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Matches
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The
games that made the club
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In a throwback to an earlier
time when Cup football meant cut and thrust excitement,
this was the greatest night of Neil Warnock's time at Elland
Road, when his style, ethos and character for once made
perfect sense United hoped to secure three
points to boost their Play Off chances, but an amazing night
saw them concede seven goals at Elland Road for the first
time in the League as struggling Forest hammered them Could lightning possibly
strike twice? A year after United nearly humbled Arsenal
at the Emirates, they were back for another try, though
the return of a Gunners legend would overshadow all their
efforts The shocking news of the
death of former Leeds midfielder Gary Speed united football
and the players and their supporters gave the best possible
tribute with a memorable evening at the City Ground A drepressing evening at
Elland Road as Paul Rachubka's first tem career with the
Whites was cruelly brought to a sorry conclusion by hapless
and nervy performance in front of the club's supporters After pulling off a shock
draw at the Emirates, United couldn't really compete with
Arsenal in the Elland Road replay, but had the satisfaction
of the best goal of the night, a screamer from Bradley Johnson 'THEY'RE AT IT AGAIN!' A
year after high-profile FA Cup games against Manchester
United and Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds were given another glamour
tie against high quality opponents It was the lowest point
of a roller coaster return to the Championship. United fans
would long remember this dismal night at Elland Road and
wonder quite how a Leeds team could have collapsed in the
sensational way they did Everything came down to
this one-game season in true United fashion - one man down,
one goal down, the local hero comes on to equalise, Beckford
scores the winner, cue celebrations - LEEDS ARE UP!!! After getting a battering
the previous week at Gillingham, United are back on form.
Sanchez Watt makes a fine debut and Jermaine Beckford grabs
a late brace as they batter a troubled MK Dons Against a club that had
become almost omnipresent opponents, United gain revenge
for a Johnstones Paint Trophy roughing up and give their
hopes of promotion from League One a major boost It's FA Cup night at Elland
Road as a memorable run continues - Jermain Defoe missed
a host of golden opportunities but Leeds emerged with credit
despite a hat trick from the England striker The reward for the breathtaking
third round victory at Old Trafford was a trip to another
Premier League ground in the next round - Tottenham were
the hosts in a game that was even more dramatic than its
predecessor 29 years of hurt up in a
puff of smoke as League One Leeds go to the Theatre of Dreams
and inflict humiliation on Sir Alex Ferguson and his Champions'
League winners - 'We're not famous any more!' The glory days were back
as United welcomed Premier League giants Liverpool to Elland
Road for a Carling Cup-tie. They did themselves proud and
were unlucky to see a goal chalked off for offside After such an extraordinary
season, United were always destined to go right to the wire.
They made a first appearance at the new Wembley, but couldn't
find the big performance they needed United recover from defeat
in the first leg at Elland Road to win a memorable second
leg at Brunton Park and book their place in the League One
Play-Off final at Wembley In the most valuable sporting
event of all time, United took 40,000 fans to Cardiff -
shame the team failed to turn up on and do them justice
on a desperately disappointing day 'Billy Davies - Job Done':
the gloves come off as United smash North End on a riotous
night and win their place in the Play-Off final at the Millennium
Stadium Mixing it with the big boys
again, United play out a classic Cup-tie against Wigan,
with Gary Kelly reserving one of his specials for the occasion After one of the most incredible
comeback games in the club's history, United pull off an
astonishing victory - Yorkshire Evening Post: '4.31pm: Saints
3 United 0 - 4.46pm: Saints 3 United 4' 'I see the donkey's playing
up front again...' - a veteran enjoys an amazing swansong
during his return to Elland Road and sparks cries of 'Deano
for England' As Leeds teeter on the edge
of relegation, they turn in an amazing performance to end
Arsenal's title ambitions and secure their own survival
with a glorious winner in the closing minutes Peter Reid inspired an astonishing
win in his second game in charge, with Alan Smith cutting
the Addicks to ribbons and Mark Viduka netting a hat trick Terry Venables enjoyed probably
the greatest day of his short stay in charge of Leeds United
as he masterminded an astonishing win when Rio Ferdinand
returned to Elland Road The 'weakest team' remaining
in the Champions' League remarkably had one foot in the
semi-finals after destroying Deportivo La Coruna with a
display of fearless and high pressure football The Belgian champions had
