Leon Constantine's first few months at Leeds United could hardly have been more frustrating, both for the player and the club. After announcing he was to leave Port Vale at the end of last season, Leon was linked with a number of clubs, but agreed a contract in principle with Leeds whilst the club was still in administration.

He was one of the group of players who paid out of his own pocket to take part in the pre-season programme in uncertain times for everyone connected with the club. By the time Constantine officially signed for United on their exit from administration, the player had incurred a complex ankle injury in the friendly at Slovan Liberec which would keep him out of the team's 13-match unbeaten League One start.

The 29-year-old Londoner made his first and only appearance for Millwall in September 2000. After undertaking brief loan spells at Leyton Orient and Partick Thistle, he moved to Brentford in August 2002. But after failing to establish himself, he joined Southend United a year later, and began to show his true capabilities.

'The abuse at Port Vale clearly affected Constantine, who said at the time: 'I have never been at a club where I have scored goals and heard the crowd boo'

The 6ft 2in marksman hit 21 goals in his first and only season before rejecting a new contract and moving to Peterborough United. After only 11 games, yielding one goal, Constantine joined Torquay United in December 2004 for a club-record fee of £75,000.

After 42 games producing 10 goals, he was on the move once more, this time to Port Vale, where he hit a rich vein of form. Last season he became the first Vale player to score 18 goals prior to Christmas. Despite finishing the season with 26 goals in all competitions, he became a target of the boo-boys, who questioned his overall work rate. The abuse clearly affected Constantine, who said at the time: 'I have never been at a club where I have scored goals and heard the crowd boo.'

He decided to seek pastures new, and Leeds boss Dennis Wise made his move.