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Oliver Jones

What Leeds United looked like at the start of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II

Over the years, there have been thousands of players that have played for the badge of Leeds United Football Club. The majority of those players have played for the club while Queen Elizabeth II was the United Kingdom's Head of State during Her Majesty's 70-year reign.

She took the throne after her father George VI's death in February 1952, and following his death, rugby and hockey fixtures were called off, while football matches went ahead. Fans sang Abide With Me and the national anthem before kick-off at matches

Leeds' first game after the beginning of her reign was a Second Division match against Rotherham United on February 9, 1952 - three days after the Queen began her reign. It was their 29th game from 42, with the Whites sitting fifth in the table.

READ MORE: Leeds United pay tribute as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passes away age 96

Here is the full starting XI from that match against Rotherham United...

Harold Searson - Goalkeeper, #1

Harold Searson played 116 times for Leeds over a period of five years, stretching from 1948 to 1953.

Jimmy Dunn - Right-back, #2

Playing for Leeds over a stint of 12 seasons, Jimmy Dunn made 443 appearances for the Whites where he was a key component in their promotion to Division One in 1955/56.

Grenville Hair - Left-back, #3

A one-club man, Grenville Hair made 474 appearances for Leeds United, scoring two goals. In a poll at the turn of the century about Leeds' 100 Greatest Players, Hair was voted number 19.

Eric Kerfoot - Wing half, #4

One of Leeds' most loyal players, Eric Kerfoot signed for Leeds in 1949 and stayed with the club for ten years. In total, Kerfoot made 349 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals from his wing half position. Kerfoot was also captain during the 1954/55 season.

John Charles - Centre-half/Centre-forward, #5

One of the greatest footballers Britain has ever produced, John Charles had the ability to play as both a centre-half and a centre-forward. In his first stint with the club, he played from 1949 until 1957, and then returned for the 1962/63 season.

Scoring 157 goals from 327 games, Charles is still the second highest goalscorer for the club behind Peter Lorimer, and under his leadership and influence, the club was affectionately nicknamed 'John Charles United' by reporters.

Tom Burden - Wing half, #6

Over his twenty-year career, Tom Burden played six of them for Leeds, making 259 appearances, scoring 13 goals. Him and Eric Kerfoot were an excellent pairing of Wing halves, both capable of taking over the game, that were feared throughout their time as teammates.

Roy Kirk - Centre-half, #7

Roy Kirk only played 39 times for Leeds United but still managed to score four goals for the Whites. He signed to the club in 1948 but would have to wait until 1951 to make his debut.

Gordon Stewart - Inside forward, #8

Born in South Africa, Gordon Stewart only played 11 times for Leeds, making his debut against West Ham United in 1952. However, he was almost constantly kept in the reserves squad and eventually returned to South Africa in 1953 where he worked as an engineering representative.

One of his two goals for the Whites came in this game against Rotherham.

Jim Milburn - Left-back, #9

Jim Milburn made 272 appearances for Leeds, including 52 appearances during the Second World War. In these appearances, he managed 21 goals, one of which came in this game against Rotherham.

Ray Iggleden - Inside forward, #10

Ray Iggleden made 181 appearances for the Whites, scoring 50 goals including 47 in league games. Arguably his best performance for the club came against one of his former clubs Leicester City in 1954 where he scored a hattrick in a 7-1 thrashing of the Foxes. He scored the third goal in the 3-0 win over Rotherham.

Harold Williams - Winger, #11

Scoring 35 goals from 227 games, Harold Williams made his debut from the club in 1949 and would leave in 1957, returning to Newport County.

Leeds would eventually finish sixth that season, just six points off champions Sheffield Wednesday and four points off promotion-placing Cardiff City.

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