The 1953-54 season saw Leeds United secure another steady finish in the English Football League Division Two, concluding the campaign in 10th place. Despite finishing mid-table, Leeds United’s performance was notable for their top scorer, who made a significant impact throughout the season.
Top Scorer: John Charles
Leeds United’s top scorer for the 1953-54 season was none other than John Charles. The Welsh forward netted an impressive 42 goals in 39 appearances, earning him the title of the league’s top scorer. Charles’s prolific scoring ability cemented his place as one of the club’s all-time greats, making him the second highest goal scorer in Leeds United’s history, only behind Peter Lorimer.
Managerial Changes: The Departure of Major Frank Buckley
After five challenging years at the helm, Major Frank Buckley stepped down from his managerial position at Leeds United at the end of the 1952-53 season. Buckley’s tenure was marked by his significant contributions to the club, including the establishment of a robust youth development and scouting system. Despite his efforts, he was unable to secure promotion to Division One.
Buckley’s resignation was largely attributed to ongoing financial constraints that hampered his managerial ambitions. Following his departure, Buckley took over at Walsall, a Third Division club, signaling his dissatisfaction with Leeds’ direction and financial struggles.
Raich Carter: The New Manager
Leeds United’s board, led by Chairman Sam Bolton, sought a renowned and experienced successor for Buckley. They appointed Raich Carter, a celebrated figure in English football known for his illustrious playing career with Sunderland and Derby County. Carter, who had previously enjoyed success as both a player and manager at Hull City, was brought in with high expectations.
Carter’s managerial debut at Leeds saw him inherit a team that had performed well in the latter part of the previous season. While he largely retained the previous lineup, one notable change was the introduction of Eddie Burbanks. Burbanks, a veteran player who had previously collaborated with Carter, was brought in to fill the gap left by George Meek’s National Service.
Key Players and Performance
John Charles continued to be a standout player for Leeds United, with his exceptional goal-scoring record being a highlight of the season. His performance underscored the club’s reliance on his attacking prowess, which was crucial for maintaining their competitive edge in Division Two.
Despite the promising start and strong individual performances, the team’s overall finish of 10th place reflected a season of steady, but unspectacular progress. The club’s efforts to climb back to the top tier of English football were ongoing, with the new managerial changes setting the stage for future campaigns.
Conclusion
The 1953-54 season for Leeds United was characterized by consistency and the continued impact of key players like John Charles. While the club could not break into the promotion spots, the season was marked by significant changes and the establishment of a new managerial direction under Raich Carter. As Leeds United looked forward, the foundation laid during this season would be crucial for their future ambitions.
1953-54 Standings: English Football Division 2
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester City | 42 | 23 | 10 | 9 | 97 | 60 | 1.617 | 56 | |
| 2 | Everton | 42 | 20 | 16 | 6 | 92 | 58 | 1.586 | 56 | |
| 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 86 | 50 | 1.720 | 55 | |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 86 | 59 | 1.458 | 52 | |
| 5 | Rotherham United | 42 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 80 | 67 | 1.194 | 49 | |
| 6 | Luton Town | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 64 | 59 | 1.085 | 48 | |
| 7 | Birmingham City | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 78 | 58 | 1.345 | 47 | |
| 8 | Fulham | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 98 | 85 | 1.153 | 44 | |
| 9 | Bristol Rovers | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 64 | 58 | 1.103 | 44 | |
| 10 | Leeds United | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 89 | 81 | 1.099 | 43 | |
| 11 | Stoke City | 42 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 71 | 60 | 1.183 | 41 | |
| 12 | Doncaster Rovers | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 59 | 63 | 0.937 | 41 | |
| 13 | West Ham United | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 67 | 69 | 0.971 | 39 | |
| 14 | Notts County | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 54 | 74 | 0.730 | 39 | |
| 15 | Hull City | 42 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 64 | 66 | 0.970 | 38 | |
| 16 | Lincoln City | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 65 | 83 | 0.783 | 37 | |
| 17 | Bury | 42 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 54 | 72 | 0.750 | 36 | |
| 18 | Derby County | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 64 | 82 | 0.780 | 35 | |
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle | 42 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 65 | 82 | 0.793 | 34 | |
| 20 | Swansea Town | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 58 | 82 | 0.707 | 34 | |
| 21 | Brentford | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 40 | 78 | 0.513 | 31 | |
| 22 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 40 | 89 | 0.449 | 25 |
Leeds United 1953-54: Fixtures and Results
| Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug 1953 | Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle | L | 1-2 |
| 29 Aug 1953 | Leeds United v Notts County | D | 1-1 |
| 05 Sep 1953 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| 12 Sep 1953 | Leeds United v Fulham | W | 3-1 |
| 19 Sep 1953 | West Ham United v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| 26 Sep 1953 | Leeds United v Sunderland | L | 1-2 |
| 03 Oct 1953 | Leicester City v Leeds United | L | 0-1 |
| 10 Oct 1953 | Leeds United v Derby County | W | 4-0 |
| 17 Oct 1953 | Hull City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 24 Oct 1953 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 2-1 |
| 31 Oct 1953 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| 07 Nov 1953 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | W | 3-1 |
| 14 Nov 1953 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | L | 0-2 |
| 21 Nov 1953 | Leeds United v Barnsley | W | 5-0 |
| 28 Nov 1953 | Leeds United v Luton Town | D | 2-2 |
| 05 Dec 1953 | Cardiff City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 12 Dec 1953 | Leeds United v Chelsea | W | 3-0 |
| 19 Dec 1953 | Leeds United v Swansea Town | D | 0-0 |
| 26 Dec 1953 | Leicester City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 01 Jan 1954 | Leeds United v Sunderland | W | 2-1 |
| 09 Jan 1954 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 16 Jan 1954 | Leeds United v West Ham United | L | 0-2 |
| 23 Jan 1954 | Derby County v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 30 Jan 1954 | Leeds United v Notts County | W | 2-1 |
| 06 Feb 1954 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| 13 Feb 1954 | Leeds United v Cardiff City | W | 3-1 |
| 20 Feb 1954 | Leeds United v Hull City | W | 2-0 |
| 27 Feb 1954 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| 06 Mar 1954 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | W | 3-0 |
| 13 Mar 1954 | Luton Town v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| 20 Mar 1954 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 2-0 |
| 27 Mar 1954 | Leeds United v Fulham | D | 1-1 |
| 03 Apr 1954 | Swansea Town v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| 10 Apr 1954 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | W | 4-2 |
| 17 Apr 1954 | Arsenal v Leeds United | L | 0-1 |
| 24 Apr 1954 | Leeds United v Leicester City | D | 2-2 |
