Date / Year of birth: Unknown

Position: Defender

Season of first appearance: 65/66

Season of last appearance: 67/68

Also played for: Brett Sports, Herne Bay, Sittingbourne and Ramsgate

Local product of King Ethelbert School, Birchington who played for East Kent Boys as a youngster and went on to spend many seasons in Margate's reserve team, first appearing for them during the 61/62 campaign. Lester then made 52 further reserve team appearances spanning the 62/63 and 63/64 campaigns.

It wasn't until the 65/66 season that Lester was given a first team opportunity. He made his debut at left back in a 5-2 Kent Floodlight Cup win at Deal on 21.12.65 and played twice more before the end of the season.

Lester then made nine further appearances during the 66/67 season and impressed with his hard-working style.

He also made a one-off appearance for the first team during the 67/68 season. Lester played in the Kent Senior Cup tie at Ashford on 24.1.68 and it turned out to be his final senior appearance for Margate although he was still a regular in the reserves during the 68/69, 69/70 and 70/71 seasons.

He then left the club to join Brett Sports and spent the 71/72 and 72/73 seasons there before moving to Herne Bay in the summer of 1973 when Bretts folded.

Lester later had a short spell with Sittingbourne during the 76/77 season but returned to Herne Bay in March 1977.

In the summer of 1977 he was appointed as their player-manager and continued in that role through the 77/78, 78/79 and 79/80 campaigns.

In March 1981 Lester joined Ramsgate and then returned to Hartsdown as a veteran to play for Thanet United Reserves at the start of the 81/82 season.

He later became manager of Ramsgate, taking over at Southwood in the summer of 1985. Lester enjoyed a successful three years in the job before stepping down at the end of the 87/88 campaign.

However he returned to Southwood once more at the start of the 92/93 season and had a spell as the Rams assistant manager.

He was also a prominent local cricketer and played football for Kent whilst with Margate.

Lester's brother Leslie also played for Margate's first team and his older brother Larry played for the reserves during the 60/61 season.

Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 46/47 onwards.

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