Willis Edwards breaks his nose: 1931/32 season, part three

The 1-0 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur on 12th December 1931 was the Peacocks' fifteenth game unbeaten, in a run that included nine consecutive wins, and put them three points clear of Wolves at the top of the Second Division, who had a match in hand (back when it was two points for a win). Dick Ray's promise that his young squad would mature quickly into promotion candidates was looking well-judged. Leeds had won more games than anyone else, and lost fewer, and they had the best defensive record. But Wolves, managed by Major Frank Buckley and helped by two prolific striking Billys, Bottrill and Hartill, and by beating Port Vale 7-1 on the same day as Leeds beat Spurs, had outscored them by eleven. Writing for the Sunday Express, Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman — once of Leeds City — gave his view on the developing race for promotion:

I have repeatedly been told that the Wolves will walk into promotion, and, significantly enough, those who have formed this opinion are the clubs who have opposed them. There could be no higher testimony to their chances of returning to the senior competition.
Frank Buckley, the manager, has worked untiringly for this end, and I hope he will realise his expectations. It is said that their main strength is in the half-back line, and it is perhaps the best place. Reg Hollingworth has, of course, been marked as a centre-half of the highest promise. He has, in fact, been suggested as the man for England.
But Leeds United, despite one or two surprising lapses, have been the outstanding side in the Second Division, and their success is a fine tribute to Dick Ray, who has put so much faith in his young players. It is very notable that here again the main prop of the team is at half-back, where Willis Edwards and Ernie Hart are able from their experience to supply the essential steadiness.

United's next match was a trip to Southampton, 8th in the league, who had recently been beaten 6-0 by 3rd placed Plymouth and previously lost at home to Wolves and Stoke. 'I will be surprised if Leeds fail at The Dell,' wrote Thomson's Weekly's tipster. And you can feel the turning point coming a mile off. Willis Edwards felt it square on his nose, which was broken in the first half in a mid-air collision with Southampton's Stan Woodhouse. United's best player on the day, Edwards had to play the second half out of the fray on the right wing, from where he still made an equaliser for Harry Duggan. But his replacement at the back was Joe Firth, moving from the forward line and giving away a penalty for a handball. The Leeds players were certain the referee was wrong, but after a moment's hesitation he allowed Michael Keeping to take and score the spot-kick. United had half-an-hour to get back into the game, but the Daily Express described their rally as 'desperate and dour'. Southampton had experimented and reorganised their team, and been so determined to give a better account of themselves that they'd opened the scoring in the first minute, and their 2-1 win took down United's unbeaten away record. 'The home side showed dash and purpose,' wrote The Traveller in the Leeds Mercury, 'which astonished their best friends.'

Leeds United's Championship winning season, game by game, as written at Leedsista.com.

This 300 page Royal format softback book compiles every match report and essay about the title-winning 2024/25 season so you can relive the anxiety, and the glory, game by game.

This is a pre-order, and I really appreciate anyone buying now so I can get the initial print numbers just right. The book will be published, printed and delivered in June 2025. Thanks!

Pre-order now

Edwards' nose was so badly broken it put him out of the Christmas and Boxing Day fixtures, away then home to Bradford Park Avenue. Park Avenue were 4th, just four points behind Leeds at the top, with a home record as formidable as United's had been away: ten wins and a 2-2 draw with Port Vale, who were the only visitors to score more than one at Park Avenue; six teams had scored none at all. To prepare, the Leeds directors took their players to a hotel in Harrogate on Christmas Eve, planning to return there between matches to minimise festive distractions.

The importance of the matches, and the popularity of Christmas soccer, was reflected in the attendances. What became a long-standing record 32,429 were at Park Avenue on Christmas Day; 34,005 came to Elland Road for the return on Boxing Day. That was more than double the 15,689 who had watched the Spurs game there, and only the second league crowd over 30,000 since a First Division match with Sunderland in December 1928. And they weren't put off by the result in Bradford, where United were put off by fresh injuries to Alex Stacey and Billy Furness and succumbed to Park Avenue's home strength in a 3-0 defeat. Bradford brought the fight they'd shown in that match to Elland Road with them, and Leeds were hampered again, as Ernie Hart strained his groin and had to move up front out of the back line after half-time. Winger Tom Cochrane was the vital player for Leeds, though. He crossed for Duggan to open the scoring after four minutes; crossed for Charlie Keetley to head Leeds back in front ten minutes before half-time; and, after an own goal by George Milburn helped Bradford to 2-2, he crossed again for Keetley to head Leeds in front again, the decisive goal for a 3-2 win.

It kept Leeds top, but not for long. Wolves had also slipped on Christmas Day, losing 3-2 away to 15th placed Manchester United, but they'd put that right in the return on Boxing Day, beating them 7-0. Winning their game in hand, 3-1 at home to Charlton, then put Wolves ahead of Leeds on goal average, but the top spot changed hands again early in the new year. While Wolves drew 3-3 at Spurs, Leeds won 3-2 again on 2nd January, at home to Swansea Town. After 34,000 for the Bradford game, just 12,885 turned out this time.