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An Interview with Les Eason By Reckless Reproduced by kind permission of Barnet FC (this article originally featured in the Carlisle programme on 25 February 2006, but without the photos :-)
Les Eason did just that with Barnet FC and he will always be held in the most highest esteem by Barnet supporters as illustrated by the Supporters Associations recognition award of 'Barnet FC Player Of The 1960's'. He is without doubt one of non league footballs' all time greats. I met with Les at Potters Bar Town him having just finished his regular Thursday evening "kick around" with a few mates. He looks lean and fit as he approaches retirement and was very happy to talk about the old days with me. Les was born in Edmonton just before the end of the Second World War and grew up supporting Tottenham Hotspurs. "My dad first took me to see Spurs in about 1957 but watching the double winning side of 1960/1 from the Paxton Road terrace as a teenager was special and things got better when the club signed Jimmy Greaves from AC Milan. The best ever, Jimmy was my hero. Great occasions and great times". Edmonton Schools was were he first began to make his mark as a natural goalscorer in a position what was then called inside forward and quickly moved to county level before Sid Posser helped him make the transition to Athenian League standard with Finchley FC in 1963. Barnet, who between 1958 and 1965 had won three Athenian League titles made a move for the 19 year old Eason in the summer of 1965 just in time for their first season as a Semi Professional Club in the Southern League. It was a league debut to dream about as the Bees thrashed Hinckley Athletic 10-1 with Les scoring the last goal. "Manager Dexter Adams' favourite phrase was "zip it around boys" as opposed to just knock it around and that side could really play. I suppose I was slightly off the pace at first in a frankly superior league, but I soon found my feet". He built up sensational partnerships with Roger Figg and Tony Harding and scored over 30 goals in his first season at Underhill, "I got one more than Harding" he laughed. "Figgy was real quality and a different type of centre forward not like the normal lanky target man. He was short and stocky, solid and hard yet fast and I saw him score a couple of goals by literally stepping out in front of the goalkeeper just as he tried to drop kick. You couldn't get away with that nowadays in would be deemed ungentlemanly conduct". I asked him about the team that I first saw and idolised in the later part of the sixties and early seventies, "That side with Billy Meadows, Gerry Ward and Colin Powell was the simply the best I ever played in. You can't really compare Figgy with Billy Meadows as centre forwards but Bill was absolutely perfect for me, I loved playing with Bill. He was tall, strong, left footed, big and very brave and so confident. "Add that to having the incredible service from Gerry in midfield and the brilliant Paddy Powell on the wing I had it easy to score goals, it was superb" He added with a chuckle that when Powell left for Charlton and Ward retired he got ever-so-slightly found out. He then recalled his routine before a game and although he liked a couple of beers on a Friday night it was never to excess. "I can honestly say I never stayed out late the night before a game, maybe once or twice 'till 11 o'clock. It was down to the individual to look after themselves but I have always been lucky that I have never carried excess weight and was always fairly fit, I was lucky in that sense, I ate sensibly too".
I then asked about the pay structure at the time and suggested that had he been on a goal bonus system he would have made a fortune? "I never took a goal bonus, although I had it offered many times. I would rather negotiate an extra £5.00 week or whatever rather than bonus. I have never liked that system and am a great believer that once the players are out on the pitch then everybody should all be on the same bonus, always have. I can honestly say that I have never played football for money and I know I could have earned a lot more had I been prepared to travel. "For instance Maidstone offered me a contract on really good terms and a signing on fee but I really didn't fancy it - plus it was long before the M25 was built!. I was settled in Hertfordshire and would I have enjoyed driving down there on a wet Wednesday night after a day in the office? No chance. Don't forget these days agents are all around football even in the lower leagues and had I had an agent at the time then I possibly would have moved about but I just loved playing football and playing at Barnet. Honestly money was secondary".
In 1970 Barnet reached the semi final of the FA Challenge Trophy and were drawn against Macclesfield at Stoke City's Victoria Ground but lost 1-0. Les was Injured on the previous Bank Holiday Monday and wasn't going to play. "I got studded in the thigh and spent the week sitting in hot baths which was the worse thing I could do. Anyway Dexter said can you play? I said yes but I struggled. I can remember the Macc players shouting 'he's injured already'. I then asked him about the FA Trophy run in 1972 and he instantly mentioned the brilliant 2-1 win at Wigan not only for Colin Flatt's two goals but a wonderful display by goalkeeper Jack McClelland plus the semi final win against Telford.
Les, still only 29 moved to Enfield in 1975 and continued to score goals at Southbury Road and in his own words "It was time for a move after nine great years. I got a great reception at first but got left out a few times. But I learnt a hell of a lot and I believe, although some supporters might not agree, that I came back to Barnet two years later a better player. Of course a certain Jimmy Greaves was in the side then, my idol. I was dropped back in a deeper role alongside him and let me tell you I was more that happy to doing his running, what a great player". After two more seasons at Underhill scoring goals Les moved to Bishops Stortford and then to Cheshunt and then to St Albans where he played alongside a certain Paul Fairclough. "A very fit, hard working midfield player, and I had a nice chat with him on the phone just recently", he winked at me after that comment! In 1984 after a phone call from manager Ronnie Howell he joined Mount Grace, soon to be renamed Potters Bar Town, and actually player-managed the side between 1986-89. "I warmed the bench most games but came on if a job needed doing".
"As I get older I am not looking too far ahead but I enjoy my golf weekends and still get around the park a bit and I love being part of Potters Bar Town" He did confess to always looking for the Barnet result and after speaking with him it was obvious he is still very fond of the club that idolised him for over ten years. "Great occasions, great times". Reckless.
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When someone plays 648 games for a
club, scores some 350 goals and represents their country
at amateur level seven times they would certainly command
a legendary status at any club you care to mention.
"Dickie Plume scored right
at the death from a penalty and we were going to Wembley
against Stafford Rangers. It was the only time I played
there unfortunately but the day is a complete blur. I
have been told by ex players that you have to play more
than once at Wembley to really appreciate it and
unfortunately we were well beaten on the day 3-0"
Hanging up his boots in 1989 and
settled in Broxbourne, although he still plays in veteran
matches, he was offered the position of Director Of
Football at Park Field and has been happily working for
the club ever since.