Leeds United had managed to consolidate their First Division position in 1932-33, mainly thanks to a strong early run. Their form had dipped badly in the second half of the season. Manager Dick Ray was not too perturbed, however, and again made few adjustments to his squad in the summer. He secured three young players from junior football, forward Mick Kelly, centre half Charlie Turner and right back Bert Sproston, who was later to play for England. Sproston signed as a 17 year old from Sandbach and made his debut just before Christmas. The only departure of note was left back Bill Menzies, who joined Goole Town in September after nearly 250 games for Leeds. Menzies had lost his place to George Milburn in 1932 and was now over 30.

The Leeds side was very stable during 1933-34. Goalkeeper Stan Moore (who took over from Jimmy Potts the previous March), George and Jack Milburn, Wilf Copping, Billy Furness and Tom Cochrane missed just 12 games between them all season.

However, Ernie Hart was out for the first five games of the season after being banned for a month when he was sent off for swearing at the referee in the 1933 West Riding Senior Cup Final against Huddersfield, held in April 1933. The FA also axed him from an England tour to Italy and Switzerland in May 1933. His problems didn't prevent Hart from passing 400 League games for the club, however, on New Year's Day 1934 as they lost 2-1 at Middlesbrough. He had long since passed the previous appearance record of 203, set by full back Bert Duffield in 1925.

Willis Edwards, too, missed large chunks of the season through injury and only figured in 15 games. His half back partners' problems did not impact on Wilf Copping, though, fresh from making his England debut in May 1933 - he had another very good season for the club. Centre forward Arthur Hydes was another long term absentee, missing completely from the beginning of January.

The absences of key men gave some of the reserves the chance to take centre stage and Alex Stacey (until his November move to Sheffield United), Alan Fowler, Joe Firth, Johnny Mahon and Cyril Hornby were called on for cover.

The changes were unsettling for the side, but didn't give them too many problems early on - they won five of the first ten games, with Hydes in excellent form, scoring 9 goals in the seven games he played. He went on to finish top scorer with 16 goals in his 19 matches, but missed the whole of October and didn't play at all after January 6. In his absence, Fowler hit six in seven matches in October and November. The team were starting to struggle, however, and only had two victories between the end of October and the end of January. During that period, they also tumbled out of the Cup, losing 1-0 at home in the Third Round to Second Division Preston.

Just as in 1933, they faced the powerful Arsenal side on Boxing Day, but while the champions were flying, Leeds were languishing in 17th place and lost 2-0, "the score no indication as to the superiority of Arsenal," commented The Times.

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For a time their League position looked decidedly vulnerable, but Leeds won all four games they played in February and had a couple of good wins in March. They then welcomed back Willis Edwards after a three month injury lay off for a mid table clash on April 7 against FA Cup Semi Finalists Leicester City. Harry Duggan, Mahon, Furness and Firth got two goals apiece as Leeds hammered Leicester 8-0, the club's best ever League win.

Duggan, Firth and Mahon had good runs in the side in the absence of Hydes and Charlie Keetley and contributed well, respectively managing 11, 8 and 7 goals for the season.

United's notable improvement in the spring saw them finish in virtually the same place as the previous year, ninth, well off a challenge for the title, but comfortably clear of the relegation positions. It wasn't thrilling stuff for the fans (the average gate at Elland Road was only just over 16,000 despite the First Division opposition and the last game of the season, against Chelsea, drew only 6,092), but Leeds were starting to establish themselves in the top flight. They had now been in Division One for eight of the last ten years.

Manager Dick Ray's abilities were officially recognised when the Football League appointed him to manage a representative team, which drew 2-2 with the Scottish League at Ibrox in February 1934.

Other Football Highlights from 1933-34

• Herbert Chapman, the greatest manager since the war, died suddenly in the early hours of Saturday January 6 1934. Chapman had gone to watch a player he was interested in at Bury the week before and then went to watch Arsenal's title rivals Sheffield Wednesday. He had developed a heavy cold and against the club doctor's advice then went to watch the Gunners' third team. After seemingly improving on the Friday, the cold developed into pneumonia and by 3am on the Saturday morning Chapman was dead, shocking the football world.
• After the death of Chapman, Arsenal, the League leaders, went to pieces, drawing one and losing three of their next four games, but they recovered and came back strongly to win the League title for a second year running
• Frank Swift, Manchester City's 19 year old goalkeeper, was so overcome at the end of the Cup final that he collapsed under his crossbar and had to be helped to the Royal Box to collect his winner's medal after City came back from a goal down to beat Portsmouth 2-1
• Rangers won the Scottish League and Cup Double
• Newcastle were relegated from Division One for the first time after four League titles and three Cup wins
• The second World Cup competition was held in Italy and the host nation won it at the first attempt, beating Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the final after extra time. Holders Uruguay, in a petulant protest at the European boycott of the 1930 tournament, did not compete, and the only South American entrants were Argentina who sent a weakened squad in protest at what they saw as poaching of their best players by Italy

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