Andy Irvine came on to replace Gordon Frew at Right-Back at Half-Time. The referee was A. Luty (Leeds).(Referee, Crowd, times of goals and Dundee team details, courtesy Steve Bell)
Match Report: Dundee Courier 16th November 1953 (Courtesy Steve Bell)
FLAVELL ON WING TONIGHT
Bobby Flavell returns to Dundee's team for the floodlight game at Leeds tonight. He will be at outside-left. Doug Cowie returns to his position at left-half. Mr Anderson did not travel with the Dundee party to Leeds yesterday. He returned to Aberdeen after the Airdrie game. Team for tonight's game:- Brown; Frew, Cowan; Ziesing, Malloy, Cowie; Burrell, Henderson, Turnbull, Steel, Flavell. Reserve: Irvine. After the game Billy Brown goes on to Nottingham, where he will play for the R.A.F. Fighter Command against Notts Forest on Wednesday in another floodlit game.
Match Report: Yorkshire Evening Post 16th November 1953 (Courtesy Steve Bell)
DUNDEE FOR THE LIGHTS OF ELLAND ROAD
Dundee trainer-coach, R.J. Smith, has a few words of advice for his team before their floodlit game with Leeds United at Elland Road tonight (7.30). Both United and their Scottish opponents are at full strength for the game, United including manager Raich Carter at inside-left for Iggleden. Iggleden drops out of the side which drew at Bury on Saturday, and United will be represented by the team which produced such thrilling and entertaining football in the Elland Road floodlit debut against Hibernian last Monday. Eric Kerfoot is fully recovered from a slight facial injury, which kept him off the field for fifteen minutes at Bury, and one of the features of the game should be his duels with Billy Steel, Dundee's Scottish international inside-left, who was formerly with Derby County. Dundee, third in the Scottish "A" Division, drew 2-2 in an away game with Airdrieonians on Saturday.The teams are:- LEEDS UNITED:- Wood; Dunn, Hair; Kerfoot, Marsden, Burden; Williams, Nightingale, Charles, Carter, Tyrer. DUNDEE:- Brown; Frew, Cowan; Ziesing, Malloy, Cowie; Burrell, Henderson, Turnbull, Steel, Flavell.
More floodlit games
United, who have already arranged their West Riding Senior Cup game with Bradford as a floodlit match at Elland Road on Monday, November 30, announced today that arrangements had been made with yet another Scottish League club, Falkirk, for next Monday. Both kick-offs are 7.30.
Monday verdict
BIGGEST THRILL MIGHT HAVE COST UNITED THE GAME
There were thrills galore in Leeds United's 4-4 draw at Bury - a sensational start, eight goals and a last-ditch rally by Bury - but the biggest thrill of all did not gain reward and could well have cost United the match (WritesTOM HOLLEY). John Charles, with three magnificent goals - each one a gem in its own way - rose to a fantastic height to send a Williams centre crashing against an upright with a terrific header. It was a brilliant failure, which nearly brought tragedy for United, for Charles collided with Eric Kerfoot, who had to leave the field for a facial injury. United up to that point had got over a tragic start, in which they conceded two goals through slack defence, and had actually swept into the lead, but Bury, sensing their chance, took advantage of the reorganised defence to draw level again. Kerfoot's absence was happily brief, and his return, and some grand work by Burden, and indeed the rest of the defence, which had shown early indecision, nearly brought victory, for United were unlicky to concede a richochet goal two minutes from time, which brought Bury their first point in seven games. United just about deserved to win for they had usually looked the more impressive combination, with Charles again in devastating mood, Nightingale toiling incessantly, and Williams and Tyrer the masters of the Bury full-backs. Wood and Marsden showed early unsteadiness, but rallied well, and took no small part in determined defence in the closing minutes.
Match Report: Dundee Courier 17th November 1953 (Courtesy Steve Bell)
CLEVER DUNDEE - THEN A GOAL FROM CHARLES
Leeds United 2 Dundee 0
A 34,500 crowd - the biggest of the season on the Elland Road ground - saw Leeds United win a hard-fought battle under the Yorkshire club's floodlights last night. There were a few sweeping movements by both sides, but the game was spoiled as a spectacle by the work of two strong and efficient defences. United took the lead in the twenty-fifth minute through a terrific twenty-yard shot by the English League's leading marksman, Welsh international centre-forward John Charles. The home side had turned defence into attack at lightning speed, and Scotsman Dunn, veteran Raich Carter, and Nightingale paved the way for Charles, who injured keeper Brown with the power of his drive. Brown soon recovered, however, and saved a couple of dangerous first-half headers from Charles. United had a one-goal lead at the interval and in the seventy-fifth minute inside forward Nightingale put them further ahead with a hard, low shot after Carter had found him in the penalty box with a free-kick awarded for a foul on Charles.
