The 1929-30 season was nothing short of extraordinary for Leeds United. Coming off a remarkable campaign where they finished in fifth place, the club had exceeded all expectations. With their impressive performance, Leeds fans began to dream about challenging for the league title. Manager Dick Ray was confident and prepared his squad with high hopes for the upcoming season.
The Impact of John White’s Departure
August 1930 marked a significant change for Leeds United with the departure of John White, who returned to Hearts and Scotland. His absence left a notable gap in the squad. Despite this setback, Leeds United appeared strong enough to contend for top honors in the 1930-31 season.
Charlie Keetley’s Goal Scoring Prowess
Amidst the turbulence of the 1930-31 season, one bright spot for Leeds United was the performance of their top scorer, Charlie Keetley. Keetley scored an impressive 23 goals throughout the season, showcasing his exceptional finishing ability. Despite the team’s overall struggles, Keetley’s goal-scoring prowess was a highlight and a reminder of his vital role in Leeds United’s attacking play. His contributions were crucial, even as the team struggled to maintain their top-flight status.
An Unpromising Start
The new season began with optimism, but the early fixtures brought a series of disappointments. Leeds United kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 draw at home against Portsmouth. The optimism quickly faded as the team suffered two heavy defeats: a 4-1 loss at Derby and a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal, managed by former Leeds City manager Herbert Chapman. Arsenal was on its way to winning the league title, further highlighting Leeds’ struggles.
A Glimmer of Hope
Following these setbacks, Leeds United managed to secure impressive victories against Manchester City and Blackburn. Scoring four goals in each match against top-six teams from the previous year, these wins offered a glimmer of hope and suggested that the club might yet turn their season around.
The Downfall
Despite these brief moments of brilliance, Leeds United’s season continued to falter. The early season optimism was quickly replaced by frustration and concern. As the season progressed, it became clear that Leeds were not competing at the level they had in the previous year.
A Season to Forget
The 1930-31 season proved to be a harsh reality check for Leeds United. The club’s performance was disappointing compared to their stellar previous season. The team struggled throughout the campaign, and their efforts were not enough to secure a high position in the league.
Relegation to Division 2
Ultimately, Leeds United’s poor performance led to their relegation to Division 2. The 1930-31 season became a period to forget for Leeds fans, as the club faced a significant drop from their previous high.
Conclusion
The 1930-31 season was a stark contrast to the success of the previous year for Leeds United. While the club had shown promise and potential, a series of unfortunate results and the departure of key players led to a disappointing campaign. For Leeds United, this season served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football and the challenges of maintaining high performance.
1930-31 Division 1 Standings – English Football
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 42 | 28 | 10 | 4 | 127 | 59 | 2.153 | 66 | |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 128 | 78 | 1.641 | 59 | |
| 3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 102 | 75 | 1.360 | 52 | |
| 4 | Portsmouth | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 84 | 67 | 1.254 | 49 | |
| 5 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 81 | 65 | 1.246 | 48 | |
| 6 | Derby County | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 94 | 79 | 1.190 | 46 | |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 98 | 90 | 1.089 | 46 | |
| 8 | Manchester City | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 75 | 70 | 1.071 | 46 | |
| 9 | Liverpool | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 86 | 85 | 1.012 | 42 | |
| 10 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 83 | 84 | 0.988 | 42 | |
| 11 | Sunderland | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 89 | 85 | 1.047 | 41 | |
| 12 | Chelsea | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 64 | 67 | 0.955 | 40 | |
| 13 | Grimsby Town | 42 | 17 | 5 | 20 | 82 | 87 | 0.943 | 39 | |
| 14 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 68 | 81 | 0.840 | 39 | |
| 15 | Sheffield United | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 78 | 84 | 0.929 | 38 | |
| 16 | Leicester City | 42 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 80 | 95 | 0.842 | 38 | |
| 17 | Newcastle United | 42 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 78 | 87 | 0.897 | 36 | |
| 18 | West Ham United | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 79 | 94 | 0.840 | 36 | |
