Les Sealey

Position
Goalkeeper
Nationality
Place Of Birth
Bethnal Green, London
Date Of Birth
September 29, 1957
Age
67
Height (cm)
185
Games Played
180
-
Per Game
Games Started
180
1.0
Per Game
Minutes
16260
90.3
Per Game
Goals Conceded
260
1.4
Per Game
Clean Sheets
49
0.3
Per Game
Notes
Stats
Matches
Transfers
Gallery
Internationals

The nephew of West Ham’s 1965 European Cup Winners Cup final hero, Alan Sealey, Les was born at Bethnal Green in the heart of London’s East End. He joined City from school in 1974 and was the goalkeeper in the same City youth team as Paul Dyson and Garry Thompson. In April 1977 an injury to regular keeper Jim Blyth gave him his first team chance at QPR and he was not overawed in the 1-1 draw. He played the last 11 nail biting games including the memorable 2-2 draw against Bristol City in the final game.

Over the next five years he and Blyth shared the goalkeeping honours in an exciting period of the club’s history and he was a model of consistency. His errors in the 1981 League Cup semi final first leg against the team he supported as a boy were out of character and he was redeemed by two Garry Thompson goals. In March 1982 with relegation again looming manager Dave Sexton recalled Les who had been languishing in the reserves all season and City lost only two of the final 15 games with Les keeping four successive clean sheets.

That summer Blyth moved on and Les became Sexton’s first choice in his exciting team of young bucks. One year later he and the majority of the young stars left in sympathy with the sacking of Sexton and Les, in his forthright style made disparaging comments about the club’s lack of ambition that upset many Coventry supporters. On top of this some fans accused him of deliberately letting a goal in during his final game. He joined Luton Town and made over 200 appearances in six years. Sadly injury kept him out of Luton’s 1988 League Cup final victory over Arsenal and the following season his needless foul cost Luton a penalty and ultimately the game against Forest.

His honours came late in life at Manchester United. In 1990 he won an FA Cup winners medal after he was preferred to Jim Leighton in the replay and the following year was in goal as United beat Barcelona to win their first European trophy for 23 years.

In 1992 with Steve Ogrizovic injured Don Howe re-signed him on loan and despite a muted reception from the City fans he acquitted himself well in the two games he played. His final League appearance was in 1997 as a substitute for West Ham at Old Trafford when he received a rapturous reception. A year after he was appointed goalkeeping coach at West Ham he died suddenly at the age of 43. One of his protégées Stephen Bywater, who later played for City, wore the number 43 shirt in homage to Sealey.

Penalties faced (25 - 1 saved)
1976-77
11 April 1977 v Queens Park Rangers A, scored
30 April 1977 v Stoke City H, 1 scored, 1 missed
4 May 1977 v West Ham United A, scored
1977-78
8 October 1977 v Birmingham City A, scored
1978-79
14 October 1978 v Manchester City A, x2 both scored
21 November 1978 v Derby County H, scored
28 April 1979 v Queens Park Rangers, scored
1979-80
26 September 1979 v West Bromwich Albion A, scored
27 October 1979 v West Bromwich Albion A, scored
1 December 1979 v Ipswich Town H, scored
29 December 1979 v Nottingham Forest H, scored
1980-81
4 November 1980 v Cambridge United A, saved
6 December 1980 v Southampton A, missed
3 January 1981 v Leeds United A, scored
24 January 1981 v Birmingham City H, scored
21 March 1981 v Sunderland A, scored
18 April 1981 v Stoke City H, scored
2 May 1981 v Nottingham Forest A, scored
1982-83
9 October 1982 v Tottenham Hotspur A, scored (initially saved but referee ordered a retake)
27 December 1982 v Nottingham Forest A, scored
8 January 1983 v Worcester City H, scored
5 April 1983 v Nottingham Forest H, scored
2 May 1983 v Everton A, scored

