1939-1940

With the international situation deteriorating rapidly there was little close season activity, and there were no new faces in the Leeds team which met Hunslet in the Lazenby Cup match at Headingley in mid-August. But the management were concerned over the persistent groin injury which had troubled Vic Hey for over twelve months, and they eventually decided to obtain the services of another stand-off half. Hunslet agreed to part with the services of Oliver Morris for a big fee, and Leeds contracted to pay a further sum to Hunslet if hostilities did not break out within a specified period.

Morris made his debut against Broughton Rangers in the opening League engagement and scored two excellent tries. A narrow victory over Halifax by 9 points to 8, was followed, on September 2nd, by a storming win over Bramley.

The following day war was declared ? a war which many had considered inevitable ever since the days of Munich, a war which all expected but none could relish ? and those fateful words of Mr. Neville Chamberlain disrupted the life of every home in the land just as surely and irrevocably as they denuded every Club and team, from Headingley to Central Park, and St. James Park to Highbury, of many players who had given such pleasure and so many thrills to the sporting fraternity.

Some there were, like Oliver Morris, who were to pay the supreme sacrifice in the cause of freedom; some there were, like Reg Wheatley, who were to undergo supreme hardship and privation in prisoner of war camps and yet return to the field of their former glory; some there were, like Eric Harris, to whom the outbreak of war meant a premature retirement from the game; some, too, were to serve in distant parts and then return six years later to help to rebuild the fortunes of the Club; whilst others, who were more fortunate, were engaged in work of national importance and thus were able to ?turn out? week by week in the Emergency Competitions.

Thus ended the ?golden thirties?; but not entirely, for the memories of many of the games chronicled were a source of great pleasure and delight to players, officials, and supporters through the dark days. Many a weary and depressed serviceman was cheered by the thoughts of ?Blue and Amber?, many yearned for a glimpse of the one and only Headingley, and many came whilst on leave to stand at his favourite spot ? to look, to dream, to hope.

The Yorkshire League (War Emergency) Competition commenced on September 30th, and provided a welcome relief for an anxious public. The Home Office restricted the Headingley crowds to a maximum of 8,000, as a precautionary measure in case of air attack.

Only half our matches were won, and we finished in eighth position, but the fare provided was very entertaining. The work of Jenkins and Morris at half-back, coupled with the supporting play of Hey, in the centre, and the strong running of Madden on the wing. made one appreciate what might have been in days of peace.

Our appearance in the Yorkshire Cup Competition was confined to the 1st Round as we met with a heavy defeat by 22 points to 3, at Odsal.