Main Page | Leeds United Managers Index | Major Frank Buckley (1948-53)

Willis Edwards (1947-48) | Major Frank Buckley (1948-53) | Raich Carter (1953-58)

Major Frank Buckley from Urmston in Manchester was called so on account of him making the rank of Major in the Boer War. He commanded the 'Footballers Battalion', a unit made up of professional players. Buckley who already had a lot of success as manager with Blackpool and Wolves was currently with Hull when the Leeds board offered him the job of manager and he quickly accepted. Leeds United had always struggled with finances and one of the deciding factors of offering Buckley the job was his success of making a profit. Searching out young talent and selling them on. One year at Molineux he made the club a £100,000 profit. One of his first significant finds for Leeds was John Charles, who signed for Leeds on his 17th birthday. For his first season Buckley cleared out all the old players and Leeds finished 15th. Leeds sharpened under his style of management, the clubs finances also blossomed. Buckley knew how to spin the press and get the public interested. He also developed a good youth policy and built impressive teams led by Charles. In 1950 he took the team all the way to the 6th round of the FA Cup, the furthest Leeds had ever achieved. After five years at the club though he resigned in April 1953, after the club finished 10th, deciding he could not take the club any further with the limited funds available. League Season P W D L F A Pts Pos Notes Division 2 1948-49 42 12 13 17 55 63 37 15th John Charles signed on his 17th birthday, December 27, 1948. Division 2 1949-50 42 17 13 12 54 45 47 5th Buckley's methods sharpen things up at Elland Road. Division 2 1950-51 42 20 8 14 63 55 48 5th Jack Charlton joins groundstaff and pulls weeds at Elland road. Division 2 1951-52 42 18 11 13 59 57 47 6th Buckley's Leeds drop a place but still effective. Division 2 1952-53 42 14 15 13 71 63 43 10th Buckley resigns due to lack of funds after Leeds slump to 10th. None Leeds United 1949-50 (Major Frank Buckley Out Of Shot) The Leeds United Web Ring  est.1996 The first and the best football team web ring on the web.     [ Home | Join Now | Ring Hub | Random | << Prev | Next >> ] index | main page | contact | acknowledgements | links | latest Leeds news | guest book