The 1946-47 season marked a challenging period for Leeds United, culminating in their relegation to Division Two. The season proved to be one of the most difficult in the club’s history, as they struggled to secure victories and ultimately ended up with only 18 points.
A Difficult Postwar Season for Leeds United
Following a disappointing 1945-46 season, Leeds United faced an even tougher challenge in the 1946-47 campaign. Despite a renewed interest in football and increased public enthusiasm, the team’s performance was dismal. Manager Billy Hampson, with limited resources, was unable to bring in fresh talent and had to rely on players who had been with the club before the war.
Managerial Challenges and Player Contributions
Billy Hampson, constrained by a tight budget, had to make do with his pre-war squad, including Les Goldberg, Jim Milburn, Tom Holley, David Cochrane, Gerry Henry, John Short, Aubrey Powell, George Ainsley, Bobby Browne, Billy Heaton, Jim Twomey, and Ken Gadsby. Although some new faces like winger Dennis Grainger and half-back Bob Batey joined the team, they were not enough to turn the tide. The lack of young talent and fresh energy contributed to a lackluster season.
Historic Beginnings and Performance Struggles
The season began on a historic note with Leeds United’s post-war Football League debut on 31 August 1946. The team faced Preston North End at Deepdale in front of a crowd of over 25,000 enthusiastic football fans. This match also marked the debut of young winger Tom Finney, who had already gained prominence during the war years. Despite Dennis Grainger scoring twice for Leeds, they lost 3-2, with Finney scoring one of the goals for Preston.
Key Player: George Ainsley
George Ainsley emerged as Leeds United’s top scorer for the season, netting 12 goals. Despite his efforts, the team struggled throughout the campaign and could not avoid relegation.
Season Recap
In summary, the 1946-47 season was a testing time for Leeds United. Relegated to Division Two, the club’s performance highlighted the difficulties of rebuilding after the war. With a lack of investment and limited squad depth, Leeds United faced an uphill battle that proved too great to overcome.
1946-47 English Football Division One Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 42 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 84 | 52 | 1.615 | 57 | |
| 2 | Manchester United | 42 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 95 | 54 | 1.759 | 56 | |
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 25 | 6 | 11 | 98 | 56 | 1.750 | 56 | |
| 4 | Stoke City | 42 | 24 | 7 | 11 | 90 | 53 | 1.698 | 55 | |
| 5 | Blackpool | 42 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 71 | 70 | 1.014 | 50 | |
| 6 | Sheffield United | 42 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 89 | 75 | 1.187 | 49 | |
| 7 | Preston North End | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 76 | 74 | 1.027 | 47 | |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 67 | 53 | 1.264 | 45 | |
| 9 | Sunderland | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 65 | 66 | 0.985 | 44 | |
| 10 | Everton | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 62 | 67 | 0.925 | 43 | |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 68 | 1.074 | 42 | |
| 12 | Portsmouth | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 66 | 60 | 1.100 | 41 | |
| 13 | Arsenal | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 72 | 70 | 1.029 | 41 | |
| 14 | Derby County | 42 | 18 | 5 | 19 | 73 | 79 | 0.924 | 41 | |
| 15 | Chelsea | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 69 | 84 | 0.821 | 39 | |
| 16 | Grimsby Town | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 61 | 82 | 0.744 | 38 | |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 45 | 53 | 0.849 | 36 | |
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 57 | 69 | 0.826 | 34 | |
| 19 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 57 | 71 | 0.803 | 34 | |
| 20 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 53 | 79 | 0.671 | 33 | |
| 21 | Brentford | 42 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 45 | 88 | 0.511 | 25 | Relegated to the Second Division |
| 22 | Leeds United | 42 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 45 | 90 | 0.500 | 18 | Relegated to the Second Division |
Leeds United 1946-47 Season: Matches, Fixtures, and Results
All Competitions
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Aug 1946 | Preston North End v Leeds United | L | 3-2 | League Division One |
| 04 Sep 1946 | Leeds United v Charlton Athletic | L | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 07 Sep 1946 | Leeds United v Sheffield United | D | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 14 Sep 1946 | Chelsea v Leeds United | L | 3-0 | League Division One |
| 16 Sep 1946 | Stoke City v Leeds United | L | 5-2 | League Division One |
| 21 Sep 1946 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | W | 4-0 | League Division One |
| 25 Sep 1946 | Charlton Athletic v Leeds United | L | 5-0 | League Division One |
| 28 Sep 1946 | Liverpool v Leeds United | L | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 05 Oct 1946 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | W | 5-0 | League Division One |
| 12 Oct 1946 | Leeds United v Grimsby Town | W | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 19 Oct 1946 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | L | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 26 Oct 1946 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 02 Nov 1946 | Portsmouth v Leeds United | L | 4-1 | League Division One |
| 09 Nov 1946 | Leeds United v Everton | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 16 Nov 1946 | Arsenal v Leeds United | L | 4-2 | League Division One |
| 23 Nov 1946 | Leeds United v Blackpool | W | 4-2 | League Division One |
| 30 Nov 1946 | Brentford v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 07 Dec 1946 | Leeds United v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 14 Dec 1946 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 21 Dec 1946 | Leeds United v Derby County | L | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 25 Dec 1946 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | D | 3-3 | League Division One |
| 26 Dec 1946 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | L | 3-0 | League Division One |
| 28 Dec 1946 | Leeds United v Preston North End | L | 0-3 | League Division One |
| 04 Jan 1947 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | L | 6-2 | League Division One |
| 11 Jan 1947 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | L | 2-1 | FA Cup |
| 18 Jan 1947 | Leeds United v Chelsea | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 01 Feb 1947 | Leeds United v Liverpool | L | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 03 Feb 1947 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | L | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 22 Feb 1947 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 01 Mar 1947 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | L | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 22 Mar 1947 | Leeds United v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 29 Mar 1947 | Blackpool v Leeds United | L | 3-0 | League Division One |
| 05 Apr 1947 | Leeds United v Brentford | L | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 07 Apr 1947 | Manchester United v Leeds United | L | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 08 Apr 1947 | Leeds United v Manchester United | L | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 12 Apr 1947 | Sunderland v Leeds United | L | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 19 Apr 1947 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 26 Apr 1947 | Derby County v Leeds United | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 03 May 1947 | Leeds United v Stoke City | L | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 10 May 1947 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | L | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 17 May 1947 | Grimsby Town v Leeds United | L | 4-1 | League Division One |
| 24 May 1947 | Leeds United v Portsmouth | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 26 May 1947 | Everton v Leeds United | L | 4-1 | League Division One |
