Les Cartwright, a former Sky Blue winger, is wished “many happy returns of the day” by the Association today. The Welshman, who was born in Aberdare on March 4, 1952, is 72 years old today!
Les joined the Sky Blues as an apprentice and played for them for seven seasons before becoming a professional in May 1970. Les took some time to make his first team debut, though, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 victory over Leicester City at Filbert Street on September 29, 1973 (some sources even credit him with a goal). After that, on October 27, 1973, about a month later, the Sky Blues made their entire debut outside right at Stoke City’s Victoria Ground, where they tragically lost 3-0.
Tommy Hutchinson, a CCFPA member, was a standout left wing, thus it was challenging to achieve an efficient forward line balance when Les was also participating. However, Les had made 88 appearances in the Sky Blues’ first squad and scored six goals by the time he transferred to Division Two Wrexham in June 1977.
Les started his international career at Highfield Road as well, where he won five of his seven full Welsh caps and all four of his U23 caps with City for Wales. In addition, he earned European experience and a Welsh Cup winners medal with the North Wales club in 1977–1978. He played 154 games for the Wrexham, scoring 12 goals. Les left to play for Cambridge United in March 1982, where he spent three years and sixty appearances (one goal) before spending a brief four games on loan at Southend United in September 1983.
Les hung up his boots in 1986 after finishing his professional career at non-league Worcester City and Coventry Sporting (both in 1985) while protecting an ailing knee.
Les joined CCFPA in 2009 after many years of running the Wolvey Post Office near Coventry after retiring. Even though we haven’t seen him at a Sky Blues home game in a while, we would be happy to have him return as a guest.
Les, I hope you have an amazing day today!
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