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The games that made the club

         
The 2010s

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

3 January 2010 - Jermaine Beckford with a famous goal at Old Trafford

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 2000s

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

 
The 1990s
        10/2/1990 - Leeds United 4 Hull City 3 - Second Division
     

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The 1970s
Referee Bob Matthewson lectures Billy Bremner and Kevin Keegan before sending them off during the 1974 Charity Shield match

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.'

Clarke ... One-Nil!

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

Jack Charlton opens the scoring in the 1970 FA Cup final against Chelsea

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

The 1960s

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

Les Cocker and Johnny Giles carry off Willie Bell during an ill-tempered clash at Goodison Park 7 November 1964 - Jim Storrie looks on in concern

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

The 1920s

United clinch the Second Division championship title to earn their first crack at Division One with a single goal from Walter Coates

Leeds City

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

 

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