Joseph (Les) Vernon was born in Sheffield on 27th December 1905. Playing at inside forward he was a regular goalscorer at Worksop Town. He then moved to Bury in the First Division and over the next seven seasons he scored 50 goals in 127 league games.

In 1934 he was transferred to Preston North End. The club had just been promoted to the First Division and it was hoped that Vernon would provide the goals to keep them at the top. However, he found it difficult to displace Jimmy Maxwell, Jimmy Dougal and John Palethorpe from the side and over the next three years only played in 14 games.

In 1937 Vernon joined Swansea Town in the Second Division. His career came to an end on the outbreak of the Second World War.

Les Vernon died in 1979.