McLeod was born in Sunderland. He began his football career with Darlington, and captained their youth team. He spent time on loan to Harrogate Town of the Conference North and to Northern League club Durham City before making his first-team debut for Darlington on 18 March 2006, replacing Jonjo Dickman after 80 minutes of a 5–0 home defeat against Carlisle United in League Two. He made what the Evening Gazette described as "an impressive full debut" two weeks later as Darlington beat Lincoln City 4–2. He signed a professional contract at the end of the season. He played four matches in the first couple of months of the 2006–07 season, and then spent time on loan with another Conference North club, Workington. McLeod was not retained for 2007–08, and he and former Darlington teammate Richard Logan played in Sweden for lower-league club Östavalls IF. On his return, he joined Newcastle Blue Star, managed by Tommy Cassidy for whom he had played at Workington, while completing his A-Levels at South Tyneside College. He went on to take a degree in economics at York University, and played for the university football team, and for Sunderland RCA of the Northern League when his studies allowed. After graduating, McLeod worked in London as a civil servant in the Cabinet Office. A friend suggested he resume playing football on a part-time basis, and he joined Walton & Hersham of the Isthmian League Division One South. Since then, he has also appeared for Isthmian League clubs Chipstead and Harrow Borough, with a brief interlude at Aylesbury.
Style of play
McLeod describes himself as "a sitting midfielder, not really a box-to-box type. I'm good at breaking up play, but I don't play football just to run around and make tackles. I do like to get on the ball and play a bit as well, so the part where we actually have the ball is my favourite bit." In contrast, his Harrow Borough manager, Steve Baker, signed him to "bring physicality. He can play, too, which is great, but he can put his foot in, he's physical and every other team seems to have one like that, so we want one here."