Football League First Division (England)
1991-1992
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1
1
1982-1983
Coventry City
39
39
3510′
53
13
1981-1982
Coventry City
15
15
1350′
1
11
8
1980-1981
Coventry City
35
35
3150′
57
6
1979-1980
Coventry City
20
20
1800′
1
34
4
1978-1979
Coventry City
36
36
3240′
59
9
1977-1978
Coventry City
2
2
180′
3
1976-1977
Coventry City
11
11
990′
15
2
160
160
0
14400′
2
0
0
233
43
FA Cup (England)
1982-1983
Coventry City
3
3
300′
1
5
1980-1981
Coventry City
4
4
360′
6
1
1979-1980
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1
1977-1978
Coventry City
1
1
90′
3
9
9
0
840′
1
0
0
14
2
League Cup (England)
1982-1983
Coventry City
2
2
210′
2
1
1980-1981
Coventry City
6
6
540′
7
2
1979-1980
Coventry City
2
2
180′
2
1
1978-1979
Coventry City
1
1
90′
2
11
11
0
1020′
0
0
0
13
4
Totals:
180
180
0
16260′
3
0
0
260
49
Date
For
Against
H/A
Result
Barclays Football League First Division 1991-1992
Barclays Football League First Division 1991-1992
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Football League First Division 1982-1983
Football League First Division 1982-1983
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
L 2:4
90`
4
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
L 1:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Aston Villa
A
L 4:0
90`
4
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Watford
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Notts County
A
L 5:1
90`
5
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
W 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Swansea City
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Luton Town
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
L 4:2
90`
4
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Luton Town
H
W 4:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Aston Villa
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Watford
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 4:0
90`
4
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 3:2
90`
3
Coventry City
Everton
H
W 4:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 0:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
D 1:1
90`
1
FA Cup 1982-1983
FA Cup 1982-1983
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
L 2:1
120`
2
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Worcester City
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Milk Cup 1982-1983
Milk Cup 1982-1983
Coventry City
Fulham
H
D 0:0
120`
Coventry City
Fulham
A
D 2:2
90`
2
Football League First Division 1981-1982
Football League First Division 1981-1982
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
W 1:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Southampton
A
D 5:5
90`
5
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 6:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Swansea City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Football League First Division 1980-1981
Football League First Division 1980-1981
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
L 0:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Sunderland
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Leicester City
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
L 4:1
90`
4
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
L 0:4
90`
4
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Aston Villa
H
L 1:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 4:1
90`
4
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
W 1:3
90`
1
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
D 3:3
90`
3
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 2:0
90`
2
FA Cup 1980-1981
FA Cup 1980-1981
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 3:1
90`
3
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
W 3:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
D 1:1
90`
1
League Cup 1980-1981
League Cup 1980-1981
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
W 3:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Watford
H
W 5:0
90`
Coventry City
Watford
A
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Cambridge United
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Cambridge United
H
D 1:1
90`
1
FA Cup 1979-1980
FA Cup 1979-1980
Coventry City
Oldham Athletic
A
W 0:1
90`
Football League First Division 1979-1980
Football League First Division 1979-1980
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
L 0:3
90`
3
Coventry City
Derby County
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Aston Villa
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
L 1:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
L 3:1
90`
3
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
L 1:3
90`
3
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 4:1
90`
4
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southampton
A
W 2:3
90`
2
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Everton
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 4:0
90`
4
League Cup 1979-1980
League Cup 1979-1980
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
D 0:0
90`
Football League First Division 1978-1979
Football League First Division 1978-1979
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
L 5:1
90`
5
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
H
W 3:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Everton
A
D 3:3
90`
3
Coventry City
Aston Villa
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Aston Villa
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
W 4:3
90`
3
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
L 1:3
90`
3
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
L 5:0
90`
5
Coventry City
Everton
H
W 3:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 4:0
90`
4
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Derby County
H
W 4:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 7:1
90`
7
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
W 3:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Derby County
A
W 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
W 1:2
90`
1
League Cup 1978-1979
League Cup 1978-1979
Coventry City
Chester City
A
L 2:1
90`
2
FA Cup 1977-1978
FA Cup 1977-1978
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Football League First Division 1977-1978
Football League First Division 1977-1978
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
W 4:2
90`
2
Football League First Division 1976-1977
Football League First Division 1976-1977
Coventry City
Bristol City
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 5:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Derby County
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Aston Villa
H
L 2:3
90`
3
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Club Out
Club In
Transfer Date
Fee
Club Out / Club In
Transfer Date / Fee
Aston Villa
Coventry City
Wed, 25 Mar, 1992
Loan
Aston Villa
Coventry City
Wed, 25 Mar, 1992
Loan
Coventry City
Luton Town
Wed, 03 Aug, 1983
£100,000
Coventry City
Luton Town
Wed, 03 Aug, 1983
£100,000
Apprentice
Coventry City
Mon, 01 Mar, 1976
Apprentice
Apprentice
Coventry City
Mon, 01 Mar, 1976
Apprentice