of former Cardiff player Ronnie Bird.[8]

In January 2002, he was named in the starting line-up for a 3–0 victory over Newtown in the FAW Premier Cup, scoring his side's first goal of the match with a header.[9] However, he was substituted in the second half by manager Alan Cork for "showboating".[10] He was named as an unused substitute for a league match against Wycombe Wanderers in but, less than a month later, Jeanne was admitted to the Priory Hospital in am attempt to overcome an alcohol problem. Cardiff manager Cork stated his belief that Jeanne had a "big problem" with alcohol and that he kept a breathalyzer in his office and had once taken Jeanne to a local Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.[10][11] In May 2002 Jeanne was selected for random drugs testing and sent his sample away but the results came back only to show that the sample he had submitted was not urine. He refused to provide a second sample which led to Cardiff terminating his contract and he left the club.[12] On the morning of the drugs test, Jeanne had agreed a new contract with the club but this was revoked following the incident.[3]

Non-league

After his release from Cardiff he attempted a comeback with Havant & Waterlooville in a pre-season friendly against League of Wales side Barry Town but was withdrawn from playing after officials at Barry questioned if he was allowed to play at which point it was revealed that he was currently banned from playing football.[13] He was allowed to resume playing a short while later and enjoyed a prosperous spell at Port Talbot Town but yet again he was involved in a scandal. In September 2002 he was arrested, along with two other men, on suspicion of dealing class A drugs. During the court case he revealed that he used to be addicted to cocaine. Eventually he and the other two men were cleared of all charges.[14]

After the case ended he returned to football with Newport County followed by spells at Dinas Powys and Barry Town.[15] After a spell playing for Maesteg Park, Jeanne joined amateur side Carpenters Arms.[16] On 7 July 2009, Jeanne was arrested on suspicion of money-laundering after a police raid on his home.[17]

Jeanne featured in two pre-season friendlies for Conference South side Weston-super-Mare on 9 and 11 July before signing on non-contract terms, making his debut on the opening day of the season in a defeat to Staines Town.[18] However, he was released the following month due to a lack of fitness.[19]

In November 2010, Jeanne left Welsh League side Cardiff Corinthians, and signed for Conference National side Bath City. Jeanne also signed on for Cinderford Town of the Southern League South & West Division on dual registration and spent the majority of the 2010–11 season with Cinderford.

In June 2011, Jeanne joined Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion for pre-season training in a bid to earn a contract and play football at a high level once more. He started the 2011–12 season playing for Welsh Premier League side Afan Lido but left before the start of the 2012–13 season to join Carmarthen Town.[20]

In 2018-19 Jeanne was playing Welsh League football for Bridgend Street, a club he has played for previously between other non-league clubs.

Honours

Cardiff City

Personal life

In May 2015 Jeanne was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis.[21] He was part of a drug gang operating in Gloucester and surrounding cities and areas selling crack cocaine and heroin. He was responsible for the Cardiff side of the gangs business operation. Judge Ford told him: "You are a great disappointment to many people. You wasted your talent and turned from an honest, athletic man to a common criminal. You've been ruined by drugs. References show you have the capacity for reform."[22]

References
  1. "Hammam Wants Home for Jeanne; City News". South Wales Echo. 29 November 2001. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  2. Terry Phillips (28 May 2002). "Jeanne Unable to Cast off Personal Problems". South Wales Echo. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  3. Terry Phillips (30 May 2002). "Leon Won't Play for the Bluebirds Again". South Wales Echo. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  4. "Footballer cleared of cocaine charges". Evening Standard. 27 October 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  5. "Jeanne absent from Wales training". BBC Sport. 27 September 2000. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  6. Paul Abbandonato (11 November 2001). "Cardiff Ace Jeanne Faces Big FAW Rap after Random Tests Catch out Hammam's City Hope". Wales on Sunday. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  7. "Jeanne avoids drugs ban". BBC Sport. 29 November 2001. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  8. "Jeanne Takes Flight to Land in Bird's Nest". South Wales Echo. 22 December 2001. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  9. "Newtown 0–3 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 16 January 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  10. Mario Risoli (18 January 2002). "Cork Warns Jeanne on the Dangers of Drinking; Soccer: City Winger Must Keep off Alcohol". Western Mail. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  11. Mario Risoli (8 February 2002). "City Winger Jeanne Is Admitted to the Priory; Soccer: Drink Problem Means Player Will Miss Rest of the Season". Western Mail. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  12. "Cardiff jettison Jeanne". BBC Sport. 31 May 2002. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  13. "Jeanne's comeback spiked" BBC Sport Retrieved on 9 January 2008
  14. "Footballer cleared of drug dealing" BBC Retrieved on 9 January 2008
  15. "Jeanne returns to Jenner park" Welsh premier league football Retrieved on 9 January 2008
  16. "Splott gun down the Roath Park Rangers in nine goal thriller" South Wales Echo Retrieved on 10 March 2009
  17. "Police raid home of former Bluebirds winger Jeanne" South Wales Echo Retrieved on 10 July 2009
  18. "Late goal denies seasiders a point on the opening day". The Weston Mercury. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  19. "Seagulls release midfielder Jeanne". The Weston Mercury. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  20. "Leon Jeanne joins Carmarthen". Wales Online. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  21. "Footballer jailed for Gloucestershire drugs gang role". BBC News. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  22. http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Judge-says-leader-Gloucestershire-drugs-cartel/story-26426468-detail/story.html
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