The Tasmanian football community is mourning the loss of a legend of the game with the death of John Leedham on Saturday.
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Regarded as one of the greatest Tasmanian players never to appear in the VFL/AFL, Leedham played for Campbell Town, North Launceston and North Hobart during his playing career from 1944-59.
In 2004, Leedham was selected as the ruck-rover and vice-captain in the Tasmanian Team of the Century and in 2005 he was inducted as a legend in the AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame.
It was with North Launceston and North Hobart where Leedham caught the eye of Tasmanian football fans across 238 games (124 for North Launceston, 114 for North Hobart) and he played a part in six premierships.
Leedham made a name for himself in the Tasmanian jumper at numerous national carnivals.
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The most notable being the 1958 event where he captain-coached the state to victories over South Australia and Western Australia in division 1.
He was part of the most fruitful period in the history of North Launceston, where he helped the club to five straight league premierships from 1946 to 1950 and state premierships in 1947, 1949 and 1950.
Leedham also captain-coached the club in 1953.
He moved over to North Hobart in 1954 to take the captain-coach role there and helped the club to a premiership in 1957.
He didn't step back from football after his playing days, sitting as North Hobart president from 1998-2009.
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