Family of football legend John Leedham will have private send-off for the ‘Great JL’

Instead of hundreds in attendance at Tasmanian football Hall of Famer John Leedham’s farewell, there will only be a handful due to coronavirus restrictions.

John Leedham when he was president of the North Hobart Football Club.

CORONAVIRUS lockdown means that family and friends of John Leedham will not get the huge send-off expected of a Tasmanian football legend.

Widely regarded as the best Tasmanian not to play VFL/AFL football, Leedham passed away aged 92 on Saturday.

Under normal circumstances, more than 600 people would have gathered for the “Great JL’s” funeral.

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However, the family will have a private service on Thursday and his former club North Hobart will hold a memorial for their former player, premiership coach and longest-serving president when social distancing regulations have ended.

“We go from having a lot of people rejoicing dad’s life to 10 people at his funeral,” said Leedham’s daughter Pippa Robertson.

“It’s just bad timing.”

Leedham was in good health until he got pneumonia, from which he could not recover.

John Leedham leaves behind children Jennifer, Pippa and John, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.