Leeds UUnited (Leeds United A.F.C.)

Member Name: LeedsMick

Product:	Leeds United A.F.C.
Date:	01/08/08 (137 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The ups

Disadvantages: the downs

Leeds United based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Our home is Elland Road were we have played since the club was formed back in 1919.
HISTORY
Under the management of Don Revie in the 60's and 70's, Leeds won numerous domestic and european throphies in arguably the best era Leeds United fans have ever witnessed. Don Revie was appointed in March 1961 and only a win on the last day of the season saved Leeds from the drop. Revie turned the team around, winning promotion to the First Division in 1963-64. Between 1965 and 1974, Revie's Leeds never finished outside of the top four, won two League Championships (1968-69 and 1973-74), the FA Cup (1972), the League Cup (1968) and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups (1968 and 1971). This was also backed up with a record number of 2nd place finishes, during the same period Leeds were runners up in the League five times, losing finalists in the FA Cup three times, runners up in the Fairs Cup once, and losing finalists in the European Cup Winners Cup. Revie's last season at Elland Road was in 1974, and he left Leeds to manage the England national team.

Brian Clough was appointed after Revie had left, The team performed poorly under Clough and his reign as manager only last 44 days.

He was replaced by Jimmy Armfield who guided Revies ageing Leeds team to the 1974/75 European Cup final were we lost out to a strong Bayern Munich team. Armfield was then dismissed and Leeds had a string of managers including names like
Jock Stein
Jimmy Adamson
Allan Clarke
Eddie Gray

Clarke, although spending freely on new players couldnt avoid relagtion at the end of the 1981/82. Clarke was thn replaced by ex leeds star Eddie Gray.

With no money to spend on team development, Gray had to turn to the youth set up but unfortunatly was unable to guide Leeds to the top flight at the first attempt and he was then sacked in 1985. Up stepped Leeds United legend, and when i say legend this guy is an idol of mine, an asolute legend. Billy Bremner! Bremner like gray couldnt guide leeds to promotion but got close in 1987 reaching the play off final just to be defeated by Charlton Athletic. IN 1988 Bremner was fired and up stepped Howard Wilkinson.

MODERN HISTORY
Howard Wilkinson got Leeds back up to the top flight in 1989/90 season. He guided Leeds to a fourth place finish in 1990/91 and guided us to the League title in 1991/92 season! Also helping Leeds win the chairty shield in 1992!

1992/93 season was a poor season with an early champions league exit and eventually finishing 17th norrowly avoiding relegation. Leeds were unable to achieve any consistency throughout the following seasons and Wilko's position was not in a strong state after the 1996 coca cola cup final defeat against aston villa. Leeds could only finish 13th in 1995/96 and Wilkinsons contarct was terminated.

Leeds then appointed George Graham, Graham helped Leeds into the UEFA Cup in 1998, Graham then moved on to Tottenham Hotspur (MUPPET!) Leeds opted to replace graham with assistant David O'Leary. This was the start of a good thing!

MODERN TIMES
O'Leary instroduced alot of promising youngsters to the fold. O'leary and assistant Gray helped leeds to a 3rd place finish guiding them into the UEFA Champions League!
In the UEFA Cup Leeds reached the European Semi Finals for the first time in 25 years and were drawn against Turkish Galatasary. Leeds lost the game but the defeat was overshaddowed by the death of two innocent Leeds fans. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed to death before the game. Leeds was only able to draw the return leg at elland road. A minute silence is held every year at the closest home game of the season to the date of there deaths. R.I.P Chris & Kevin. they were top blokes.

With O'Leary in charge Leeds had a successful period not finishing outside the top 5. O'Leary and Ridsdale then had a public fall out which resulted in O'Leary losing his job in 2003. O'Leary was then replaced by
Terry Venables who couldnt turn Leeds around, then stepped up Peter Reid and then Eddie Gray had another pop. This season Leeds qwere relegated to the second tier of english football for the first time in 14 years. Grays spell as boss was terminated and Kevin Blackwell took over

RECENT TIMES
Blackwell guided Leeds to a mid-table finish and guided us to the play-off final in 2006 only for us to be beaten by Aidy Boothroyds Watford team. The season after Leeds were struggling at the start of the season Blackwell was sacked and for a spell without a manager Dennis Wise finally was appointed by old chelsea pal Ken Bates at E.R. Wise was unable to get Leeds out of the relegation zone all season and was relegated. Leeds had to enter administration which we was deducted 10 points and finished bottom of the championship.

After huge arguements, our first season in the championship was hard times with the football league not wanting us to go back up at the first attempt. Leeds were deducted 15 points for not following football league rules which was a joke. However Leeds had a great start and wins after wins helped Leeds up the table. Gus Poyet left us though to join Spurs new set up and we started to struggle this then ended up in Wise leaving for Newcastle to sit in a nice office in london! Batesy then appointd Gary McAllister which I feel was a great appointment and he helped leeds seaon get back on track. Macca guided Leeds to the playoffs and then to the playoff final which we lost to doncaster rovers :( gutted! But macca has made a few strude signings so far and i feel next season will be our season.

Summary: -