Leeds United

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Lore & Background

Leeds United have won three top-flight league titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Charity Shields and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups. The club had their most successful period under the management of Don Revie in the 1960s and 1970s, when they won the league title twice, the FA Cup once, the League Cup once and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice. The club have also been runners-up five times in the top flight, three times in the FA Cup, once each in the League Cup, the Charity Shield, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the Cup Winners' Cup and the European Cup. Leeds United share rivalries with Manchester United and Chelsea. The team's traditional kit colours are white shirts, white shorts and white socks. Their badge features the White Rose of York, which is a symbol of Yorkshire.

In Their Own Story

The rivalry is considered to be a sporting manifestation of the established rivalry between the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, which can loosely be traced back to the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars fought between the rival Plantagenet royal houses of York and Lancaster for the throne of England during the 15th century. The battles contested during the wars were particularly bloody, especially the Battle of Towton, which took place just 15 miles (24 km) away from Leeds and is described as "England's bloodiest ever battle". The colours of each football team's home shirts fittingly correspond to the respective rose representing their historic county – Leeds with a white kit, resembling the Yorkshire rose and Manchester United with a red shirt, like the Lancashire rose. However, Manchester United's colours have not always been red and Leeds only adopted their white kit in the 1960s, inspired by Real Madrid.

Reader's Guide

Leeds United's predecessor, Leeds City, was formed in 1904 and elected to League membership in 1905. In 1919, Leeds City were forcibly disbanded by the Football League. At Salem Chapel in 1919, Leeds United was formed, and they received an invitation to enter the Midland League. Following Leeds City's disbanding, Yorkshire Amateurs bought their Elland Road stadium and then sold it to Leeds United for £250. On 31 May 1920, Leeds United were elected to the Football League. Leeds consolidated their position in the Second Division and in 1923–24 won the title and with it promotion to the First Division. Leeds failed to establish themselves and were relegated in 1926–27. In the years up until the start of World War II, Leeds were twice relegated; on both occasions, they were re-promoted the following season. Leeds United remained in the Second Division until 1955–56, when they once again won promotion to the First Division, inspired by John Charles. Charles was sold to Juventus for a then world record fee of £65,000. Leeds United were then relegated to the Second Division in 1959–60. On 17 March 1961, Don Revie was appointed as manager. Revie implemented a youth policy and a change of kit colour to an all-white strip in the style of Real Madrid, and Leeds United won promotion to the First Division in 1963–64. Leeds won their first major trophy, the League Cup, in 1967–68, beating Arsenal. They also won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup that season. Leeds won their first league title the following season. Don Revie guided Leeds United to two Football League First Division titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, one Football League Second Division title and one Charity Shield. After Revie left, Brian Clough was appointed as his successor. Clough's tenure started badly, with defeat in the Charity Shield against Liverpool. Under Clough, the team performed poorly, and after only 44 days he was dismissed. Clough was replaced by former England captain Jimmy Armfield. Armfield took Revie's ageing team to the final of the European Cup, in which they were defeated by Bayern Munich.

Did You Know?

• Leeds United's predecessor, Leeds City, was forcibly disbanded in 1919 due to allegations of illegal payments to players during the First World War.
• Don Revie changed Leeds United's kit to an all-white strip in the style of Real Madrid.
• Leeds United set a still-unbroken club record of a 34 match unbeaten run that extended into the 1969–70 season.
• John Charles was sold to Juventus for a then world record fee of £65,000.