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FOR
THE FIRST TIME in many years there was a genuine optimism surrounding Elland
Road, as Leeds United embarked on the new 1963-64 season. It was only two years
earlier that Leeds had endured the worst ever season in their mediocre history
when barely just avoiding relegation into Division Three, but the preceding
campaign had given rise to encouragement. Team manager Don Revie had introduced
several teenage players into the side and this injection of youth had triggered
off a great improvement, which saw them finish
in fifth place in Division Two, as well as lay the 10 year bogey of
never winning an F.A. Cup-tie before going out in round five. Oddly enough United began season 1963-64 four days after the opening Saturday, as their fixture at Northampton had to be re-arranged - a County cricket match was being played on the County Ground that day - and so it was the following Wednesday night when Leeds United took their first step on the long ladder to the top when Rotherham United visited Elland Road. It's interesting to list the eleven players that were named in the match programme for that game :- 1 Sprake, 2 Reaney, 3 Bell, 4 Bremner, 5 Charlton, 6 Hunter, 7 Weston, 8 Lawson, 9 Storrie, 10 Collins, 11 Johanneson. |
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November 1963 : United's defence in action against promotion rivals Preston North End during the one-all draw at Elland Road. From left to right : Norman Hunter, Willie Bell, Gary Sprake and Freddie Goodwin.
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Gary Sprake, Paul Reaney and Norman Hunter were among the youngsters who Revie had introduced, and they had retained their places on merit and were improving steadily whilst Billy Bremner was only 20 and, although he had considerable first team experience, he was playing his first competitive match at No. 4 having previously operated in the forward-line. Bobby Collins was the most experienced man in the side - in his early thirties - and was an ex-Scottish international who had been signed from Everton two seasons before to help in the fight against relegation and such was his contribution that he was quickly appointed team captain - the perfect leader for a basically young team. Willie Bell and Jack Charlton were both in their mid-twenties, with centre-half Charlton the more experienced of the two and a potentially good, if rather erratic, player. Don Weston, Ian Lawson and Jim Storrie were fairly experienced forwards who had been signed for moderate fees, during the preceding couple of years, while young, coloured, left-winger Albert Johanneson was gaining in reputation as a speedy, skilful goalscorer. Leeds United won a tight game with Rotherham 1-0 - Don Weston scoring - and faced Bury at Elland Road on the Saturday with a new face in the side on the right wing. Don Revie had gone to Old Trafford to pay £35,000 for a young Irishman named Johnny Giles, who was in some dispute with Manchester United after being left out of their team following a heavy defeat. Leeds beat Bury 3-0 and so had made a confident start, but the previous season's form away from home had not been too impressive, and it was obvious that there would have to be a considerable improvement in the side's results on their travels, if they were to gain promotion. |
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