Leeds United 1947-48 Season: A Challenging Year in Division Two
The 1947-48 season was another challenging chapter for Leeds United, following their difficult post-war years. Despite initial optimism, the team faced a tough campaign in Division Two. Here’s a detailed look at the season, including key events, player performances, and the overall team struggles.
Managerial Changes and Squad Overview
Life after World War II began poorly for Leeds United, with relegation to Division Two following two consecutive bottom finishes in their previous seasons. In April 1947, the club appointed former captain and England international Willis Edwards as manager. Edwards, who had been a great player for Leeds, struggled to make a significant impact as a manager.
Edwards made only a few minor signings over the summer, with the most notable addition being right-back Jimmy Dunn from junior football. Dunn would go on to have a distinguished career with Leeds, but his contribution in the 1947-48 season was limited to just fifteen appearances.
Early Season Promise
Leeds United started their first Second Division campaign in 15 years with a burst of energy. They won five of their first seven matches, displaying strong attacking prowess. Key players like Aubrey Powell, Albert Wakefield, and John Short combined to score 13 goals early in the season, creating a sense of hope among supporters.
Mid-Season Struggles
However, the early success was short-lived. The team soon faced stiffer opposition, and their performance began to falter. A key turning point came on 17 September 1947, when Leeds suffered a 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.
The team’s struggles continued as they faced stronger sides such as Newcastle United and Birmingham City. Leeds were heavily defeated 4-2 by Newcastle in a match attended by 57,000 fans. The following week, Birmingham became the first team to take points away from Elland Road that season, securing a 1-0 victory.
Season Summary and Relegation Battle
Despite a promising start, Leeds United’s form deteriorated as the season progressed. The team found it increasingly difficult to maintain their early momentum and fell into a relegation battle. They ended the season in 18th place in Division Two, having scored 36 goals. Albert Wakefield emerged as the team’s top scorer with 21 goals, showcasing his importance during a turbulent period.
The 1947-48 season was marked by a mix of initial promise and eventual struggle, reflecting the broader challenges Leeds United faced as they attempted to stabilize and rebuild in the wake of the war.
Standings of Division 2 of English Football 1947-48
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham City | 42 | 22 | 15 | 5 | 55 | 24 | 2.292 | 59 | Promoted to the First Division |
| 2 | Newcastle United | 42 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 72 | 41 | 1.756 | 56 | |
| 3 | Southampton | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 71 | 53 | 1.340 | 52 | |
| 4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 66 | 53 | 1.245 | 51 | |
| 5 | Cardiff City | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 61 | 58 | 1.052 | 47 | |
| 6 | West Ham United | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 55 | 53 | 1.038 | 46 | |
| 7 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 63 | 58 | 1.086 | 45 | |
| 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 56 | 43 | 1.302 | 44 | |
| 9 | Leicester City | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 60 | 57 | 1.053 | 43 | |
| 10 | Coventry City | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 59 | 52 | 1.135 | 41 | |
| 11 | Fulham | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 47 | 46 | 1.022 | 40 | |
| 12 | Barnsley | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 62 | 64 | 0.969 | 40 | |
| 13 | Luton Town | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 56 | 59 | 0.949 | 40 | |
| 14 | Bradford Park Avenue | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 68 | 72 | 0.944 | 40 | |
| 15 | Brentford | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 44 | 61 | 0.721 | 40 | |
| 16 | Chesterfield | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 54 | 55 | 0.982 | 39 | |
| 17 | Plymouth Argyle | 42 | 9 | 20 | 13 | 40 | 58 | 0.690 | 38 | |
| 18 | Leeds United | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 62 | 72 | 0.861 | 36 | |
| 19 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 54 | 60 | 0.900 | 35 | |
| 20 | Bury | 42 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 58 | 68 | 0.853 | 34 | |
| 21 | Doncaster Rovers | 42 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 40 | 66 | 0.606 | 29 | Relegated to the Third Division North |
| 22 | Millwall | 42 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 44 | 74 | 0.595 | 29 |
Leeds United Fixtures and Results of 1947-48
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug 1947 | Leeds United v Leicester City | W | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 27 Aug 1947 | Barnsley v Leeds United | L | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 30 Aug 1947 | Southampton v Leeds United | W | 1-2 | League Division Two |
| 03 Sep 1947 | Leeds United v Barnsley | W | 4-1 | League Division Two |
| 06 Sep 1947 | Fulham v Leeds United | L | 3-2 | League Division Two |
| 10 Sep 1947 | Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle | W | 5-0 | League Division Two |
| 13 Sep 1947 | Leeds United v Coventry City | W | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 17 Sep 1947 | Plymouth Argyle v Leeds United | L | 1-0 | League Division Two |
| 20 Sep 1947 | Newcastle United v Leeds United | L | 4-2 | League Division Two |
| 27 Sep 1947 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | L | 0-1 | League Division Two |
| 04 Oct 1947 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | L | 3-2 | League Division Two |
| 11 Oct 1947 | Leeds United v Doncaster Rovers | D | 0-0 | League Division Two |
| 18 Oct 1947 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | L | 1-0 | League Division Two |
| 25 Oct 1947 | Leeds United v Bradford Park Avenue | W | 2-0 | League Division Two |
| 01 Nov 1947 | Cardiff City v Leeds United | D | 0-0 | League Division Two |
| 08 Nov 1947 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | D | 2-2 | League Division Two |
| 15 Nov 1947 | Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United | L | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 22 Nov 1947 | Leeds United v Millwall | W | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 29 Nov 1947 | Chesterfield v Leeds United | L | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 06 Dec 1947 | Leeds United v West Ham United | W | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 13 Dec 1947 | Bury v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 20 Dec 1947 | Leicester City v Leeds United | L | 2-0 | League Division Two |
| 26 Dec 1947 | Leeds United v Luton Town | L | 0-2 | League Division Two |
| 27 Dec 1947 | Luton Town v Leeds United | L | 6-1 | League Division Two |
| 03 Jan 1948 | Leeds United v Southampton | D | 0-0 | League Division Two |
| 10 Jan 1948 | Blackpool v Leeds United | L | 4-0 | FA Cup |
| 17 Jan 1948 | Leeds United v Fulham | L | 0-1 | League Division Two |
| 24 Jan 1948 | Leeds United v Newcastle United | W | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 31 Jan 1948 | Coventry City v Leeds United | W | 1-2 | League Division Two |
| 14 Feb 1948 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | L | 5-1 | League Division Two |
| 21 Feb 1948 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | W | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 28 Feb 1948 | Doncaster Rovers v Leeds United | L | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 06 Mar 1948 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | D | 2-2 | League Division Two |
| 13 Mar 1948 | Bradford Park Avenue v Leeds United | L | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 20 Mar 1948 | Leeds United v Cardiff City | W | 4-0 | League Division Two |
| 26 Mar 1948 | Brentford v Leeds United | L | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 27 Mar 1948 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | L | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 29 Mar 1948 | Leeds United v Brentford | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 03 Apr 1948 | Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur | L | 1-3 | League Division Two |
| 10 Apr 1948 | Millwall v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 17 Apr 1948 | Leeds United v Chesterfield | W | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 24 Apr 1948 | West Ham United v Leeds United | L | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 01 May 1948 | Leeds United v Bury | W | 5-1 | League Division Two |