won 21 straight home victories when United came to visit
- that all changed on one of the best nights in Europe ever
for Leeds as they secured a quarter-final spot Local hero Alan Smith nets
a stupendous winner in Rome to get United's Champions' League
campaign back on track after a home defeat to Real Madrid Mark Viduka enjoys the finest
day of his Leeds career as he nets all four goals as United
fight back to earn a memorable win in one of the greatest
ever Premiership clashes M Brian Clough takes charge
of United for the first time and sees Billy Bremner sent
off with Kevin Keegan in a fractious and disastrous curtain
raiser at Wembley The United party that travelled
to London for the final game of the 1973/74 campaign did
do so secure in the knowledge that the First Division title
was en route to Elland Road whatever the result of the match As the battle for the championship
came down to the wire, United faced the severest pressure
from arch rivals Liverpool but a breathtaking Elland Road
clash with Ipwich Town gave them a vital boost After months as overwhelming
favourites to win the league title, United saw their form
collapse over the space of six short weeks. The clash with
Derby had thus taken on the status of a do-or-die occasion 'Leeds were haunted by doubt,
undermined by misunderstandings… their reputation was on
the verge of destruction.' After a magnificent season, United's
title challenge was unravelling before Don Revie's eyes United had gone 29 games
unbeaten from the start of the season when they visited
the Potteries and were looking to equal a record set fifty
years before but Stoke brought them back down to earth Still unbeaten in the First
Division, but United could not get the better of Bristol
City from Division Two in the FA Cup and went tumbling out
of the competition after a replay at Elland Road United had little appetite
for the UEFA Cup in 1973/74, but Billy Bremner's masterly
display at sweeper and two rookie keepers saw to it that
United earned a famous win by virtue of a penalty shoot
out After going more than two
years without a League victory in London, it's two in five
days as United hammer Tottenham 3-0 on their own pitch with
two of the goals coming from Billy Bremner United get their championship
challenge off to an impressive start by outclassing Everton.
Three months earlier, Don Revie had seemed to be on his
way to taking over the Merseysiders 'It was wholly, indisputably
and wretchedly bent...' Leeds United suffer the torment
of being denied another trophy after the sort of dubious
refereeing decisions they would never forget After a disappointing League
campaign where they had never fully convinced anyone of
their title credentials and a debacle against Sunderland
at Wembley, United come good in a breathtaking finish to
their league campaign A big night for a big man!
Jack Charlton says farewell to his playing careers and a
twenty year-plus association with Elland Road with a star
studded celebration against Celtic One of the lowest points
in the club's history came in early May 1973, as they sought
to defend the FA Cup. They were the hottest favourites for
years, considered certainties to beat Second Division opponents 'I have no hesitation in
saying that this ranks alongside our display against Ferencvaros
in the 1968 Fairs Cup final as our best in Europe.' Don
Revie assesses United's sterling rearguard action in Yugoslavia With Wembley so close on
the brow of the hill, a semi-final is always the most tense
moment of the whole competition. Leeds were determined to
get there again - a Bremner goal was decisive, as it had
been in 1965 and 1970 Endless bickering between
Don Revie and Brian Clough had not been alleviated by United
doing a League double over the Rams, but when a Lorimer
thunderbolt settled the Cup encounter it silenced Derby
The match was every bit
as physical as Don Revie had feared, but against a juggling
giant jester between the sticks, United gave a masterly
exhibition of forward play and ran up five goals without
reply 'Clarke sends Norwich reeling'
- a man at the very peak of his goalscoring form takes matters
in hand and puts Norwich to the sword in the fourth game
between the two sides within 17 days A blinding performance by
Don Revie's men and five blistering goals produced a result
that represented some restitution for having the League
title snatched from within their grasp the previous May Four goals in the opening
eight minutes in a classic encounter in the North East which
saw United go down by the odd goal. Don Revie: 'This type
of football must bring the crowds back.' United lose Mick Jones and
David Harvey after 25 minutes and Peter Lorimer gives a
remarkable goalkeeping display but there's no halting Chelsea
as the season kicks off in disastrous style With the Double in sight,
United are defeated by an impassioned Wolves team with Don
Revie bemoaning the penalties that were denied - the game
was shrouded with rumours of match fixing A truly momentous day in
the club's history - they saw off a dogged Arsenal team
to win the FA Cup at Wembley in the Centenary final United come up against Second
Division Birmingham, managed by former Leeds defender Freddie
