The Longside Reference

Name: Leon Terence Anthony Cort

D.O.B: 11th September 1979

Place of birth : South London

Previous Clubs: Millwall, Forest Green (Loan), Stevenage Borough(Loan), Southend United, Hull City, Crystal Palace, Stoke City(Loan), Stoke City, Burnley

Signed by Brian Laws

Transfer Fee: 1.5 million

Contract: Three and a half year contract (signed 27th January 2010)

Burnley Debut:

Burnley Squad Number : 18

The ink was barely dry on Nicky Weavers transfer, when Leon followed suit which saw him switching the red and white stripes of Stoke for the Claret and Blue of Burnley.

Leon Cort began his career at local non-league side Dulwich Hamlet, before signing pro-forms with his local league club Millwall in 1998, although Leon didn't make an appearance for the Lions, he was loaned out twice to Forest Green Rovers and Stevenage Borough, before signing for Southend United on a free Transfer three years later.

While at Southend Cort became a regular in the side, achieving a remarkable feat of appearing in 130 consecutive league matches without missing any through injury or suspension, playing 137 in total scoring 11 goals.

In May 2004 Hull City manager Peter Taylor signed Leon again on a free transfer, Cort and Hull were promoted that season, to The Championship.

Peter Taylor departed to Crystal Palace  in 2006 and made Cort his first signing for £1.25m, winning the Player of the Year Award in 2007.

When Neil Warnock took over at Palace after Peter Taylor was sacked, Leon found himself out of the side a loan move move to the Potteries followed, and after 14 games and 4 goals a fee of £1.2 million was agreed and Cort became a Stoke player.

After finding first team opportunities hard to come by at Stoke Cort, signed for Barclays Premier League side Burnley on 27 January 2010 for £1.5 million pounds signing a 3-and-a-half year deal.