Poland: George

WW2 Guest: 1943-1944 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Penarth, Glamorgan: 21-09-1913

Debut: v Sunderland (h): 04-09-1943

Height & Weight: Unknown

Poland started with local clubs Cogan and then Penarth Mission before having a trial with Third Division South Swindon Town. It was as a winger that Poland signed for Swindon in 1934 but failed to make the first team before being released. He joined Third Division South Cardiff City as a goalkeeper in November 1935 and made twenty-four League and two F.A. Cup appearances before moving to Third Division North Wrexham in July 1938. He had just one season at the Racecourse Ground and played thirty-nine League games and was twice capped by Wales. His first cap came on his own ground at Wrexham in a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland on 15th March 1939, while his second and final cap came in a 1-2 defeat by France at the Stade de Colombes in Paris on 21st May 1939. He was signed by First Division Liverpool in July 1939 but never played a game for them as World War Two brought an end to the Football League fixtures. He was a guest for Brentford and Leeds United in the War Period. He was with Leeds for nine games in the the 1943-44 Football League Northern Section (First Championship) and one in the 1944-45 Football League Northern Section (Second Championship). He made his debut in the 1-5 home defeat by Sunderland on 4th September 1943 then two weeks later he played against Bradford City in a 3-3 draw at Valley Parade then missed the next three games before playing two consecutive games in a 4-3 win at Gateshead and a 3-3 draw at Doncaster Rovers. He missed the home game with Doncaster before playing three more consecutive games a 1-6 loss away to Bradford Park Avenue and a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture at Elland Road and then a 3-1 win over York City at Bootham Crescent. He then missed two games before playing twice more in a 4-0 win over Halifax Town at Elland Road and a 0-3 defeat by Huddersfield Town at Leeds Road. His final game was another loss at Huddersfield, this time by 1-4 in the Second Championship. He was capped four times by Wales in Wartime Internationals all against England. The first came in a 2-1 defeat at St Andrews, Birmingham on 25th October 1941, followed by a 1-0 win at Ninian Park, Cardiff on 9th May 1942, a 2-1 win at Molineux, Wolverhampton on 24th October 1942 and the last in a 3-5 defeat at Wembley in front of a 75,000 crowd on 27th February 1943. After the War he returned to Third Division South Cardiff City in August 1946 and though the Bluebirds were promoted as Champions he only played twice as understudy to Danny Canning. He went into Non-League with Lovells Athletic before finishing his career with his local club, Penarth Albion. He died in 1988.