Leonard Moon

Leonard Moon was a forward who played for Fulham over two seasons in 1897. His older brother Billy was an England international and goalkeeper, whilst Leonard was more famous as a cricketer, playing four test matches for England as well as nearly 100 first class matches for Middlesex. A 2nd Lieutenant for the Devon Regiment, he died during the First World War at the age of 38.

Before Fulham
Leonard was born in Kensington in 1878 and attended Westminster School from May 1891 until July 1896 and later Pembroke College, Cambridge from 1897 until 1900, gaining a "blue" at football and cricket.

Fulham (1897)
Leonard joined Fulham midway through the 1896-97 season and made an immediate impression, scoring just four minutes into his debut at West Croydon during a 1-1 draw. He proved to be a success at the club in what was Fulham's inaugral season as occupants of Craven Cottage, and despite only joining in February, he was top scorer with 5 goals.

At the beginning of 1897-98, Leonard and Fulham were off to a perfect start, as he bagged a hat-trick and a brace in the first two league matches of the season. Much to the annoyance of the Fulham fans and Leonard himself, he was ordered to play for the 3rd Grenadier Guards and left the club at the beginning of November 1897.

After Fulham
After leaving the club, Leonard focused on his cricket career at Middlesex and his batting abilities soon caught the eye of the England selectors and he played four test matches during the 1906 tour to South Africa. He would play football when he could, and had played for the legendary Corinthians.

He became a 2nd Lieutenant for the Devon Regiment during the First World War, though died of wounds on 23 November 1916. According to Rob Cavellini in Play up Corinth: A History of Corinthian Football Club Leonard had shot himself. He wrote that Moon's problems began when some of his men accused him of acting in a cowardly, or at any rate in an over-excited, manner. Moon was suffering from depression or melancholia, and despite being seen laughing and joking in the mess room the day prior to his death, he took his life with a single pistol shot to the head. The report states simply 'Self inflicted wounds'.

It was a tragic end for a highly talented sportsman.