Edwards: Willis

1947-1948 (Manager Details) (Manager Details) (Player Details)

Billy Hampson's resignation saw another former Leeds player, Willis Edwards, appointed Manager. Born 28th April 1903 in Newton Derbyshire, Edwards was one of the Elland Road legends and when he retired he became the assistant to trainer Bob Roxburgh with prime responsibility for the Central League side after the war. He became Manager in April 1947 with only six games in United's nightmare season remaining and his priority was to build a side to win back United's Division One status as quickly as possible. But the slide continued despite Edwards' efforts to sharpen his men's fitness and skills, and for much of the season they were haunted by the spectre of Third Division football. Eventually they finished eighteenth in Division Two and Edwards was moved back to Assistant Trainer in April 1948 after only one year as Manager. An experienced and colourful replacement was found in Major Frank Buckley, who left Hull City to take control at the end of the season. His autocratic and no nonsense attitude was in stark contrast to the more gentlemanly approach that Edwards had brought to the role. His demotion and the traumas of the struggle did not damage Edwards' love for the club, however, and he remained a loyal member of the backroom team for well over a decade, stretching his association with Leeds to thirty-five years. In fact, one of his earliest acts after giving way to Buckley was recommending the splendid Tommy Burden to the new Manager. After the departure of Bill Lambton he was Asistant to Bob Roxburgh who became Caretaker-Manager from 1st March 1959 until 1st May 1959 when Jack Taylor was appointed. The record for that time showed that in the ten games under their charge United and won five, drawn one and lost four. He died in Leeds on 27th September 1988, aged eighty-five, having spent the last years of his working life employed at the Moorhouse's jam factory.