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 Leeds United started life in 1919 following the demise of Leeds City FC who were forcibly disbanded by The Football League in response to allegations of financial irregularities - the allegations regarded illegal payments made to players during the First World War. The new club joined the Midland League, taking the place vacated by City's reserve team. On May 31, 1920, less than a year after being founded, United were elected into the Second Division of The Football League. In 1924 United won the Second Divsion title and with it promotion into the highest tier of English football for the very first time. However, they failed to establish themselves and were relegated at the end of the 1926/27 season. The club returned to the First Division after just a year’s absence but again failed to really establish itself as a power in the land, something they wouldn’t truly achieve until the arrival of Don Revie in 1961. With Leeds now nothing more than a mid-table Division Two side, Revie wielded wholesale changes, not only amongst his playing squad but also with the team’s kit, dispensing with their old blue and gold strip and replacing it with the all-white of the legendary Real Madrid. United, now with the likes of Giles, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter and Lorimer all regulars in the team, finished the 1963/64 season as champions of the Second Division. The next ten seasons saw United finish no lower than fourth position. Along the way Revie guided his side to two league championships, a FA Cup triumph, a League Cup Final win, a Charity Shield victory and a couple of Inter-Cities Fairs Cup successes. In 1974, with nothing more to achieve at Elland Road and with his name etched firmly in United folklore, Revie left the club to become England manager. Things would never be the same again. Whilst Leeds remained comfortably in the top division for almost another decade they were no longer the power they were and in 1982 they suffered their first relegation for 22 years. Hopes were high of an immediate return but it was not to be, they would in fact spend eight seasons in the Second Division before in 1990, under the management of Howard Wilkinson, they returned to the top-flight. Just two years after leading them to the Second Division title, Wilkinson led United to the First Division championship and with today’s mega-money orientated climate in football, it will perhaps be the last time any club achieves such a similar feat. United never again managed to repeat that success but did once again establish themselves as a true top-flight power finishing in the top five no less than seven times in ten seasons. With Leeds, now with David O'Leary in charge, striving to keep up with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, the club started to spend big, splashing out exorbitant transfer fees and wages on in some cases very average players. It was a strategy that would almost cost the club it's very existence. United lost it's Premiership status in 2004 amidst serious financial problems. Nearly three years on, the club are now fighting to avoid relegation to English football's third tier for the very first time. With ambitious former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates in charge of the club and with a hungry young manager in Dennis Wise in charge of team affairs, United fans everywhere will be hoping that this is indeed the club's lowest ebb and things will get better.
Year
Club Formed: 1919, as Leeds United after disbandment (by
FA order) of Leeds City (formed in 1904)
Club Nicknames: The Whites,
United, The Peacocks
Ground:
Elland Road - Since 1919
Shirt Sponsor:
bet 24 Home
Kit Colours: White shirt with navy and yellow trim,
white shorts with navy trim, white socks with navy and yellow trim
Address:
Leeds United FC, Elland Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11
0ES Official
Website:
www.leedsunited.com
Biggest League Win:
8-0 at home to Leicester City, First Division,
7th April 1934
Most
League Points (2 for a win): 67, First Division, 1968/69
Most League Points (3 for a win):
85,
Second Division, 1989/90 Most
Capped Player: Lucas Radebe, 58, South Africa
Football League Timeline:
Chairman: Ken Bates
Squad List (as at 03/01/2007)
Players In:
Players Out:
Away Fan Ticket Prices:
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