| 19 | Birmingham | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 55 | 70 | 0.786 | 36 | |
| 20 | Blackpool | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 71 | 125 | 0.568 | 32 | |
| 21 | Leeds United | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 68 | 81 | 0.840 | 31 | Relegated to the Second Division |
| 22 | Manchester United | 42 | 7 | 8 | 27 | 53 | 115 | 0.461 | 22 |
Leeds United 1930-31 Fixtures – Match Results
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Aug 1930 | Leeds United v Portsmouth | Draw | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 03 Sep 1930 | Derby County v Leeds United | Loss | 1-4 | League Division One |
| 06 Sep 1930 | Arsenal v Leeds United | Loss | 1-3 | League Division One |
| 08 Sep 1930 | Leeds United v Manchester City | Win | 4-2 | League Division One |
| 13 Sep 1930 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | Win | 4-2 | League Division One |
| 17 Sep 1930 | Manchester City v Leeds United | Loss | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 20 Sep 1930 | Blackpool v Leeds United | Win | 7-3 | League Division One |
| 27 Sep 1930 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | Loss | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 04 Oct 1930 | Leeds United v Sunderland | Loss | 0-3 | League Division One |
| 11 Oct 1930 | Leicester City v Leeds United | Loss | 0-4 | League Division One |
| 18 Oct 1930 | Liverpool v Leeds United | Loss | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 25 Oct 1930 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | Win | 7-0 | League Division One |
| 01 Nov 1930 | Newcastle United v Leeds United | Loss | 1-4 | League Division One |
| 08 Nov 1930 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | Loss | 2-3 | League Division One |
| 15 Nov 1930 | West Ham United v Leeds United | Draw | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 22 Nov 1930 | Leeds United v Chelsea | Loss | 2-3 | League Division One |
| 29 Nov 1930 | Grimsby Town v Leeds United | Loss | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 06 Dec 1930 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | Win | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 13 Dec 1930 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | Loss | 3-4 | League Division One |
| 20 Dec 1930 | Leeds United v Manchester United | Win | 5-0 | League Division One |
| 25 Dec 1930 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | Win | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 26 Dec 1930 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | Win | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 27 Dec 1930 | Portsmouth v Leeds United | Draw | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 01 Jan 1931 | Manchester United v Leeds United | Draw | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 10 Jan 1931 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | Win | 2-0 | FA Cup |
| 17 Jan 1931 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | Loss | 1-3 | League Division One |
| 24 Jan 1931 | Leeds United v Newcastle United | Win | 4-1 | FA Cup |
| 28 Jan 1931 | Leeds United v Blackpool | Draw | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 31 Jan 1931 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | Loss | 0-3 | League Division One |
| 07 Feb 1931 | Sunderland v Leeds United | Loss | 4-0 | League Division One |
| 14 Feb 1931 | Exeter City v Leeds United | Loss | 1-3 | FA Cup |
| 18 Feb 1931 | Leeds United v Leicester City | Loss | 1-3 | League Division One |
| 21 Feb 1931 | Leeds United v Liverpool | Loss | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 28 Feb 1931 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | Loss | 0-5 | League Division One |
| 07 Mar 1931 | Leeds United v Newcastle United | Win | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 11 Mar 1931 | Leeds United v Arsenal | Loss | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 14 Mar 1931 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | Loss | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 21 Mar 1931 | Leeds United v West Ham United | Win | 3-0 | League Division One |
| 28 Mar 1931 | Chelsea v Leeds United | Loss | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 04 Apr 1931 | Leeds United v Grimsby Town | Draw | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 06 Apr 1931 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | Draw | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 07 Apr 1931 | Leeds United v Sheffield United | Win | 4-0 | League Division One |
| 11 Apr 1931 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | Loss | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 18 Apr 1931 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | Loss | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 02 May 1931 | Leeds United v Derby County | Win | 3-1 | League Division One |
