▁at ▁a ▁time ▁of ▁transition ▁both ▁for ▁the ▁club ▁and ▁the ▁game . ▁It ▁was ▁the ▁last ▁season ▁of ▁the ▁old ▁one ▁division ▁system ▁with ▁two ▁divisions ▁formed ▁for ▁the ▁following ▁year ▁and ▁there ▁was ▁a ▁battle ▁royal ▁to ▁finish ▁in ▁the ▁top ▁ 1 6 . ▁ ▁The ▁Le igh ▁club ▁had ▁won ▁at ▁W emble y ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 1 ▁but ▁was ▁still ▁read just ing ▁after ▁player - co ach ▁Alex ▁Mur phy ’ s ▁ab rupt ▁departure ▁to ▁W arr ington ▁in ▁the ▁immediate ▁after math ▁of ▁that ▁game . ▁Only ▁a ▁hand ful ▁of ▁the ▁W emble y ▁side ▁remained ▁and ▁Les ▁was ▁the ▁third ▁coach ▁to ▁be ▁appointed ▁in ▁ 1 8 ▁months , ▁following ▁Peter ▁Sm eth urst ▁and ▁D erek ▁H urt ▁into ▁what ▁had ▁become ▁a ▁co aching ▁hot ▁seat . ▁ ▁Les ▁brought ▁some ▁unity ▁and ▁enthus ias m ▁to ▁the ▁club ▁after ▁losing ▁their ▁first ▁six ▁games ▁of ▁the ▁season ▁and ▁that ▁final ▁victory ▁over ▁W id nes ▁on ▁a ▁cold ▁T ues day ▁night ▁just ▁six ▁days ▁before ▁Christmas ▁was ▁regarded ▁as ▁a ▁shock ▁result ▁at ▁the ▁time ▁and ▁a ▁t ribute ▁to ▁his ▁powers ▁of ▁motiv ation . ▁ ▁Only ▁five ▁players ▁remained ▁from ▁the ▁W emble y ▁side - ▁M ick ▁Collins , ▁Tony ▁Bar row , ▁Paul ▁Gr imes , ▁Jimmy ▁F idd ler ▁and ▁Roy ▁L ester ▁and ▁Le igh ▁were ▁given ▁little ▁chance ▁against ▁the ▁Chem ics . ▁ ▁When ▁the ▁second ▁half ▁was