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Player Salaries
Few Leeds City players would have been rich.
They were paid on a results basis and their form
was very inconsistent in their first season in
the West Yorkshire league. This payment method
was illegal by the F.A.'s (Football Association)
rules and Leeds City had to appear before them.
Leeds City played in blue and gold colours and
according to the Yorkshire Post, "Their greatest
fault was to finish in front of goal."
David Wilson
In 1906 - 1907, Leeds City finished 10th. Team
morale was low though, because of David Wilson's
tragic death. He was a heavy smoker and said of
a shortage of breath weeks before he died. On
27th October 1906, Leeds were at home to Burnley.
At half time, Wilson, as a striker, told his team-mates
he should have scored twice. Soon after the second
half began, he left the pitch feeling ill. A few
minutes later he returned - not what the doctor
had recommended. There were mass cheers, but after
a couple of minutes he went back into the changing
room and died. The inquest jury ruled his death
had been caused by too much hard work. The death
affected the team's form and they consequently
lost their next 5 matches. That season crowds
had varied between 3000 and 20 000.
Financial Difficulties
By the 1910 - 1911 season, Gilbert Gillies had
been relieved of his duties as the manager and
secretary and been replaced by Frank Scott-Walford
who was 36. Leeds City made a terrible start to
the 1910 - 1911 season, having finished 17th the
season before, losing their first four matches.
The club was in a mess financially, so to resolve
the situation, 60 shareholders went to a special
meeting in September. They promised to raise £4000
which, when put with the £8000 promised
by some directors, would leave the club in a secure
financial position, with a bit of money left over
for some new players. Leeds City finished the
season 11th, but in 1991 - 1912 they fell to 19th
and had to be re-elected.
In March 1912, the club was in a financial mess
again. A receiver was called in. The Yorkshire
Post said that the crisis, which had been expected
for some time, had now been reached. Soon later,
Frank Scott-Walford saw the club going nowhere
and resigned.
At the end of the season, Leeds City needed to
be re-elected into the division. In May, Norris
Hepworth promised to give the club financial support
and announced Herbert Chapman as the new manager.
There was some fresh hope.
Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman was a man full of energy. He
did lots towards re-building Leeds City when the
club gained re-election. He wanted a side of players
with proven ability rather than hopefuls such
as the ones signed by Frank Scott-Walford. In
1912 - 1913, Leeds finished 6h, a great achievement
by the fairly limited resources. The crowds had
risen by 5000 and the club recorded a small profit.
In 1913 - 1914, Leeds City played as a team who
looked First Division quality. They finished
4", 6 points behind Notts County, the champions
of the division.
Many said the team of 1913 - 1914 was when Chapman's
side peaked. 1914 - 1915 was the last season before
The Football League halted due to the War, with
Leeds City inconsistent, finishing 15th. In August
1914, some businessmen bought the club from the
receiver.
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