The most pleased man in Leeds: 1931/32 season, part seven
Leeds United's young players had two games left to seal promotion to the First Division. Two games for their own fans to resist giving these weak boys a good shaking.
I'm sure I wasn't alone, as Leeds United ground their way through the winter of 2024/25 season, whose mind went back to 1931/32's attempt at promotion from the Second Division.
A stubborn manager, a board that wouldn't pay for new players, a disputed style of play, bored fans: Elland Road in 2024 felt a lot like Elland Road in 1931.
I decided to use the next couple of weeks to tell the story of that season, when the future of the young Peacocks was hotly debated in their own city.
The story so far:
The young blood slogan: 1931/32 season, part one ⭑ Leeds United were relegated from the First Division in 1931, denting soccer's growth in a rugby obsessed city. But the manager was backing his young players to bounce back — and backing himself.
It's a long time since there was such enthusiasm: 1931/32 season, part two ⭑ Leeds United's young players couldn't score at Elland Road, but the explanation seemed simple. The fans.
Willis Edwards breaks his nose: 1931/32 season, part three ⭑ Leeds were the outstanding side in the Second Division, a fine tribute to manager Dick Ray. But his young squad needed their best players to be at their best.
Too much pessimism, too many excuses: 1931/32 season, part four ⭑ Leeds United's chairman, Alderman Clarke, was looking for common cause among struggling football clubs. What he got was to be put back in his place.
Rally Round Leeds United: 1931/32 season, part five ⭑ Injuries were threatening Leeds United's promotion bid, and the club called for more backing for its young team. But even the local ghosts weren't interested.
One fears for their future popularity: 1931/32 season, part six ⭑ Leeds United were on the brink of promotion back to the First Division. But by showing their best form away from Elland Road, they were risking their reputation in their home city.
Against Southampton at Elland Road, by some miracle or coincidence, Leeds were able to name their strongest team for the first time since Willis Edwards had his nose broken, the week before Christmas, away to Southampton. Injuries had become the curse of their season, as Dick Ray tried to prove a young squad with no new signings could go straight back up to the First Division. His resources had been stretched further than he could have expected, while his players were given less backing than he'd hoped from the sceptics in Beeston. Despite their critics, their injuries and their poor form — they'd only won one of the last eight — Leeds had two home games left, against middling opponents, and a three point gap below them to 3rd and 4th place, with a better goal average than Stoke and Bradford Park Avenue. Wolves were already champions, so United's task was making certain of finishing 2nd.
When the Saints came to play, Leeds were also visited by Sir Harry Lauder. This famous Scottish comedian had once been the highest paid performer in the world, and paid six pence to watch the Peacocks going for promotion. They took the lead after three minutes, Charlie Keetley running clear and finishing with cool aplomb, his 23rd goal of the season. They then had the usual run of things, by creating plenty of chances but never finishing them so well. They spurned a great chance of gloss, Jack Milburn putting a penalty wide, with five minutes left, that would have made it 2-0. But 1-0 was enough. The 13,400 in the crowd with Sir Harry were not going wild or invading the pitch the way Wolves' fans had when their title was confirmed the week before, but captain Ernie Hart — who had a brilliant game — at least got hearty handshakes from the Southampton players. It was a low key day, but they were congratulating him on his third promotion with Leeds.
There was no grand celebration, no parade. Almost 4,000 of the crowd for the Southampton match didn't bother turning up for the last day at Elland Road, against old bête noires Port Vale, and 9,588 was the second lowest gate of the season. The match mattered most to the visitors, who avoided relegation by winning 2-0. "I am the most pleased man in Leeds," about promotion, said Dick Ray, and the truth was he didn't have much competition.
He did, however, have vindication. National papers picked up on the story he wanted to tell, although more as a curious bit of trivia than a brilliant piece of work: 'The Leeds United team which earned promotion did not cost the club more than £2,000. Of this Willis Edwards cost £1,500.' And he had signed in March 1925.
Leeds United's Championship winning season, game by game, as written at Leedsista.com.
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"I had never any doubt that the team was good enough to secure promotion," Ray told the press, adding with a laugh, "but at one time I believe I was the only man in Leeds who did think so." He'd been confident then and he was still confident now. "You may remember that months ago I said that 56 points would be good enough to win promotion this season, and events proved that I was right," although the defeat to Port Vale meant ending with 54. "I am now going to prophesy further," he went on, "and say that this team will do well in the First Division. Never mind about getting any new men. Our players are nearly all young, they have football ability, and they will improve.
"Almost without exception, the teams that have given us most trouble are those which have played the most robust and least skilful type of football. Many times, a complete change has come over the game after the interval, when the other fellows have 'got stuck into us', as they say. Well, in the First Division I think our boys will have a better chance to play good football, and I have just the same faith in them doing well as I had that we should gain promotion. I am not going to say that they will top the League. But they are going to play good football, and the conditions will suit them a little better than in the Second Division.
"Considering the injuries that have upset the team since December 19th, I think the performance is wonderful, and great credit is due to the players. We have not been what you could call a lucky team on the field. The ball has not run kindly for us — just think of the times we have hit the woodwork and the escapes our opponents have had."