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Leeds United - An Overview of Season 1970/71 (from Blogs FC)

Leeds United`s home is the Elland Road stadium in Beeston, Leeds, where they have played since their foundation in 1919. In March 1961 the club appointed Don Revie as manager. Between 1965 and 1974, Leeds never finished outside of the top four in the First Division, winning two League Championships, an FA Cup, League Cup and two Fairs Cups. During the same period the side were League runners-up five times, losing FA Cup finalists three times and losing finalists in the European Cup Winners` Cup.

1970-71 Season
Leeds started the 1970-71 season with a bang, winning their opening 5 games, including away wins over Manchester United, Tottenham and Burnley. Their first reverse came in September, with a 3-0 away defeat by Stoke City. However, they recovered and remained unbeaten in the league until a 2-1 home loss to Tottenham in January 1971. Leeds only lost a further 3 times in the league, losing 1-0 at home to Liverpool in February and 3-1 at Chelsea in March. However, their mostly costly defeat came in April, losing 2-1 at home to West Brom. This loss, while Arsenal were beating Newcastle 1-0, effectively cost United the title. Leeds finished the season as First Division runners-up, a single point behind champions Arsenal and 12 points in front of third-placed Tottenham.

Top Players
Striker Allan Clarke was Leeds` leading player in the 1970-71 season. "Sniffer" Clarke, signed for a record fee of £165k, scored 19 times in 41 appearances. The highlight of his 1970-71 season was a hat-trick in the 4-0 home defeat of Burnley. Backed up by the likes of Scottish "hot-shot" Peter Lorimer (12 from 37 appearances) and Irish inside right John Giles (13 from 34), it is no surprise that Leeds finished the season with a goal total of 72, with only 30 conceded.


1970 FA Cup Final
The Leeds v Chelsea FA Cup Final took place at Wembley on 11th April, the sides having respectively finished 2nd and 3rd in the league. Jack Charlton headed the Yorkshiremen in front after 20 minutes. However, after 41 minutes Leeds `keeper Gary Sprake fumbled a Peter Houseman drive into the net for a Chelsea equaliser. Leeds seemed to have secured the trophy six minutes from time, with Mick Jones scoring, but Ian Hutchinson headed Chelsea level 2 minutes later. The Old Trafford replay (the first since 1912) became one of the most notoriously dirty matches in English footballing history. Charlton kneed and headbutted Chelsea striker Peter Osgood, while Norman Hunter and Ian Hutchinson openly traded punches. On the half-hour Chelsea `keeper Peter Bonetti was injured after being bundled into the net by Mick Jones, who minutes later rounded the immobile goalkeeper to score the opener. Chelsea`s equaliser eventually came from an Osgood diving header. In extra time, Hutchinson se! nt in a long throw-in which came off Charlton`s head and looped towards the far post, allowing David Webb to give the Londoners their first FA Cup win.


Sadly, predominantly to financial difficulties, Leeds` fortunes have declined in recent seasons. They now contest League One (the third-flight of English football) and are unlikely to trouble England international blogs for the foreseeable future.

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