Position: Defender
Birthdate: 1/8/1996
Hometown: Port of Spain, Trinidad
College: College of Charleston
Height: 6-4
Leland returns for his eighth season with the Black and Yellow, currently the longest-tenured player on the team. The 28-year-old captain has played over 168 matches for the Battery across all competitions since debuting in 2018.
The skipper appeared in 33 matches across all competitions in 2024, helping lead the Battery to a second consecutive run to the Eastern Conference Final. One of the top defenders in the USL Championship all year, Archer recorded 104 clearances, 16 blocks, 24 interceptions, 13 tackles won and 108 duels won in the regular season and playoffs. Archer developed a formidable defensive partnership with fellow center-back Graham Smith as the two anchored one of the best defenses in the Championship. The Battery sported the second-best goal differential, third-fewest goals conceded and fourth-most shutouts in the regular season.
Archer made his 150th Battery appearance on June 15, 2024.
In 2023, Archer anchored the back line and ascended to the captain’s role during the Battery’s run to the USL Championship Final. Voted by fans as the winner of the 2023 Tim Hankinson Most Outstanding Player Award, Archer led the league (regular season and playoffs) in clearances, with 164 in 33 matches. He also recorded a team-high 18 blocks, along with 22 interceptions, 94 duels won, 84.8% passing accuracy and one goal in Championship play.
In 2022, Leland featured in 28 matches and logged 2,366 minutes played (second-most on the team). Archer registered a team-high 77 clearances and 54 interceptions, along with 10 blocks, 11 tackles won and 104 duels won. He played in his 100th overall match for the Battery in the season finale on October 15.
The defender enjoyed a successful 2021 campaign, often donning the captain’s armband throughout the year. He led the team with 121 clearances in just 22 matches (seventh-most in the league). Leland additionally tallied his first two career professional goals during the season.
Leland earned his first senior cap with the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Team on January 31, 2021, when he debuted in a friendly against the United States. He was called up again to the Soca Warriors for the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He’s been capped four times by Trinidad and Tobago through December 2023.
The 2020 season was a breakout campaign for Archer as he was named All-League Second Team for his exceptional season. In 17 matches, he led the team in clearances (63) and blocks (16), and had the second-most duels won (77) and interceptions (23).
Prior to joining the Battery in 2018, Archer played four years at the College of Charleston where he collected several all-conference accolades, including CAA Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to his dominant defensive play, Archer finished as the team’s leading scorer during his senior year.
During high school, Archer attended Fatima College in Trinidad where he won the North Zone InterCol championship in 2013. Additionally, Archer has earned appearances with the Trinidad and Tobago U-17 National Team.
