ON THIS DAY

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

LEEDS UNITED (H) 1955

The year 1954 proved to be a significant one for United as they changed their colours from black and white stripes to gold and blue to reflect the town’s ‘sun, sand and sea’ image.

This change also coincided with a memorable cup run in the 1954-55 season that the footballing world really began to sit up and take notice of the club. Early wins over Cambridge United and Blyth Spartans in rounds one and two respectively set Torquay up for a third round tie with Leeds United.

In their first meeting at Elland Road on 8th January 1955, United took the lead through two first half goals from Jack Smith. Five minutes into the second half, Leeds pulled a goal back through Kerfoot and Charles struck in the 70th minute to force a replay, which was held at Plainmoor on the following Wednesday afternoon.

Although Leeds were a far cry from the side that would become a major force in the English game under the guidance of Don Revie in the late 1960s and early 1970s, they still possessed Wales striker John Charles amongst their ranks and were managed by former England forward Raich Carter.

United manager Eric Webber made one change to the United side that drew at Elland Road, as John Smith came in for Bill Towers who failed a late fitness test. His opposite number Carter named an unchanged line-up.

Torquay made a positive start which paid dividends after two minutes when Sammy Collins raced clear of the Leeds defence before finding the back of the net.

United then continued to press forward in attack as captain Don Mills and Ron Shaw both made quick bursts down the right hand side.

Leeds weathered the storm as Charles picked out Williams with a long ball, but his centre was cut out and cleared by United player-manager Webber.

Although they were trailing, Leeds still looked dangerous in possession and they went close again through a free-kick from Williams that narrowly cleared the cross bar.

Charles remained a danger to United and they received a major let-off when a misplaced clearance from John Smith landed at the feet of the Welshman. However, with the goal at his mercy, he missed the target and fired wide – much to United’s relief.

The hosts gradually regained their supremacy as Shaw had a claim for a penalty turned down and Jack Smith then had two good chances to score for Torquay; firstly he forced a routine save from Wood after connecting with a cross from Shaw and he then shot narrowly wide.

Play was temporarily halted five minutes before half-time when United keeper Alf Jefferies received treatment after colliding with Nightingale.

Once play resumed, Jefferies was called into action to deny a 30-yard effort from Williams.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Leeds received a major let off as Harry Smith found Collins, but his header hit the post and went wide.

Torquay were rewarded for their endeavours on the hour mark when they broke away on the counter attack. Shaw picked out Harold Dobbie who produced a shot which was inadvertently turned into the back of the net by the onrushing Leeds defender Jimmy Dunn.

Five minutes later, United extended their lead when Shaw raced down the wing before producing a cross that Leeds keeper misjudged and the ball crept in underneath the cross bar.

Both sides continued to battle it out right until the very end and, a minute from time, Mills struck with Torquay’s fourth goal to seal a richly deserved victory against his former club.

Torquay (2-3-5): Alf Jefferies; John Smith, Harry Smith; Dennis Lewis, Eric Webber, Griff Norman; Ronnie Shaw, Sammy Collins, Harold Dobbie, Don Mills, Jack Smith

Attendance: 11,627