Match Report: Yorkshire Evening Post: 16th May 1924: Courtesy Steve Bell
THE PICK OF HOLLAND
LEEDS UNITED PLAYERS' EXPERIENCE
An entertaining account of the experiences of the Leeds United Football team at present on tour is contained in a letter received today from Allan Ure, who is acting as trainer on the trip. The team for our first game with the Dutch Olympic is the one that played against Bradford at Leeds, with the exception of Armand for Whipp. The Dutch Olympic team is the pick of Holland and, from what I can gather, the outside left is exceedingly fast and clever - one hundred per cent above anybody in Holland - and the right full back is also very good. We are promised a very good game indeed.
Match Report: Yorkshire Evening Post: 17th May 1924: Courtesy Steve Bell
LEEDS UNITED'S TOUR
FIRST MATCH WITH DUTCHMEN ENDS IN DRAW
The Leeds United team on tour in Holland have now played their first match, and an entertaining account of this game against the Olympic team, which represents practically the pick of Holland, has been received from Allan Ure, who is acting as trainer of the team.The game (he writes) was played under tropical conditions before 16,000 spectators. Baker won the toss in quite a novel way, which reminded one very much of "Tip it", the referee holding a whistle in each hand, one nickel and one black, and Baker having to guess which hand the black one was in. He guessed right.
Though facing a brilliant sun, the Dutchmen attacked, and Down was rather lucky in smothering a ball which almost beat him. The game was played at a terrific pace; but Hart, Swan and Harris did particularly well for us, and I must give a word of praise to the Dutch goalkeeper, who, apart from being lucky when the ball struck the woodwork, made some really wonderful saves. We gradually wore the Dutchmen down, but in spite of this, they managed to break away to score first. However, thre minutes before half-time Richmond turned a pretty centre from Coates into the net and equalised.
It was eight o'clock when the second half was started. The Dutch players showed a very good idea of the game and at times executed some pretty movements, their centre forward putting out excellent passes to his wings. Swan came into the picture with good runs and Richmond made some solo efforts; but it was from a well placed centre from Harris that Almond gave us the lead with a header. We were now harassing the Dutch defence all the time; but they hung on like grim death and we could do everything but score. Near the finish Holland broke away and equalised very surprisingly and they finished quite strongly, the result being two goals each. Twenty minutes from the finish it was amusing to see an official come on and exchange the ball for one painted white so that it could be seen better. It was all right on the ground but in the air it looked very funny.
