31 year old striker Leon Constantine, who signed for Hereford United earlier today, played for Hendon and Edgware Town before being noticed by Mick Beard, a Charlton Athletic scout, at the end of the 1999-00 season. Constantine started the pre-season at Charlton, who were newly promoted to the Premier League, before joining Millwall in September 2000.
He made his first and only appearance for Millwall in that month. After undertaking brief loan spells at Leyton Orient and Partick Thistle he moved to Brentford in August 2002. But, after failing to establish himself, Leon joined Southend United a year later, and began to show his true capabilities. The 6ft 2in marksman hit 21 goals in his first and only season before rejecting a new contract and moving to Peterborough United. After only 11 games, yielding 1 goal, Constantine joined Torquay United in December 2004 for a club record fee of £75,000 pounds.
After 42 games producing 10 goals Leon was on the move once more, this time to Port Vale, where he hit a rich vein of form. Last season he became the first Vale player to hit 18 goals prior to Christmas. Despite finishing the season with 26 goals in all competitions he became a target of the boo-boys, who questioned his overall work rate. The abuse clearly affected Constantine, saying at the time, 'I have never been at a club where I have scored goals and heard the crowd boo.' He decided to seek pastures new, and Leeds boss Dennis Wise made his move.
Leon Constantine's first few months at Leeds United could hardly have been more frustrating, both for the player and the club. After announcing he was to leave Port Vale at the end of last season Leon was linked with a number of clubs, but agreed a contract in principle with Leeds whilst the club was still in Administration. He was one of the group of players who paid out of his own pocket to take part in the pre-season programme in uncertain times for everyone connected with the club. By the time Constantine officially signed for United on their exit from Administration, the player had incurred a complex ankle injury in the friendly at Slovan Liberec which would keep him out of the teams 13 match unbeaten league start.
Constantine scored his first league goal for Leeds in their 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Oldham Athletic on 1 January 2008. However he was hit by injury again, breaking his arm in this same game after scoring, leading to a two-month lay-off. In March, Constantine was sent to Oldham on loan to help him re-gain match fitness, scoring twice in seven appearances.
On 2 July Constantine completed a free transfer move to league one side Northampton Town after falling out of favour with Gary McAllister. After only scoring three goals for Northampton and receiving boos from the club's own fans, he was loaned out to Cheltenham Town on 20 March 2009, and he returned on 20 April after scoring one goal in six matches.
Having been released by Northampton, Constantine signed for Hereford United earlier today becoming the first striker signed by new manager John Trewick.