Burrell impresses
On many occasions Dundee, strong in their midfield play, looked just as dangerous as their opponents, but their shooting lacked accuracy. In the early stages Steel rounded off a glorious dribble with a rising drive that went wide of the target, and Turnbull and Cowie both hit the United bar. Burrell was the best winger on the field. A shot from him in the closing stages produced the finest save of the match - a finger-tips effort by the home goalkeeper, Wood. Malloy played with tenacity against Charles, and rarely could the Welshman shake him off. Right-back Frew gave a great first half display, playing winger Tyrer out of the game. But at the interval Irvine took over from him in that position. Against the former England star, Raich Carter, now manager of Leeds, Ziesing gave a particularly sound performance. At times the battle was fierce and intense as any Cup-tie. The Dundee men left a good impression with the Yorkshire crowd. Leeds United:- Wood; Dunn, Ross; Kerfoot, Marsden, Burden; Williams, Nightingale, Charles, Carter, Tyrer. Dundee:- Brown; Frew, Cowan; Ziesing, Malloy, Cowie; Burrell, Henderson, Turnbull, Steel, Flavell. Referee:- A. Luty (Leeds). Leeds United have arranged another floodlight friendly against Falkirk next Monday.
Match Report: Yorkshire Evening Post 17th November 1953 (Courtesy Steve Bell)
DUNDEE 'KEEPER NEVER SAW CHARLES' POWER-DRIVE
"Satisfactory fare, but never approaching the standard of the previous week's game with Hibernian" was the general verdict of the biggest crowd of the season - 34,500 - at Leeds United's floodlit game with Dundee at Elland Road (writes Tom Holley). It was a hard fought game with defences usually in command, and the greasy top surface was a times a handicap. Dundee were the better-looking side in the early stages but, inspired by the "usual" from John Charles - a magnificent power-drive from the edge of the area which Brown in the Scottish team's goal never saw - United ran into form and finished up good winners by two clear goals. Nightingale got the other from a cleverly placed Carter free-kick. Steel, and a commanding half-back line of six-footers, were the driving force in Dundee's moments of supremacy, but United's middle-line returned the compliment later and with Marsden in consistently good form and Burden and Kerfoot spoiling and prompting in their usual grand fashion, the visitors' forwards fell into a vice-like grip. Raich Carter, apart from odd flashes, was never the commanding figure he was against Hibernian, but Nightingale, despite occasions when he hung on too long to spoil promising moves, was hardworking in defence and lively in attack. Tyrer had more than his share of trouble from a hard-tackling, quick-turning full-back in Frew, but Williams was usually the master of Cowan and Charles, despite the close attention of Malloy had his moments when he thrilled the big crowd. Dundee were a grafting rather than brilliant side and their finishing was not all that it might have been, but there were times when it was only the grand work of Wood in United's goal and some swift covering and interception by Dunn, which prevented them from gaining reward.
Match Report: Yorkshire Evening Post 17th November 1953 (Courtesy Steve Bell)
Relay keepd patients abreast of floodlight thrills
WARD 17 'GOES TO THE MATCH'
By ALFRED TAYLOR
There was floodlight football at Elland Road last night, when Leeds United played Dundee. In a queer grey twighlight over 34,000 people packed the terraces and stands. Matches struck by smokers winked like fireflies around the great perimeter. Smoke, like incense, hung over the field. At 7.30, Mr Barney Colehan and Mr Stanley Blenkinsop climbed to a seat above the player's entrance and donned earphones and harness microphones. Somebody pressed a switch and as the players ran on to the field four pylons on the terraces blazed with great batteries of light, and the turf on the pitch shone a bright uncanny green. The roar of the 34,000 was like a rough sea on a rocky beach.
That roar was heard by patients in the cloistered calm of Ward 17, St James' Hospital, on the other side of Leeds. In rows of cots men wearing headphones settled back on cool white sheets to forget for a couple of hours the pain of broken arms and legs - to close their eyes and live again the thrill of a football game four miles beyond the walls of Ward 17.