Goodwin and give them a football lesson as the Whites reach
the Centenary Cup final Nottingham Forest put up
a sterling fight but when goalkeeper Jim Barron goes off
for stitches it opens the floodgates for another goalscoring
master display from United Revenge is a dish best served
cold... United have the last laugh on champions Arsenal,
taking them to the cleaners at Elland Road with another
fearsome display United introduce their pre-match
routine and socking tags in a move to improve their public
image and then go on to give Spurs a tremendous tanning
to reach the Cup semi-final Don Revie's Leeds United
side give a performance that would be cited forever as their
coup de grace, hammering a hapless Southampton and demonstrating
the cruellest form of possession foorball Cardiff City sought to pull
off a Cup shock on a quagmire pitch at Ninian Park, but
Irish schemer Johnny Giles turns in a match winning performance
to put United in the last eight On a truly memorable day,
Don Revie's men take old rivals Manchester United apart
with Mick Jones returning from flu to seize his first hat
trick in the League Allan Clarke scores two
goals and gives a man of the match performance to destroy
Liverpool at Elland Road and send United on into the fifth
round of the Cup Fierce rivals clash in the
FA Cup fourth round with United doing enough to preserve
an impressive unbeaten record at Anfield and take the Reds
back to Elland Road After defeating the unknowns
from Belgium 2-0 on their own soil, the second leg at Elland
Road was considered a formality - the match was a nightmare
debut for goalkeeper John Shaw United, holders of the Fairs
Cup, were pitched against Barcelona, the first winners of
the trophy, in a sudden death play off for the right to
retain the trophy for all time United, exiled from Elland
Road for four games, bounce back to form to hammer Newcastle,
Supermac, Terry Hibbitt and all, by five goals to one at
Hillsborough After the disappointment
of losing out to Arsenal in the chase for the League title,
United could finally pick up some silverware after an exciting
struggle against Juve at Elland Road After a farcical first staging
of the game was abandoned, United showed great fight to
stage a fightback with goals from two heroes who were largely
unsung In a vital end of season
League clash, United got the rub of the green for a change
as Jack Charlton's controversial goal was allowed to stand
and they moved ahead of Arsenal in the table In one of the most controversial
games ever played by Leeds, perverse refereeing by Ray Tinkler
makes an indelible mark on United's history as their championship
challenge collapses Billy Bremner returned from
injury to score a marvellous headed winner against old rivals
Liverpoool in the first leg at Anfield and put United in
the driving seat Ray Crawford's astonishing
swansong performance for Colchester inspires one of the
greatest FA Cup upsets of all time and one of the darkest
days in the history of Leeds United It was the last chance saloon
for United's extraordinary season as they played out the
dirtiest final ever against fierce London rivals but in
the end there were only thoughts of what might have been Billy Bremner scored a stunning
equaliser for United in the cauldron of Hampden, but another
mastro's performance from Jinky Johnstone inspired a winning
Celtic display United wiped out grim memories
of their previous Wembley finals by turning on the magic
against Chelsea, but even Eddie Gray's wonder show could
not bring home the bacon Dubbed the Battle of Britain,
United met Celtic at Elland Road intent on building up a
winning first leg lead in the European Cup semi final but
it didn't work out that way as Stein's men shone It was one of the classic
David and Goliath contests for which the FA Cup is famous
but treble-chasing Leeds were in no mood for mercy and Sniffer
Clarke scored four goals The Whites tore championship
rivals to pieces with a breathtaking display of attacking
football in the first twenty minutes of the second half
at Stamford Bridge Finally United had a shot
at the biggest prize of all, and didn't they take advantage
of a woefully outclassed amateur team from Norway as they
set a club scoring record The curtain raiser to the
1969/70 season pitched United against Cup holders Manchester
City - the trophy wasn't the most highly prized but Leeds
now had a thirst for silverware It had been eight years
in the making but finally championship glory was awaiting
United ... a point at Anfield, home of second placed Liverpol
would be enough to secure a first championship Leeds United's professional
pride had been stung badly by their hiding at Burnley and
they were intent on revenge when the Turf Moor club visited
Elland Road just before Christmas It looked an easy enough
task but Standard Liege gave United a real fright at Elland
Road after a goalless draw in Belgium - with two minutes
to go Leeds were on the way out They might have been leading
the First Division table, but when United took on a youthful
Burnley side they definitely had an afternoon to forget On a tense September evening
