Programme:
Match Report:
United were good value for their 2-1 win, after John Charles had scored after eighteen minutes and Albert Nightingale got a second a minute before half time. Falkirk narrowed the arrears in the eightieth minute when winger Willie Sinclair scored. The Falkirk team also included Ian Rae at full-back, Ralph McKenzie at centre-half, Gordon Black at Wing-half, the dangerous former Middlesbrough inside-forward Alex McCrae and the former Barnsley outside left Johnny Kelly. The game was played in front of a crowd of 17,079.(Thanks to Steve Bell for goal information and Falkirk team details.)
Match Report: Yorkshire Evening Post: 23rd November 1953: Courtesy Steve Bell
Charles fit, will play tonight
By TOM HOLLEY
"John Charles has fully recovered from the attack of tonsilitis which kept him out of last Saturday's game with Oldham Athletic and will definitely be in the side to meet Falkirk in tonight's floodlit game" said Mr Raich Carter, United's manager, today.
Charles replaces Bob Forrest and the other change from Saturday's team is that Mr Carter will be at inside-left in place of Ray Iggleden.
The side is:-
LEEDS UNITED: Wood; Dunn, Hair; Kerfoot, Marsden, Burden; Williams, Nightingale, Charles, Carter, Tyrer.
Falkirk were without former Manchester United and Scottish international winger Jimmy Delaney in their home draw with Aberdeen on Saturday. He is, however, included in the twelve from whom the Scottish side will be picked and with no reports of further injuries, it can be assumed that they will, like United, be at full strength.
Everton, who meet United at Goodison Park on Saturday, have three men on the casualty list. Centre-half Tommy Jones is under treatment for a leg injury, while inside-forwards Parker and Fielding have arthritis.
NEW UNITED 'NO' TO CHARLES MOVE
By PHIL BROWN
Cardiff City is the latest club to fail in an approach to Leeds United for John Charles. Cardiff's manager, Mr. Cyril Spiers, was at Elland Road on Saturday and said that "of course" he had come prepared to pay what would have been a new record fee for United's famous centre-forward - and that means something over the £34,500 which Sheffield Wednesday paid Notts County for Jackie Sewell, the England inside-right. "But United do not seem at all inclined to part" he smiled. "Mr. Spiers, like all other inquirers for Charles, was given a polite 'no, thank you' " said Mr. Sam Bolton, United's Chairman. Mr Spiers must be feeling rueful about his long journey, for Charles missed Saturday's game with Oldham through being ill with tonsilitis, and while Mr. Spiers was at Elland Road, heard that his team had been beaten 6-1 for the second Saturday in succession, this time away to West Bromwich Albion.
Monday verdict
United missed Charles, but Kerfoot superb
Oldham Athletic made a curious sort of return to Elland Road after over twenty years' absence (writes PHIL BROWN), for, after looking destined to a heavy defeat, they came back at United with a will. Only their persistent lack of scoring finish in general and slowness on to the shot in particular, kept their late rally from gaining them a point. United, like any other side in the land would have done, felt the absence of John Charles greatly. Not just in the matter of scoring for his substitute, Forrest, did notch a goal (and hit the bar), but in the matter of attacking football. Charles was missed as a football architect as well as scorer. United's forward line was accordingly subdued, but it had one player of penetration and punch, and that was the lively Nightingale. Tyrer was coming into the game in the second half, too, but United's forwards as a line did not get over a slow start. They moved only in jerks, despite positively brilliant support and feeding from Kerfoot and Burden at wing-half. My main memory of the game is of Kerfoot strolling through it like a master. To be able to play your football seemingly leisurely - meaning you have time as well as skill in hand - is one of the marks of a class player. Burden was very good but Kerfoot was superb. Behind him Dunn was like a rock, and played the experienced Ormond out of the game.
