Leeds United’s Stellar Performance
The 1937-38 season marked a significant turnaround for Leeds United. After narrowly avoiding relegation the previous year, the club demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill, finishing in 9th place in the First Division with 41 points. Leeds United’s impressive performance was highlighted by their robust attacking play, scoring a total of 64 goals over the season.
Key Players and Transfers
Gordon Hodgson: The Goal Machine
One of the standout features of Leeds United’s 1937-38 campaign was the arrival of South African centre-forward Gordon Hodgson. Joining in March, Hodgson had an immediate impact on the squad, becoming the team’s top scorer with an impressive 26 goals. His contribution was pivotal in transforming the team’s fortunes and securing a mid-table finish.
Departures and New Blood
The summer of 1937 saw several key departures from Elland Road. Veteran goalkeeper Albert McInroy returned to the North East to play for Gateshead after losing his spot to Reg Savage. Full-back George Milburn, who had made 157 appearances over a decade with Leeds, moved to Chesterfield. Also, talented midfielder Billy Furness left for Norwich after a notable nine-year stint at Leeds, including 243 matches and 62 goals.
Despite these departures, Leeds United thrived with a blend of emerging young talent and seasoned players. The influx of new talent and the promotion of youth players revitalized the squad. Notable young players included:
- Bert Sproston (23) – Full-back
- Eric Stephenson (22) – Winger
- James Makinson (24) – Inside-forward
- Tom Holley (23) – Centre-half
- Bobby Browne (25) – Forward
- George Ainsley (22) – Half-back
- Arthur Buckley (24) – Forward
- John Thomson (21) – Winger
- Jack Hargreaves (23) – Inside-forward
- David Cochrane (16) – Winger
- Dominic Kelly (20) – Half-back
- Cliff Francis (21) – Forward
New Signings
Manager Billy Hampson made some strategic additions to the squad, including:
- Bill Parry (20) – Left-half
- Gerry Henry (17) – Inside-forward
- Billy Heaton (19) – Winger
- Jim Twomey (23) – Irish goalkeeper
These signings, combined with the talents from the successful reserve squad that won the Central League for the first time in 1937, injected fresh energy into the first team.
Season Highlights and Achievements
The 1937-38 season was characterized by a strong finish and consistent performances throughout the campaign. Leeds United’s ability to balance experienced players with emerging talent proved crucial in achieving a solid mid-table position.
The season’s success was a testament to manager Billy Hampson’s strategic vision and the club’s commitment to integrating young talent with established players.
Conclusion
Leeds United’s 1937-38 season was a remarkable success, with a top-10 finish and a robust offensive showing. The arrival of Gordon Hodgson and the integration of youthful energy into the squad played a crucial role in the team’s achievements. The season not only highlighted the club’s resilience but also set the stage for continued success in the following years.
First Division of English Football Season 1937-38
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Ratio | Points | Qualification or Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 77 | 44 | 1.750 | 52 | |
| 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 72 | 49 | 1.469 | 51 | |
| 3 | Preston North End | 42 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 64 | 44 | 1.455 | 49 | |
| 4 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 65 | 51 | 1.275 | 46 | |
| 5 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 72 | 65 | 1.108 | 46 | |
| 6 | Brentford | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 69 | 59 | 1.169 | 45 | |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 64 | 60 | 1.067 | 45 | |
| 8 | Sunderland | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 55 | 57 | 0.965 | 44 | |
| 9 | Leeds United | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 64 | 69 | 0.928 | 43 | |
| 10 | Chelsea | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 65 | 65 | 1.000 | 41 | |
| 11 | Liverpool | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 65 | 71 | 0.915 | 41 | |
| 12 | Blackpool | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 61 | 66 | 0.924 | 40 | |
| 13 | Derby County | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 66 | 87 | 0.759 | 40 | |
| 14 | Everton | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 79 | 75 | 1.053 | 39 | |
| 15 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 17 | 5 | 20 | 55 | 68 | 0.809 | 39 | |
| 16 | Leicester City | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 54 | 75 | 0.720 | 39 | |
| 17 | Stoke City | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 58 | 59 | 0.983 | 38 | |
| 18 | Birmingham | 42 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 58 | 62 | 0.935 | 38 | |
| 19 | Portsmouth | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 62 | 68 | 0.912 | 38 | |
| 20 | Grimsby Town | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 51 | 68 | 0.750 | 38 | |
| 21 | Manchester City | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 80 | 77 | 1.039 | 36 | Relegated to the Second Division |
| 22 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 74 | 91 | 0.813 | 36 | Relegated to the Second Division |
Leeds United 1937-38 Fixtures & Results
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1937 | Charlton Athletic v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 01 Sep 1937 | Leeds United v Chelsea | W | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 04 Sep 1937 | Leeds United v Preston North End | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 08 Sep 1937 | Chelsea v Leeds United | L | 4-1 | League Division One |
| 11 Sep 1937 | Grimsby Town v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 15 Sep 1937 | Leeds United v Portsmouth | W | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 18 Sep 1937 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 25 Sep 1937 | Leeds United v Liverpool | W | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 02 Oct 1937 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 09 Oct 1937 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | W | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 16 Oct 1937 | Everton v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 23 Oct 1937 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 30 Oct 1937 | Leicester City v Leeds United | W | 2-4 | League Division One |
| 06 Nov 1937 | Leeds United v Blackpool | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 13 Nov 1937 | Derby County v Leeds United | D | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 20 Nov 1937 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 27 Nov 1937 | Arsenal v Leeds United | L | 4-1 | League Division One |
| 04 Dec 1937 | Leeds United v Sunderland | W | 4-3 | League Division One |
| 11 Dec 1937 | Brentford v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 18 Dec 1937 | Leeds United v Manchester City | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 25 Dec 1937 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | W | 5-3 | League Division One |
| 27 Dec 1937 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | L | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 01 Jan 1938 | Leeds United v Charlton Athletic | D | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 08 Jan 1938 | Leeds United v Chester | W | 3-1 | FA Cup |
| 15 Jan 1938 | Preston North End v Leeds United | L | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 22 Jan 1938 | Charlton Athletic v Leeds United | L | 2-1 | FA Cup |
| 26 Jan 1938 | Leeds United v Grimsby Town | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 29 Jan 1938 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | W | 0-3 | League Division One |
| 05 Feb 1938 | Liverpool v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 12 Feb 1938 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | W | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 19 Feb 1938 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | L | 3-2 | League Division One |
| 26 Feb 1938 | Leeds United v Everton | D | 4-4 | League Division One |
| 05 Mar 1938 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 12 Mar 1938 | Leeds United v Leicester City | L | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 19 Mar 1938 | Blackpool v Leeds United | L | 5-2 | League Division One |
| 26 Mar 1938 | Leeds United v Derby County | L | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 02 Apr 1938 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 09 Apr 1938 | Leeds United v Arsenal | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 16 Apr 1938 | Sunderland v Leeds United | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 18 Apr 1938 | Stoke City v Leeds United | W | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 19 Apr 1938 | Leeds United v Stoke City | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 23 Apr 1938 | Leeds United v Brentford | W | 4-0 | League Division One |
| 30 Apr 1938 | Manchester City v Leeds United | L | 6-2 | League Division One |
| 07 May 1938 | Portsmouth v Leeds United | L | 4-0 | League Division One |
