5 moments that define Leeds United as we know it today

The fans of Leeds United have been subjected to more exhilarating highs and miserable lows than most other clubs in British footballing history. The latest cohort of football fanatics view Leeds United as perennial Championship nearly-men with a vociferous fan base that believe they deserve bigger and better. To many, the view taken by the ‘vile animals’ that Leeds are languishing far below their station is nonsensical; it is 10 years since we have graced the Premier League and, to this youthful generation, forays into Europe and Premier League title bids are myth rather than memory. This got us at @LUFC_Calypso thinking; what are the moments that define our club? What are the key moments in the club’s history that should sculpt all fans’ view of LUFC?

Revie vs Clough

Every Leeds fan knows the glory years of Revie, Bremner and co. Under the management of the Don, Leeds conquered England with 1^st division victories, a famous FA Cup triumph against Arsenal thanks to ‘Sniffer’ Clark’s iconic header, a League Cup and a Fairs Cup. Our reputation as a combative and tough-tackling outfit known for their aggression as much as their flair was born, but crucially the club did not capitalise on their dominance. For all our style, this great Leeds team was in part overshadowed by Brian Clough’s constant attacks (brandishing the Leeds team as ‘cheats’ in August 1973), his great rivalry with Revie and the success of his Forest team in Europe that followed his 44 day tenure at Leeds. Without doubt, this period formed the opinion of Leeds fans that it is us against the world, and from that day fans thrived on the hatred that this team engendered in fans across the UK.

‘We are Champions, Champions of Europe!’

16 May 1973. 28 May 1975. These two dates haunt Leeds fans to this day and are the reason for our favourite half-time chant. Neither Christos Michas, the man responsible for some baffling decisions against Leeds during their Cup Winners’ Cup defeat to Milan, or Michel Kitabdjian, an official so weak that he overturned his decision following player protest from Munich, ever refereed a game again. Ever since, Leeds fans have felt (and rightly so) that some key decisions have gone against us, but anyone that questions our reputation the most passionate fan base need look no further than the rioting that followed the 1975 Final.

Division One Champions

In the season before the birth of the Premier League, greats such as Strachan, Speed and McAllister (and Chris Kamara!) reached the summit of the English football leagues after a pulsating campaign. Success was all the sweeter given the rival teams placed just below us – Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday. To our younger fans, Leeds winning the top league is almost as ridiculous as a top division that includes both Sheffield teams, Oldham and Luton, but the victory under Wilkinson in that season should be cherished by all fans.

‘Doing a Leeds’

In typical Leeds fashion, all highs are tempered with some disastrous lows and, within 6 years of a Champions League semi-final and an incredible array of stars on our books, Leeds entered administration and the third tier of English football for the first time. The crisis, caused by a spending rise of £101 million that was dependent on successive Champions League qualifications, has all but shaped the way the club is run today. For all the frustration sparked by lacking investment by subsequent owners, there is no doubt that the decisions taken by Peter Ridsdale have stunted, and will continue to stunt our progress for many years. Such was the debt accrued by the board, uncontrolled overspending by clubs will forever be known as ‘doing a Leeds’.

8^th May 2010

This date defines the club as we see it today – a Championship side that are punching below their weight. But, crucially, this date should be remembered as the day the club turned a corner, halted the stagnation and made the first of many long steps towards where we all feel we belong. Our time in the Championship has seen flashes of magic eclipsed by off-field reshuffles, ageing changing rooms and ‘hoofball’ tactics, but there is not a Leeds fan out there that misses the League One away days at the likes of Hereford, Gillingham and Wycombe. Promotion from the third tier should have sparked our surge up the leagues and, though our optimism has been stifled by successive disappointments in the UK’s secondary division, we are confident that it is not long before we experience another day like this.

What are your defining LUFC moments? What events have shaped the way that you view our club? As always, tweet us at @LUFC_Calypso and let us know your thoughts, comments and experiences!