in the magnificent Nep Stadium, Gary Sprake redeems himself
from high profile mistakes earlier in the season to give
the performance of his life A year after being beaten
by Dinamo Zagreb in the Inter Cities final, United were
back and faced one of Europe's best in Ferencvaros - this
time they got the advantage from the first leg The Everton-Leeds Cup semi-final
at Old Trafford was a mouth-watering encounter, but for
keeper Gary Sprake it was another game that he desperately
wanted to forget Leeds meet Arsenal at Wembley
to contest one of the worst Cup finals ever - still, why
should United care? They'd lost out on the big occasion
before, and this one was all about winning Careless Hands - one of
the most immortal of all footballing gaffes - after a bad
day at the office life would never again be the same for
United keeper Gary Sprake Chelsea arrive at Elland
Road without a manager, and leave without their dignity
after a Billy Bremner wonder show and Leeds get their revenge
for two Cup defeats Despite having most of the
play, United are held to a goalless draw at Elland Road
and end another season without any silverware in their trophy
cabinet United feature in their
first European final but are found wanting when a talented
Dinamo side snatch a goal either side of the break to leave
them with a steep hill to climb United see two late goals
ruled out by referee Ken Burns in a Cup semi-final at Villa
Park and miss out to a single goal by Tony Hateley It's another series of
controversial clashes with old rivals Sunderland - a controversial
penalty settles matters at the death with two opponents
dismissed and the crowd invading the pitch A year on from a near riot
at Elland Road, Leeds were once again pitched against Valencia
in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup and pulled off a memorable
victory in Spain All hell breaks loose at
Elland Road as an experienced Spanish side turn on the rough
stuff, the players are taken off the field and three men
are dismissed - including Jack Charlton Leeds' first foray into
European competition sees them emerge triumphant, although
success was achieved at the grievous expense of the loss
of captain Bobby Collins Leeds United make their
debut at Wembley Stadium in one of the most sterile of all
Cup finals, with Gary Sprake keeping them in the game with
one of his greatest ever performances Leeds battle back from three
goals down to snatch a draw in their final league game of
the season, but ultimately finish as runners-up to Manchester
United by virtue of a poorer goal average After the debacle of the
first match, the players got back to football for the replay,
and Leeds emerged victorious with a wonderful late goal
from Blly Bremner to book a place in the final at Wembley Two Uniteds take time off
from their championship chase to go head to head in a fearsome
battle for the Cup on an appalling Hillsborough pitch -
Denis Law's shirt ended up in shreds Leeds travel to the home
of the League leaders and see off the famous Connelly-Charlton-Herd-Law-Best
forward line and take both points with a second half goal
from Bobby Collins In one of the most infamous
games in First Division history the players of Everton and
Leeds forget about football and are sent to the dressing
rooms as the Goodison crowd bays for blood Don Revie's Leeds United
announce their arrival in the big time with a thrilling
defeat of Bill Shankly's champions - described as their
best performance since the war United, with 19-year-old
Terry Cooper making his debut, pull off an easy win at Swansea
to confirm their promotion back to the First Division after
an absence of four years Following an injury to
John Charles after his return from Italy, Don Revie decides
to give youth its head and bloods Reaney, Hunter and Johnson,
with Sprake getting only his second appearance United clinch the Second
Division championship title to earn their first crack at
Division One with a single goal from Walter Coates City lose their captain
Bob Hewison in the first half but fight a marvellous rearguard
action to deny Stoke any more than a penalty and see themselves
crowned unofficial English champions City get a first leg advantage
in the play off for the unofficial wartime League championship
after retaining their Midland Section title It's a personal triumph
for Billy McLeod as he nets a record five goals at Hull
and Leeds win at Anlaby Road for the first time with amateur
international Ivan Sharpe completing the scoring In the midst of a dire season
for City, inside-forward Arthur Price returns to the side
and snatches a second half hat trick as Leeds go to town
against a struggling Leicester Fosse outfit The arrival of Jimmy Speirs
to Elland Road had revived Billy McLeod and he smashed home
four goals as City trounced Forest during their chase for
promotion Tragedy strikes Elland Road
as centre-forward David
Soldier Wilson loses his life in the service of Leeds
City during a hard fought encounter with Burnley Leeds City make their debut
in the Football League Second Division with a West Yorkshire
derby away to Bradford City, emerging with no points but
quite a bit of credit |