1953-1954

From the point of view of ?Honours? this was yet another disappointing season, as once again Leeds failed to win even one of the coveted trophies. At one stage there were visions of a ?First Four Triumph?, at another visions of a trip to Wembley, but when the final whistle sounded and the boots were hung up for the summer break we had little tangible to show: 10th in the Northern Rugby league, 5th in the Yorkshire League, Semi-finalists in the R.L. Challenge Cup, and an early dismissal from the Yorkshire Cup. Much of our play was positively brilliant but we failed dismally at the crucial stages of each competition. This inconsistency was due in some measure to unfortunate and very persistent injuries, and partly to the comparative immaturity of many members of the team.

There was only one close season signing of note: Billy Blan, International and Lancashire County loose forward from Wigan. Within a few hours of Blan being placed on the transfer list Leeds opened negotiations for this talented player, whose tactical skill, clever handling and vast experience were immediately revealed in the Lazenby Cup match at Headingley when Hunslet were defeated by 15 points to 10.

The League programme opened badly with only one victory out of the first three engagements: a good display at Hull resulted in defeat because of vital passes going astray so that the Boulevarders ran in sixteen points in 15 minutes in a second half rally; and a convincing home win over Doncaster merely flattered to deceive, as it was followed by a thoroughly depressing performance at Oldham where we went down by 14 points to 5. But two days later a revitalised team riddled the Bramley defences at Barley Mow with brilliant, high-powered attacking play which revealed the great potential of the Leeds combination when fully geared up. This was no flash in the pan as, after Featherstone Rovers had been comfortably disposed of in each leg of the 1st Round of the Yorkshire Cup, Warrington met the full blast of the Leeds attack at Headingley. The Wirepullers forfeited 43 points ? the highest score against Warrington by any team since the war ? and the Headingley crowd were thrilled by a glorious exhibition of all-round teamwork. When this was followed by an equally convincing win at Leigh, where a magnificent second-half rally wiped out a heavy deficit, there were quite naturally hopes of an outstandingly successful season, but then came the rude awakening.

Odsal, as so often in the past, proved the graveyard of all our hopes of a Yorkshire Cup triumph. Playing well below par and revealing only a fraction of the teamwork which had produced such fine wins, we met defeat by 27 points to 9 in the 2nd Round. At this stage the management decided to release the ever-popular Bert Cook and he was very promptly engaged as player coach by the Keighley club. Wins over Oldham and York considerably strengthened our League position, but then came disaster: four consecutive defeats at the hands of Halifax, Hunslet, Leigh and Warrington. But the Leigh game had its compensations in that Gordon Brown, making his first appearance at stand-off, gave indications of his ability to fill the pivot position more than satisfactorily.

November brought another ?purple patch? with three brilliant victories and a very narrow defeat at Thrum Hall where we certainly merited a win. The Castleford game saw the speedy return of Jeff Stevenson, who had been incapacited only seven weeks following a cartilage operation. But November brought, too, a note of sadness with the decision to part with the services of Dicky Williams who had failed to reproduce his best form over a considerable period. Thus ended a long and distinguished career in the Leeds jersey, and there was understandably a good deal of anguish and disappointment when such a fine player ceased to grace the Headingley turf.

December was yet another successful month with five more consecutive victories and it was indeed a Merry Christmas with hopes of a Championship triumph, but it was certainly not a happy New Year. Four consecutive defeats in January put paid to any? First Four? aspirations, and we turned, ever hopeful to the R.L. Cup for one last redeeming chance.

Batley at home in the 1st Leg seemed a ?pretty safe thing,? but the Gallant Youths would have none of it and went back to Mount Pleasant with a lead of seven points. Admittedly we were unfortunate as Billy Blan sustained a thigh injury which necessitated an operation, and Tom Shirtliffe, an eve-of-the-Cup signing from Batley, collapsed during the game and was advised to retire permanently, after making only four appearances in the Leeds jersey. But there was little in our play to give cause for confidence and the week before the 2nd Leg was an anxious one as the players did rigorous special training spells in snow and slush. As it turned out, however, our right of entry into the 2nd Round was indisputable as our players gave a fine exhibition at Mount Pleasant, winning by 23 points to 6. Leigh, 2nd Round visitors to Headingley, met with defeat by 12 points to 3 at the hands of a Leeds team in which Bill Hanson, a young forward from the Oldham area, deputised for Arthur Clues who was under suspension. Cup-tie enthusiasm ran riot when Workington were drawn to visit Headingley in the next round, and no team ever entered the semi-final stage more convincingly than Leeds did on this occasion. A brilliant exhibition of handling and running led to the utter and complete rout of the Cumbrians and all at Headingley, with fingers crossed, thought that this was ?our year?

A few days before the clash with Warrington, however, we sustained a bitter blow when Keith McLellan, a vital link in the back division, broke down completely in training. The game opened sensationally as young Challinor, using the threat of Brian Bevan as a foil, pierced the Leeds defence to score that vital first try. Our players never fully recovered from that shock start and failed to capitalise on the fact that Warrington had only four fit forwards for the greater part of the match. Be that as it may, it was perhaps just one of those days, but officials, players and supporters were naturally disappointed and the remaining League engagements had that inevitable atmosphere of anti-climax.

Lewis Jones and ?Drew? Turnbull were honoured with selection for the party to tour Australasia.

Other players to make their debut during the season included Jack Lendill, centre; Gordon Parker, winger; Tony Skelton, prop forward; whilst T. L. Williams rejoined Leeds after a spell at Doncaster.