During the 1952-53 football season, Leeds United remained in the Second Division, achieving a stable and respectable finish in 10th place. This season was marked by a strong individual performance from their top scorer, John Charles, who netted an impressive 27 goals.
Major Frank Buckley’s Fourth Year
In May 1952, Major Frank Buckley celebrated his fourth year as Leeds United’s manager. When he took over in 1948, the club had just finished 18th in the Second Division. Under his leadership, Leeds United had shown significant improvement, moving from the lower end of the table to become a competitive force in the division. Despite this progress, promotion remained elusive, and the team continued to fall short by narrow margins.
The Challenge of Promotion
Throughout the 1950s, Leeds United struggled to make the leap to the First Division. In the 1951-52 season, they had come close to promotion but were hindered by a loss of form in the final weeks. This pattern of near-misses persisted, and by the start of the 1952-53 season, Buckley faced mounting frustration due to limited financial resources and the persistent challenge of breaking into the top tier.
John Charles: The Welsh Giant
A key figure for Leeds United during this period was John Charles, the young Welsh forward who was crucial to the team’s success. Charles’s goal-scoring prowess was a major asset, and his 27 goals in the 1952-53 season were instrumental in securing the team’s stable position. Despite interest from other clubs and the potential financial gain from selling him, Charles remained a valued player at Elland Road.
Financial Constraints and Squad Changes
Buckley faced financial constraints that limited his ability to strengthen the squad. Despite this, he made several strategic changes to the team during the summer of 1952. The end of the previous season saw the departure of several key players, including goalkeeper Harry Searson, full-back Jimmy Milburn, and forwards George Miller, Billy Hudson, and Ron Barritt.
To address these gaps, Buckley brought in new talent. Notably, goalkeeper Roy Wood and forwards Ken Hastie, Andy McCall, and George Meek joined the squad. Additionally, Buckley invested £10,000 in Blackburn forward Albert Nightingale and recruited Bobby Forrest from junior football.
The Legacy of Major Buckley
At 68, Major Buckley was nearing the end of his managerial career and sought one last push for promotion. His efforts during the 1952-53 season reflected his commitment to transforming Leeds United into a top contender. Despite the challenges, Buckley’s tenure was marked by significant progress and the development of a strong, competitive team.
Conclusion
The 1952-53 season was a period of stability for Leeds United, with the team finishing 10th in the Second Division. Under Major Frank Buckley’s management and with John Charles’s exceptional goal-scoring form, the club continued to build on its progress. While promotion remained just out of reach, the season laid the groundwork for future successes.
Standings 1952-53 of English Football Division 2
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield United | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 97 | 55 | 1.764 | 60 | Promoted to the First Division |
| 2 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 84 | 33 | 2.545 | 58 | |
| 3 | Luton Town | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 84 | 49 | 1.714 | 52 | |
| 4 | Plymouth Argyle | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 65 | 60 | 1.083 | 49 | |
| 5 | Leicester City | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 89 | 74 | 1.203 | 48 | |
| 6 | Birmingham City | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 71 | 66 | 1.076 | 48 | |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 77 | 67 | 1.149 | 44 | |
| 8 | Fulham | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 81 | 71 | 1.141 | 44 | |
| 9 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 68 | 65 | 1.046 | 44 | |
| 10 | Leeds United | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 71 | 63 | 1.127 | 43 | |
| 11 | Swansea Town | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 78 | 81 | 0.963 | 42 | |
| 12 | Rotherham United | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 75 | 74 | 1.014 | 41 | |
| 13 | Doncaster Rovers | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 58 | 64 | 0.906 | 40 | |
| 14 | West Ham United | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 58 | 60 | 0.967 | 39 | |
| 15 | Lincoln City | 42 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 64 | 71 | 0.901 | 39 | |
| 16 | Everton | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 71 | 75 | 0.947 | 38 | |
| 17 | Brentford | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 59 | 76 | 0.776 | 37 | |
| 18 | Hull City | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 57 | 69 | 0.826 | 36 | |
| 19 | Notts County | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 60 | 88 | 0.682 | 36 | |
| 20 | Bury | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 53 | 81 | 0.654 | 35 | |
| 21 | Southampton | 42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 68 | 85 | 0.800 | 33 | Relegated to the Third Division South |
| 22 | Barnsley | 42 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 47 | 108 | 0.435 | 18 | Relegated to the Third Division North |
Leeds United Fixtures and Results 1952-53
| Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug 1952 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| 27 Aug 1952 | Bury v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| 30 Aug 1952 | Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle | D | 1-1 |
| 03 Sep 1952 | Leeds United v Bury | W | 2-0 |
| 06 Sep 1952 | Rotherham United v Leeds United | L | 3-1 |
| 10 Sep 1952 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | L | 0-1 |
| 13 Sep 1952 | Leeds United v Fulham | W | 2-0 |
| 17 Sep 1952 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| 20 Sep 1952 | West Ham United v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| 24 Sep 1952 | Leeds United v Southampton | D | 1-1 |
| 27 Sep 1952 | Leeds United v Leicester City | L | 0-1 |
| 04 Oct 1952 | Notts County v Leeds United | L | 3-2 |
| 11 Oct 1952 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| 18 Oct 1952 | Leeds United v Barnsley | W | 4-1 |
| 25 Oct 1952 | Lincoln City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 01 Nov 1952 | Leeds United v Hull City | W | 3-1 |
| 08 Nov 1952 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 22 Nov 1952 | Everton v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| 29 Nov 1952 | Leeds United v Brentford | W | 3-2 |
| 06 Dec 1952 | Doncaster Rovers v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| 13 Dec 1952 | Leeds United v Swansea Town | W | 5-1 |
| 20 Dec 1952 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | W | 2-1 |
| 26 Dec 1952 | Luton Town v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| 27 Dec 1952 | Leeds United v Luton Town | D | 2-2 |
| 03 Jan 1953 | Plymouth Argyle v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| 10 Jan 1953 | Brentford v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| 17 Jan 1953 | Leeds United v Rotherham United | W | 4-0 |
| 24 Jan 1953 | Fulham v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| 07 Feb 1953 | Leeds United v West Ham United | W | 3-2 |
| 14 Feb 1953 | Leicester City v Leeds United | D | 3-3 |
| 21 Feb 1953 | Leeds United v Notts County | W | 3-1 |
| 28 Feb 1953 | Leeds United v Sheffield United | L | 0-3 |
| 07 Mar 1953 | Barnsley v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| 14 Mar 1953 | Leeds United v Lincoln City | W | 2-1 |
| 21 Mar 1953 | Hull City v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| 28 Mar 1953 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | L | 0-3 |
| 04 Apr 1953 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| 06 Apr 1953 | Southampton v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| 11 Apr 1953 | Leeds United v Everton | W | 2-0 |
| 16 Apr 1953 | Swansea Town v Leeds United | L | 3-2 |
| 18 Apr 1953 | Brentford v Leeds United | D | 3-3 |
| 22 Apr 1953 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | W | 2-1 |
| 25 Apr 1953 | Leeds United v Doncaster Rovers | D | 1-1 |
