In the 1951-52 season, Leeds United delivered a commendable performance, finishing 6th in the Football League Division Two. Despite their impressive efforts, they fell short of promotion, a goal fervently desired by their supporters.
Major Changes and Challenges for Leeds United
Pre-Season Adjustments
Manager Major Frank Buckley faced significant challenges as the new season approached. After a solid 5th-place finish the previous year, the team was set to lose key defender John Charles to National Service. Buckley, acutely aware of the challenges, sought to strengthen his squad by scouting non-league talent. Financial constraints limited his options, forcing him to either invest in potential hidden gems or offload established players to balance the books.
New Additions to the Squad
In the summer transfer window, Buckley brought in several players from junior football, including goalkeeper Brian Taylor, forwards Bobby Webb, Ron Barritt, John Finlay, and Billy Hudson, and half-back Archie Gibson. A notable addition was Cardiff City’s popular midfield player Don Mills, whom Buckley signed for £12,000 in September. To fund this purchase, Buckley sold proven goalscorer Len Browning to Sheffield United for the same amount in November. Browning, who had been the club’s top scorer in 1949 and 1951, was a significant loss.
A Season of Mixed Results
Early Struggles and Tactical Changes
Leeds United’s early season performance was rocky. Their first two games ended in 1-1 draws against Birmingham and Brentford. Manager Buckley experimented with different line-ups, including a brief stint with forward Barritt, but struggled to find the right formula. The team faced defeats and injuries, including the absence of key players like John Scott and Ernie Stevenson.
Turning the Tide
The return of Len Browning proved to be a turning point for Leeds United. Despite initially dropping Browning from the team, his return to the squad sparked a noticeable improvement. Leeds won 8 of their next 12 games, significantly improving their position in the league. New signing Frank Fidler, who had previously scored 179 goals for non-league Witton Albion and Wrexham, made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut and adding four goals in his first five games.
Ray Iggleden: The Standout Performer
Amidst the fluctuations of the season, inside forward Ray Iggleden emerged as Leeds United’s top scorer. His remarkable form saw him net 10 goals in a crucial 9-game stretch, establishing himself as the club’s leading scorer for the season.
Season Summary and Future Prospects
Despite finishing 6th and falling short of promotion, Leeds United’s 1951-52 season was marked by significant transitions and notable individual performances. Buckley’s ability to navigate financial constraints and adapt to changing circumstances highlighted his managerial skills, even if the ultimate goal of promotion remained just out of reach.
English Football Division Two Standings 1951-52
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 100 | 66 | 1.515 | 53 | Promoted to the First Division |
| 2 | Cardiff City | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 72 | 54 | 1.333 | 51 | |
| 3 | Birmingham City | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 67 | 56 | 1.196 | 51 | |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 77 | 62 | 1.242 | 49 | |
| 5 | Leicester City | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 78 | 64 | 1.219 | 47 | |
| 6 | Leeds United | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 59 | 57 | 1.035 | 47 | |
| 7 | Everton | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 64 | 58 | 1.103 | 44 | |
| 8 | Luton Town | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 77 | 78 | 0.987 | 44 | |
| 9 | Rotherham United | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 71 | 1.028 | 42 | |
| 10 | Brentford | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 54 | 55 | 0.982 | 42 | |
| 11 | Sheffield United | 42 | 18 | 5 | 19 | 90 | 76 | 1.184 | 41 | |
| 12 | West Ham United | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 67 | 77 | 0.870 | 41 | |
| 13 | Southampton | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 61 | 73 | 0.836 | 41 | |
| 14 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 17 | 6 | 19 | 54 | 63 | 0.857 | 40 | |
| 15 | Notts County | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 71 | 68 | 1.044 | 39 | |
| 16 | Doncaster Rovers | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 55 | 60 | 0.917 | 38 | |
| 17 | Bury | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 67 | 69 | 0.971 | 37 | |
