Leslie Newburn "Les" Rainey (10 January 1881 – 27 August 1962) was an Australian sportsman who played Australian rules football, cricket and tennis. He was a first-class cricketer for Victoria, footballer for Essendon and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL), as well as a tennis player at the Australasian Championships (now known as the Australian Open).[2]

Les Rainey
Personal information
Full name	Leslie Newburn Rainey
Date of birth	(1881-01-10)10 January 1881
Place of birth	South Yarra, Victoria
Date of death	27 August 1962(1962-08-27) (aged 81)
Place of death	Melbourne, Victoria
Original team(s)	Melbourne Grammar[1]
Height	171 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1899–1900	Essendon	05 0(3)
1902–1903	Melbourne	18 (17)
Total		23 (20)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1903.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

After managing only five appearances for Essendon during his time at the club in 1899 and 1900, Rainey crossed to Melbourne where he had more success. He played a full season in 1902, including Melbourne's semi final loss to his old club, and kicked 17 goals. Rainey finished his football career with 23 VFL games and 20 goals.[3]

Rainey played his cricket as an all-rounder and participated in two first-class matches for Victoria, both against Tasmania at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He put in a good performance in the second of those matches, in 1905, scoring an unbeaten 60 and taking 6/46 in Tasmania's second innings.[4]

He competed in the 1914 and 1924 Australasian Tennis Championships.[5]

See also

• List of Victoria first-class cricketers

References

External links

• Leslie Rainey's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Cricinfo: Leslie Rainey