'Wonderful'
There was Mr. F.S. Mallett, of Mavis Avenue, Cookridge, Leeds, "father" of the Ward, aged 73. "It's coming through fine" said Mr Mallett. "These two commentators are doing a wonderful job. I can almost believe I'm on the field." Said his ward-mate Mr Jack Hamer, of Churchfield Street, Leeds: "My son is at the match tonight so we'll be able to hold an inquest on the game when we meet. You've no idea how enjoyable that will be." Stanley Oates (14) from Sutton Estate, Cross Gates, has been in different Leeds hospitals fourteen weeks for skin grafting to his legs after being knocked down by a bus. "I enjoy these broadcast matches" Stanley says. "But I'd rather be on the field."
The chairman
Mr Fred Kirkham, of Collin Road, Cross Gates, has had four operations since last Christmas and been in Ward 17 for twenty-two weeks. "They call me the chairman because I am the drummer-up of tea." said Mr Kirkham. "For 4d. per person per week I provide an evening cup of tea - very soothing during the excitement of a broadcast like this. "I'm a Headingley man myself, but I've a leaning to Soccer, too, and I'd have been down at Elland Road tonight if I hadn't have been here. But this is the next best thing and I think that the idea of the broadcasts is wonderful. You've no idea how we look forward to them in Ward 17." Said Mr Harold Best of Albert Street, Hunslet: "Funny thing is I delivered the concrete to build the base of the pylons and I've never had the chance to see the lights in action. I'll remedy that when I am free."
Five hospitals
The broadcasts were first suggested by Toc H. They were organised by the Leeds Cricket and Football Hospital Relay Association, made up of the representatives of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Leeds United F.C., and Leeds and Hunslet R.L. clubs. The clubs meet the costs of the broadcasts, which which supply commentaries of leading Leeds sporting events to 1,200 bed patients in five hospitals.
Match Report: Yorkshire Post 17th November 1953 (Courtesy Steve Bell)
Golden Lights for Leeds United
34,500 people watch Dundee beaten 2-0
By ERIC STANGLER Leeds United 2 Dundee 0
These golden lights for Leeds United. Although they did not shine quite so brightly through last night's slight haze as they did a week ago - there was no more than a little blur in the corners to cause inconvenience - 34,500 saw Dundee beaten. At the first floodlight match a week ago there were 31,500 spectators. Frankly, the entertainment never approached the standard of the game against Hibernian. Perhaps that was hardly to be expected, especially as this time the players had rather a greasy foothold to master. Yet again it had its moment of skill and excitement as well as frustration for the crowd. there was, for instance, what has now become to be regarded as the inevitable Charles goal. This came in the twenty-first minute, when Nightingale split the defence with a smooth pass and Charles hit home a terrific shot between the goalkeeper and post from a sharp angle.
Salmon leaps
There were other moments of Charles - those leaps like a salmon up the falls to corner kicks and long sweeping centres from Williams and Tyrer. And there was one bad moment when, from Nightingale's pass, he clouted the ball over the bar with his left foot from just to the left of the penalty spot. Raich Carter failed to reproduce his previous week's magic. Dundee, with strong strapping wing halves in Ziesing and Cowie, had something to do with that, for the old master was tackled more sharply and given less room in which to manoeuvre than Hibs allowed him, but it was from his shrewdly placed free-kick that Nightingale hooked the ball in the net for United's second goal sixteen minutes from the end. Nightingale deserved it, for his industry and liveliness were apparent throughout. For a long time Dundee, in their special floodlight outfit of navy blue and white quarters, looked the better side. They were in midfield, with Steel the fetcher and carrier and Burrell and Henderson a sharp thrusting right wing pair. But Dundee's shooting was not good, their best effort not coming until the last ten minutes, when Wood got fingertips to Burrell's fierce cross drive and edged it over.
Superb tackles
Dundee, hard rather than classy, had one of the game's best defenders in Frew, who made two superb tackles on Charles and also impressed with his neatness and quickness on the turn before having to leave the field in the second half with a leg injury.It brought on Irvine as substitute. Once they had taken the lead - and they were somewhat unsteady until they did - United neverlooked in real danger of losing it, not with a half-back line in the form that Kerfoot, Marsden and Burden were in. A last flash to send home the crowd was a diving Charles header to a free-kick which Brown saved on the line.
Last year's total passed
In Football League, international and friendly games for Leeds United and Wales, John Charles has now scored twenty-eight goals this season - twenty-two in the League, two in international games and four in floodlight matches. In his forty-one Cup and League matches last season, Charles scored twenty-seven goals. The attendance at Elland Road last night was United's best for the season and the next floodlit game is against Falkirk, next Monday.
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