Les Warner

Nicknamed ‘Plum’ after the famous cricketer of the era, Les signed for City as a seventeen-year old in the summer of 1937 from Birmingham junior club Jack Mould’s Athletic. His debut the following year was amazing, standing in for the injured Taylor, he took Swansea’s defence apart with a devastating display of wing-play and created all the goals in City’s 5-0 victory. At the end of the match excited supporters chaired him from the pitch. His pre-war appearances were sporadic and it was not after the war that he won a regular place in the team. Dribbling was his great attribute and although he often over elaborated he could bamboozle the best full-backs and put in great crosses too. As a tricky winger he was often subjected to some harsh treatment from physical full-backs and had his fair share of injuries. His finest season was 1950-51 when City looked certain to win promotion to Division One for the first time up until Christmas. With an injury-free, 35-year old Warner on the right-wing and Norman Lockhart on the left the central strikers Ted Roberts and Ken Chisholm were given a non-stop supply of crosses. Sadly the team slumped on the run in and missed out on promotion. The following year injury sidelined him periods and his presence was sorely missed and the club suffered relegation from the Second Division. Like fellow right-winger Stan Matthews, Warner kept himself incredibly fit and was able to play on until the age of 38 when he decided to hang up his boots and went into the bookmaking business.