The 1959-60 season was one of the most challenging and heartbreaking periods in Leeds United’s history. The club faced numerous difficulties and ultimately found themselves relegated from the First Division by a single point. This unfortunate turn of events was a stark contrast to the optimism that had greeted the arrival of new manager Jack Taylor.
Managerial Change and New Beginnings
At the end of the 1958-59 season, Leeds United made a significant change in management, hiring Jack Taylor from Third Division Queens Park Rangers. Despite Taylor’s lack of success at QPR, the Leeds board was hopeful that he could restore stability and guide the club to better times. Taylor was not the first choice for the role, but he was seen as a steadying influence in a time of turbulence.
Taylor’s first major decision was to oversee the departure of two seasoned veterans: Eric Kerfoot and Jimmy Dunn. Kerfoot was transferred to Chesterfield, while Dunn, at the age of 36, moved to Darlington. Their departure marked the end of an era, as both had been crucial to Leeds United’s defensive line for many years. Dunn, in particular, was remembered fondly by John Charles for his incredible fitness and strong defensive capabilities.
Transfer Activity and Squad Changes
Financial constraints limited Taylor’s ability to strengthen the squad significantly. The sale of promising player George O’Brien to Southampton brought in £10,000, which was used to sign Bradford City’s powerful striker, John McCole. McCole would become a crucial part of the team, finishing the season as Leeds’ top scorer with 23 goals.
Alan Shackleton, who had been a key player for Leeds, left for Everton before the new season began. His departure, coupled with the need to integrate new players, meant that the team faced an uphill battle from the outset. Taylor retained the core squad that had finished the previous season, including goalkeeper Ted Burgin, full-backs Jimmy Ashall and Grenville Hair, centre-half Jack Charlton, and midfielder Wilbur Cush, who had represented Northern Ireland in the 1958 World Cup.
A Season of Struggles
The season started poorly for Leeds United, with back-to-back defeats against Burnley and Leicester City, both ending in narrow 3-2 losses. Despite some promising performances, the team struggled to find consistency. Taylor’s efforts to stabilize the team were undermined by a series of unfortunate results and injuries.
John McCole’s impressive goal-scoring record, though a highlight for the team, was not enough to prevent Leeds from slipping into the relegation zone. The club battled valiantly but ultimately fell short, finishing the season just one point away from safety.
Conclusion
The 1959-60 season was a bitter disappointment for Leeds United fans. The club’s relegation from the First Division was a crushing blow after years of relative stability and success. The departure of key players, combined with financial restrictions and managerial changes, created a perfect storm of difficulties for the club. As Leeds United looked to rebuild and recover, the season served as a sobering reminder of the challenges and unpredictability of football.
The year marked a period of transition for the club, and while it was a time of struggle, it also set the stage for future rebuilding efforts. The memories of the season would linger, but Leeds United’s resilience and determination would soon lead them to better days ahead.
1959-60 Standings: English Football
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burnley | 42 | 24 | 7 | 11 | 85 | 61 | 1.393 | 55 |
| 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 24 | 6 | 12 | 106 | 67 | 1.582 | 54 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 86 | 50 | 1.720 | 53 |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 83 | 57 | 1.456 | 49 |
| 5 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 80 | 59 | 1.356 | 49 |
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 59 | 51 | 1.157 | 48 |
| 7 | Manchester United | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 102 | 80 | 1.275 | 45 |
| 8 | Newcastle United | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 82 | 78 | 1.051 | 44 |
| 9 | Preston North End | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 79 | 76 | 1.039 | 44 |
| 10 | Fulham | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 73 | 80 | 0.913 | 44 |
| 11 | Blackpool | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 59 | 71 | 0.831 | 40 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 66 | 75 | 0.880 | 39 |
| 13 | Arsenal | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 68 | 80 | 0.850 | 39 |
| 14 | West Ham United | 42 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 75 | 91 | 0.824 | 38 |
| 15 | Everton | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 73 | 78 | 0.936 | 37 |
| 16 | Manchester City | 42 | 17 | 3 | 22 | 78 | 84 | 0.929 | 37 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 60 | 70 | 0.857 | 37 |
| 18 | Chelsea | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 76 | 91 | 0.835 | 37 |
| 19 | Birmingham City | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 63 | 80 | 0.788 | 36 |
| 20 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 50 | 74 | 0.676 | 35 |
| 21 | Leeds United | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 65 | 92 | 0.707 | 34 |
| 22 | Luton Town | 42 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 50 | 73 | 0.685 | 30 |
Leeds United 1959-60 Fixtures and Results
| Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 1959 | Leeds United v Burnley | L | 2-3 |
| 26 Aug 1959 | Leicester City v Leeds United | L | 3-2 |
| 29 Aug 1959 | Luton Town v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| 02 Sep 1959 | Leeds United v Leicester City | D | 1-1 |
| 05 Sep 1959 | West Ham United v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| 09 Sep 1959 | Manchester United v Leeds United | L | 6-0 |
| 12 Sep 1959 | Leeds United v Chelsea | W | 2-1 |
| 16 Sep 1959 | Leeds United v Manchester United | D | 2-2 |
| 19 Sep 1959 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| 26 Sep 1959 | Leeds United v Newcastle United | L | 2-3 |
| 03 Oct 1959 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| 10 Oct 1959 | Leeds United v Everton | D | 3-3 |
| 17 Oct 1959 | Blackpool v Leeds United | D | 3-3 |
| 24 Oct 1959 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | L | 0-1 |
| 31 Oct 1959 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 07 Nov 1959 | Leeds United v Arsenal | W | 3-2 |
| 14 Nov 1959 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | L | 4-2 |
| 21 Nov 1959 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | L | 1-3 |
| 28 Nov 1959 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | L | 4-1 |
| 05 Dec 1959 | Leeds United v Fulham | L | 1-4 |
| 12 Dec 1959 | Manchester City v Leeds United | D | 3-3 |
| 19 Dec 1959 | Burnley v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| 26 Dec 1959 | Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur | L | 2-4 |
| 28 Dec 1959 | Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United | W | 1-4 |
| 02 Jan 1960 | Leeds United v Luton Town | D | 1-1 |
| 09 Jan 1960 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| 16 Jan 1960 | Leeds United v West Ham United | W | 3-0 |
| 23 Jan 1960 | Chelsea v Leeds United | W | 1-3 |
| 06 Feb 1960 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | L | 1-4 |
| 13 Feb 1960 | Newcastle United v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| 27 Feb 1960 | Fulham v Leeds United | L | 5-0 |
| 05 Mar 1960 | Leeds United v Blackpool | L | 2-4 |
| 09 Mar 1960 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | D | 3-3 |
| 19 Mar 1960 | Leeds United v Manchester City | W | 4-3 |
| 26 Mar 1960 | Arsenal v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 02 Apr 1960 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 0-3 |
| 09 Apr 1960 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| 16 Apr 1960 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | W | 1-0 |
| 18 Apr 1960 | Preston North End v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| 19 Apr 1960 | Leeds United v Preston North End | W | 2-1 |
| 23 Apr 1960 | Everton v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| 27 Apr 1960 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | L | 3-2 |
| 30 Apr 1960 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | W | 1-0 |
