Opponents: v Leeds United
Competition: Joseph Eric Stephenson Benefit Match
Date: 27/051947
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
Score: 3-1
Scorers: Sirrell,
Hazlett, Rae
Referee: A.W. Luty (Leeds)
Attendance: 17,000
Comments: Joseph Eric Stephenson was born on
17 September 1914 in Bexleyheath, Kent. He played Inside-Left for Leeds
United between 1934 and 1941. He was killed in WWII action on the 8th of September 1944
whilst serving as a Major with the Gurka Rifles. He played 151 times for
Leeds and was capped twice for England (Scotland on 9 April 1938, England 0 Scotland 1, a British Championship match at Empire Stadium, Wembley, London and Northern Ireland on 16 November 1938, England 7 Northern Ireland 0, a British Championship match at Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester).
"Leeds United, with Doherty (Huddersfield Town), Kelly and Baxter (Barnsley), and Dodds (Everton) as guest players, lost 3-1 to Celtic at Elland Road yesterday [27 May 1947] in the benefit match arranged for the dependents of Eric Stephenson, the Leeds United and England inside-forward, who was killed during the war. The young Celtic team combined better than United and scored through Sirrel, Hazlitt and Rae. Dodds scoring late in the second half for Leeds United." - from Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]
Leeds Utd united were relegated from the first division after the 1946-47 season.
Manager: Jimmy McGrory
Scorers: Sirrell, Hazlett, Rae
Team: Ugolini, Hogg, Macarra, McPhail, Corbett, McAuley, Quinn, Sirrell, Rae, Evans, Hazlett.
Manager: Willis Edwards
Scorers: Dodds
Team: Twomey, Milburn, Gadsby, Henry, Holley, Baxter (Barnsley), Powell, Short, Dodds (Everton), Doherty (Huddersfield Town), Kelly (Barnsley).