Ex-Leeds United forward fires team to historic non-league promotion 12 years on from Whites departure
A former Leeds United forward has helped a non league team to promotion - 12 years after leaving the Whites.
Ex-Leeds United striker Dominic Poleon has fired a non-league team to a historic promotion, 12 years on from his departure from the Whites.
London-born Poleon joined United’s Academy as a teenager back in the summer of 2010 and the forward eventually progressed to the first team following the club’s return to the Championship from League One.
Poleon went on to make 37 appearances for the Whites for whom he scored four times, the striker then departing the club to join Oldham Athletic.
Now 32 years old, Poleon joined non-league Hornchurch in February and the striker has now helped fired his side to their first ever promotion to the National League.
The London outfit faced Torquay United in Saturday’s National League South play-off final and Poleon’s penalty on the stroke of half time brought his men level after falling behind in the sixth minute.
Hornchurch then looked set to suffer a 2-1 defeat but substitute Henry Hearn netted a 92nd-minute equaliser to take the game to extra time.
Penalties then appeared likely but Sam Ling, the son of former Torquay manager Martin Ling, netted a 117th-minute winner to seal a dramatic 3-2 win and send Hornchurch up to the fifth tier of English football.
Poleon and Hornchurch now face a date at United’s nearby neighbours Harrogate Town next season following Town’s relegation from League Two.