For 110 years the Lions have been an important part of local life. Over the next few weeks we will look back over seasons past. Hopefully you can help us secure our future by looking back at our past and support our fundraising efforts to help the clubs cashflow during the coronavirus crisis.
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Guiseley AFC 1932/33 by Colin Robertson
Almost ninety years ago the Lions were about to embark on the start of a wonderful period of success. Guiseley were investing not only in building a strong local team but were improving their Nethermoor ground. In the first two decades of the clubs existence the players changed in the Red Lion, and latterly the Station Hotel, meaning long walks to reach the field of play. The summer acquisition of the old scout hut from Otley Constitutional Church, bought for the princely sum of £10, meant that the players could finally get changed at the ground.
Interest in local football ran high in the thirties. Television was many years from becoming the dominant popular distraction it would become, although the BBC commenced its first experimental broadcasts just as the 1932/33 season got underway.
Guiseley’s season started in front of a crowd of over 1,000 who squeezed into Yeadon Celtic’s Dam Lane. Trouble had flared up in the same fixture during the previous year so notice boards issued stern warnings to spectators to demand good behaviour. The match itself was a thriller. Yeadon surged into a 2-0 lead at the break but the Lion’s ran out 3-2 winners following a stirring second half performance. Guiseley won their next ten league games and were deservedly top of the West Riding County Amateur League with a 100% record.
International politics would dominate the column inches of the nation’s press in the years to come. During the season Britain granted independence to Iraq, while in Germany the rise of Adolf Hitler led to him gaining power as 1932 drew to a close.
Guiseley’s excellent record of victories came to a halt when Yeadon Celtic beat the Lion’s in a League Cup tie. Guiseley beat Luddenfoot 6-2 in the FA Cup, before crashing out to Frickley Athletic 7-0.
In 1933 the first London Underground diagram was introduced to the public. Arsenal’s players needed a map to help them find the net when they travelled to lowly Walsall in the FA Cup Third Round. The Gunners were dumped out of the FA Cup 2-0 by the Midlands side, a result that was so shocking that a BBC newsreader hesitated to read out the result believing it to be a mistake.
Guiseley’s own starting eleven created some cup magic of their own. In the Amateur Cup the Lion’s beat Luddenfoot 7-2, Farsley Celtic 6-2, and Meltham Mill 5-4 in the qualifying rounds. Guiseley went through to the first round proper for only the second time in their history. They then beat Manningham Mills 4-1 to go on to meet Sheffield League side Nether Edge, and win 2-1, in front of a large crowd. In the third round the Lions faced non-league giants Bournemouth Gas Works, former Amateur Cup finalists. Over 2,000 crammed into Nethermoor but unfortunately Bournemouth ran out 2-1 winners.
International events continued to dominate the press. Tragically a powerful earthquake and tsunami hit Honshū in Japan, killing some 3,000. In the US the Great Depression deepened and as Herbert Hoover was succeeded by Franklin D. Roosevelt ,the new President proclaimed that “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself” in his inauguration speech as he hoped to inspire confidence in the American people.
After the wonderful Amateur Cup exploits, the Lions’ league form suffered as the fixture backlog piled up. E&A Smiths beat the Lions 4-2 and it looked as though the title might be slipping away.
However a fantastic run of form saw victories over Yeadon Celtic (4-0), Wyke Old Boys (3-2), Marsden (7-0) and Boothtown (5-0) to secure the title. The club also won the Bradford Hospital Club to put the icing on the cake.
Despite their FA Cup embarrassment Arsenal went on to win the league, Everton won the FA Cup, beating Man City at Wembley. While local sides Leeds United finished 8th in Division One, Bradford Park Avenue 8th in the second division and Bradford City 11th in the same division.
Image courtesy of Guiseley AFC Memorabilia.