Match Report: Dundee Courier: 24th November 1953: Courtesy Steve Bell
CHARLES SHOWS THE WAY
Leeds United 2 Falkirk 1
Leeds gained their third successive win against Scottish opposition in floodlight matches, but Falkirk deserved better reward for skilful approach play. John Charles, who had recovered from his week-end attack of tonsilitis, scored Leeds first goal in the eighteenth minute with a terrific left foot shot, and Nightingale got the second a minute from the interval. Sinclair scored for Falkirk in the eightieth minute. On a perfect evening the attendance of 17,000 was only half that of the previous week's match against Dundee.
Match Report: Yorkshire Post: 24th November 1953: Courtesy Steve Bell
A goal and more thrills from Charles
Elland Road gate down to 17,000
By RICHARD ULYATT
Leeds United 2 Falkirk 1
Leeds United's third floodlit match on successive Mondays was watched by 17,000 - half the attendance at each of the preceding games which, like this, were against Scottish opposition and which, also like this, were won.
The absentees missed entertaining football, particularly in the first-half, before John Kelly, the ex-Barnsley left-winger, now a Falkirk player, tired, before Raich Carter's muscles began to protest, and Kerfoot jarred an old facial injury. John Charles, weekend absentee with tonsilitis, came back in scoring form, if not in absolute fitness, though he lasted the game well enough to provide a final thrill with an exhilarating shot from thirty yards range which the Falkirk goalkeeper magnificently saved.
Held up by half-backs
United's early policy, as of old, was to get the ball to Charles. The difficulty was how, for Falkirk's half-back line was adept at tackling, intercepting centres and starting counter attacks. There were long spells indeed, when Mackenzie, a burly centre-half, repeatedly beat Charles or prevented the Leeds United centre-forward timing his dangerous headers, and it was largely because Charles did not get the ball that United's goalkeeper, Wood, was the busier of the two. It was well for United that Wood was confident and safe. He had many excellent shots from Kelly in the first half, McCrae, Dunlop and Sinclair to stop. Only once was he in luck, when a shot from McCrae hit him on the foot and went for a corner, and his and Marsden's display at centre half were among United's brightest features. These two were given excellent support from Kerfoot and Burden, and it was as well the whole of United's defence was in form, for Falkirk's forwards, when they forgot to fiddle in the penalty area, were good indeed. Charles kicked the opening goal in the eighteenth minute. Nightingale added a second in the forty-fourth, and Sinclair scored for Falkirk ten minutes from time.
Match Report: Falkirk Herald: 28th November 1953: Courtesy Steve Bell
BEATEN AT LEEDS
But "Bairns" Create Good Impression
Although they were beaten by two goals to one in the floodlit game at Leeds on Monday night, Falkirk gave an excellent account of themselves, made many friends, and were rather unfortunate to be on the losing side at the finish. More than one among the 15,000 spectators present expressed the opinion that Falkirk were the best and cleverest of the Scottish teams yet to visit Elland Road, and that is high praise indeed, for such teams as Hibs and Dundee had previously visited and played the United. Royden Wood(s), Leeds' young goalkeeper, was in almost unbeatable form. McCrae, Kelly and Sinclair all sent in powerful shots in the early stages without being able to beat the 'keeper. Danger men in the Falkirk front line were Kelly and Sinclair, who often tangled the Leeds defence, and it was the latter who deservedly reduced his side's arrears after eighty minutes. He split the Leeds defence and took McCrae's return pass on the run to crash the ball into the far corner. Wood had no chance to save this one and neither had McFeat when John Charles, the Welsh International centre-forward, opened Leeds' account after eighteen minutes. In addition to scoring himself, Charles hoodwinked the Falkirk defenders in paving the way for Nightingale to obtain Leeds' second goal. McKenzie, Rae and McDonald earned credit for sound displays in the Falkirk defence.
Result:- LEEDS UNITED 2 FALKIRK 1
Teams: LEEDS UNITED: Wood; Dunn and Hair; Kerfoot, Marsden and Burden; Williams, Nightingale, Charles, Carter and Tyrer. FALKIRK: McFeat; McDonald and Rae; Black, McKenzie and Gallacher; Sinclair, Dunlop, Brown, McCrae and Kelly.
Review of Match Details by Michael White and Falkirk FC: Courtesy Mark Ledgard