| 18 | Hull City | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 60 | 70 | 0.857 | 37 | |
| 19 | Swansea Town | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 72 | 76 | 0.947 | 36 | |
| 20 | Barnsley | 42 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 59 | 72 | 0.819 | 36 | |
| 21 | Coventry City | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 59 | 82 | 0.720 | 34 | Relegated to the Third Division South |
| 22 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 52 | 81 | 0.642 | 34 |
Leeds United Matches 1951-52
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug 1951 | Leeds United v Brentford | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 22 Aug 1951 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 25 Aug 1951 | Doncaster Rovers v Leeds United | L | 2-0 | League Division Two |
| 29 Aug 1951 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 01 Sep 1951 | Leeds United v Everton | L | 1-2 | League Division Two |
| 08 Sep 1951 | Southampton v Leeds United | D | 0-0 | League Division Two |
| 12 Sep 1951 | Leeds United v Cardiff City | W | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 15 Sep 1951 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 3-2 | League Division Two |
| 22 Sep 1951 | West Ham United v Leeds United | L | 2-0 | League Division Two |
| 29 Sep 1951 | Rotherham United v Leeds United | L | 4-2 | League Division Two |
| 06 Oct 1951 | Leeds United v Sheffield United | W | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 13 Oct 1951 | Barnsley v Leeds United | L | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 20 Oct 1951 | Leeds United v Hull City | W | 2-0 | League Division Two |
| 27 Oct 1951 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | W | 2-3 | League Division Two |
| 03 Nov 1951 | Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers | W | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 10 Nov 1951 | Notts County v Leeds United | W | 1-2 | League Division Two |
| 17 Nov 1951 | Leeds United v Luton Town | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 24 Nov 1951 | Bury v Leeds United | W | 1-2 | League Division Two |
| 01 Dec 1951 | Leeds United v Swansea Town | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 08 Dec 1951 | Coventry City v Leeds United | L | 4-2 | League Division Two |
| 15 Dec 1951 | Brentford v Leeds United | L | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 22 Dec 1951 | Leeds United v Doncaster Rovers | D | 0-0 | League Division Two |
| 25 Dec 1951 | Leicester City v Leeds United | W | 1-2 | League Division Two |
| 26 Dec 1951 | Leeds United v Leicester City | W | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 29 Dec 1951 | Everton v Leeds United | L | 2-0 | League Division Two |
| 05 Jan 1952 | Leeds United v Southampton | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 12 Jan 1952 | Rochdale v Leeds United | W | 0-2 | FA Cup |
| 19 Jan 1952 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | W | 1-2 | League Division Two |
| 26 Jan 1952 | Leeds United v West Ham United | W | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 02 Feb 1952 | Leeds United v Bradford Park Avenue | W | 2-0 | FA Cup |
| 09 Feb 1952 | Leeds United v Rotherham United | W | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 16 Feb 1952 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | L | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 23 Feb 1952 | Leeds United v Chelsea | D | 1-1 | FA Cup |
| 27 Feb 1952 | Chelsea v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | FA Cup |
| 01 Mar 1952 | Leeds United v Barnsley | W | 1-0 | League Division Two |
| 03 Mar 1952 | Chelsea v Leeds United | L | 5-1 | FA Cup |
| 08 Mar 1952 | Hull City v Leeds United | L | 3-2 | League Division Two |
| 15 Mar 1952 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | W | 1-0 | League Division Two |
| 22 Mar 1952 | Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United | D | 0-0 | League Division Two |
| 29 Mar 1952 | Leeds United v Notts County | W | 1-0 | League Division Two |
| 05 Apr 1952 | Luton Town v Leeds United | L | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 11 Apr 1952 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 12 Apr 1952 | Leeds United v Bury | W | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 14 Apr 1952 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | D | 0-0 | League Division Two |
| 19 Apr 1952 | Swansea Town v Leeds United | L | 4-1 | League Division Two |
| 26 Apr 1952 | Leeds United v Coventry City | W | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 03 May 1952 | Cardiff City v Leeds United | L | 3-1 | League Division Two |
