Sean St Ledger

Sean Patrick St Ledger-Hall (born 28 December 1984) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Born in England, he played international football for the Republic of Ireland.

Growing up in Solihull, England, as an Aston Villa supporter, St Ledger's career started in the youth system at Peterborough United where he played alongside Ryan Semple and Luke Steele, before joining the first team in 2002, playing mostly as a central defender, though occasionally as a full back or in midfield.

He joined Football Conference club Stevenage Borough on loan in January 2004.

Following a loan spell with Stevenage came to and, St Ledger signed a three-year contract with the club.

He featured in Sky's series Big Ron Manager, a behind the scenes look at Peterborough United's struggle to enter the Football League Two play-offs at the end of the 2005–06 season.

St Ledger was dropped in the first team and dropped to the bench, citing his bad attitude, in a 1–1 draw with Lincoln City on 21 January 2006.

After a trial with Birmingham City on Barry Fry's recommendation, St Ledger signed a three-year contract with Preston North End in July 2006 for a fee of £225,000, which could rise to £350,000.

Manager Paul Simpsons believed that St Ledger could be a top right-back player.

On 5 August 2006, St Ledger made his debut for Preston in a 0–0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at centre half alongside fellow new signing Liam Chilvers and since then, St Ledger formed a partnership with Chilvers in central defence.

On 9 April 2007, St Ledger scored his first goal for Preston in a 3–2 loss against Southend United.

In his first season at Deepdale, St Ledger made 42 appearances whilst scoring one goal as Preston, who had been top of the league mid-season, failed to retain a playoff berth come May.

St Ledger made 37 appearances for Preston during 2007/08 as the Lilywhites were guided clear of the relegation thanks to a late upturn in results under new manager Alan Irvine.

For his impressive season, St Ledger was named the club's Player of the Year award and had so many awards by the club he have thank them five times.

St Ledger began the 2007–08 season as first choice centre half alongside Youl Mawéné, scoring his second goal for Preston in a 1–0 win over Coventry City on 9 February 2008.

The following week, St Ledger received the first red card of his Preston career in a 2–1 defeat at Colchester United, St Ledger taking out United's Karl Duguid as he went through on goal.

St Ledger's third and probably most impressive season came in 2008/09 with St Ledger scoring six goals against Watford, Barnsley, Derby, Wolves, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday as the Lancashire club reached the Championship Playoff Semi-finals.

It was St Ledger's late winner in a 2–1 victory over QPR that clinched the final playoff spot on the last day of the season, heading in a long throw by Jon Parkin.

St Ledger made 47 appearances in 2008/09 as well as playing in both legs of the playoff semi-final against Sheffield United which Preston lost 1–2 on aggregate.

During the season, St Ledger signed a four-year contract in late-October.

St Ledger started 2009–10 as impressively as he had done the previous season but after only seven appearances for Preston, St Ledger joined Middlesbrough on loan with a view to a £4 million permanent move come the January transfer window.

Rumours at the time told of how club chairman Derek Shaw informed St Ledger on the Preston team coach travelling to that evening's fixture at Scunthorpe that he had to join 'Boro as cash-strapped Preston needed the transfer money.

St Ledger left his teammates en route to Lincolnshire and headed for Teesside.

Following a loan return, Celtic made a £3 million bid to sign St Ledger.

However, the move never happened and St Ledger was disappointed with the move.

Despite a failed transfer to Celtic, St Ledger maintained his commitment to stay at Preston.

St Ledger went on to make 22 appearances for Preston in what became a nightmare season as he saw mentor Alan Irvine sacked one game after his return from Middlesbrough.

The centre half scored two further goals against Plymouth Argyle and West Bromwich Albion and Preston hung on to Championship status under Irvine's replacement, Darren Ferguson.

In September 2009, St Ledger joined Middlesbrough on an initial three-month loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer in the January transfer window, however after failing to settle in the north east, the move was not made permanent and St Ledger returned to Preston.

He made his full debut for Boro on 19 September 2009 against West Bromwich Albion, which Middlesbrough lost 5–0.

He was part of the team that lost controversially to France in the play-offs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, later playing and scoring in UEFA Euro 2012.

St Ledger's final season at Deepdale came in 2010–11 when he switched shirt from number twelve to four.

However, his season was blighted by injury and loss of form as Preston struggled under Ferguson.

Despite Ferguson's dismissal in December 2010 and an eventual improvement in results under successor Phil Brown, St Ledger could not help Preston being relegated to League One.

He had stints at Preston North End and a loan spell with Middlesbrough before his move to Leicester City in 2011.

St Ledger played his final game for Preston on 19 March 2011 at home to Coventry before injury finished his season early.

In his fifth and final season, St Ledger played 32 times from Preston, scoring his final goal for the club during the campaign at Watford in a 2–2 draw.

Considered too good for League One football and with Preston desperate for both money from transfers and from a drop in the wage bill St Ledger left Deepdale in the summer of 2011 to join Leicester City.

His equaliser against Croatia at Stadion Miejski in Poznań on 10 June 2012 introduced St Ledger into an elite club of Irish goalscorers at the UEFA European Championship.

St Ledger's career started with Peterborough United.