I have no doubt that Leeds is a wonderful city, but why is it that over the last 100 years the city has been associated with more football irregularities than any other place? It's about that length of time ago that the Leeds City club went under after "financial irregularities" became apparent. Interestingly, though, Herbert Chapman was the City's manager: he subsequently became famous with Huddersfield and then Arsenal, bringing both clubs out of mundanity and into great success.
Leeds United then took over the mantle as Leeds' footballing representative in the big time, but, despite being under the management of the far-seeing Major Frank Buckley (originally of the Villa) for a time, and during that period acquiring Jack Charlton and the great John Charles, the club achieved nowt until Don Revie's arrival. As Wiki says:
"In March 1961, Revie was appointed player-manager of Leeds United, then a Second Division club who had never previously won a major trophy. Under Revie's management, Leeds became a major force in English football, winning the Second Division in 1963–64, the First Division in 1968–69 and 1973–74, the FA Cup in 1972, the League Cup in 1968, the FA Charity Shield in 1969, and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968 and 1971. Additionally, Leeds were First Division runners-up five times, thrice FA Cup runners-up and runners-up in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup."
But, despite all that, Revie was criticised for the physical and often negative approach of his teams, though highly physical football was noted across the country at that time. Revie left Leeds to manage England but his resignation to manage in the Middle East after his 3-years sojopurn in that role fuelled criticism of him as money-obsessed. And there were unproven allegations of bribery and financial misconduct that also tarnished his reputation.
The Revie period was followed by the Brian Clough fiasco and then attempts by numerous former Leeds United playing heroes to get Leeds back to success.
The dour Howard Wilkinson arrived in 1988 to turn things around, and, behold, Leeds won the league championship in the last season before the Premier League was launched (1992). Notable among that successful team was a certain Eric Cantona who left for further glory with Manchester United. But his departure also seemed to bring a slide to the fortunes of Leeds, who were poor losers to Villa in the 1996 League Cup Final, an occasion that also represents the Villa's last major trophy-winning achievement.
Over the next five years (1997-2002) Leeds United showed promise, first under the management of former Villa youngster George Graham, and then by his protégé, David O'Leary, who was sacked and arrived at Villa in 2003 for three inglorious years as Villa manager.
With Leeds' lack of success, and the team being expensively assembled (but with heavy reliance on loans) by the chairman, Peter Ridsdale, financial troubles for the club began in earnest, and the club went into administration, the fall-out of which saw Leeds drop two divisions before their recovery to the Championship. During recent years, however, the then chairman, Cellino, was disqualified by the Football League in 2014 after they obtained documents from an Italian court, where he was found guilty of tax evasion. He was disqualified from running the club until April 2015. He subsequently sold the club.
So, that is a potted resumé of Leeds as a footballing city. A history marred by strange events, but also some fascinating periods when Leeds United possessed players that were known world-wide, such as John Charles, Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner and Allan "Sniffer" Clarke, a player from a Walsall footballing family who should have played in claret and blue if tradition had been followed. But Leeds in Revie's day never allowed tradition to interfere with their progress. And who can forget Norman "Cruncher" Hunter.
One more note: it was back in 1950 that Villa bought a certain Cornelius ("Con" for short) Martin from Leeds United. A remarkable player in that he played for club and country as both a goalkeeper and as a defender. He stayed with Villa for six years and is regarded as a great stalwart in Villa's past. A certain player named Fabian Delph was a more recent ex-Leeds arrival.
As to the outcome of the forthcoming match this week-end, well, it will be a tough match against another team with promotion hopes. But Villa are on a roll and I expect at least a draw.
Leeds United then took over the mantle as Leeds' footballing representative in the big time, but, despite being under the management of the far-seeing Major Frank Buckley (originally of the Villa) for a time, and during that period acquiring Jack Charlton and the great John Charles, the club achieved nowt until Don Revie's arrival. As Wiki says:
"In March 1961, Revie was appointed player-manager of Leeds United, then a Second Division club who had never previously won a major trophy. Under Revie's management, Leeds became a major force in English football, winning the Second Division in 1963–64, the First Division in 1968–69 and 1973–74, the FA Cup in 1972, the League Cup in 1968, the FA Charity Shield in 1969, and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968 and 1971. Additionally, Leeds were First Division runners-up five times, thrice FA Cup runners-up and runners-up in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup."
But, despite all that, Revie was criticised for the physical and often negative approach of his teams, though highly physical football was noted across the country at that time. Revie left Leeds to manage England but his resignation to manage in the Middle East after his 3-years sojopurn in that role fuelled criticism of him as money-obsessed. And there were unproven allegations of bribery and financial misconduct that also tarnished his reputation.
The Revie period was followed by the Brian Clough fiasco and then attempts by numerous former Leeds United playing heroes to get Leeds back to success.
The dour Howard Wilkinson arrived in 1988 to turn things around, and, behold, Leeds won the league championship in the last season before the Premier League was launched (1992). Notable among that successful team was a certain Eric Cantona who left for further glory with Manchester United. But his departure also seemed to bring a slide to the fortunes of Leeds, who were poor losers to Villa in the 1996 League Cup Final, an occasion that also represents the Villa's last major trophy-winning achievement.
Over the next five years (1997-2002) Leeds United showed promise, first under the management of former Villa youngster George Graham, and then by his protégé, David O'Leary, who was sacked and arrived at Villa in 2003 for three inglorious years as Villa manager.
With Leeds' lack of success, and the team being expensively assembled (but with heavy reliance on loans) by the chairman, Peter Ridsdale, financial troubles for the club began in earnest, and the club went into administration, the fall-out of which saw Leeds drop two divisions before their recovery to the Championship. During recent years, however, the then chairman, Cellino, was disqualified by the Football League in 2014 after they obtained documents from an Italian court, where he was found guilty of tax evasion. He was disqualified from running the club until April 2015. He subsequently sold the club.
So, that is a potted resumé of Leeds as a footballing city. A history marred by strange events, but also some fascinating periods when Leeds United possessed players that were known world-wide, such as John Charles, Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner and Allan "Sniffer" Clarke, a player from a Walsall footballing family who should have played in claret and blue if tradition had been followed. But Leeds in Revie's day never allowed tradition to interfere with their progress. And who can forget Norman "Cruncher" Hunter.
One more note: it was back in 1950 that Villa bought a certain Cornelius ("Con" for short) Martin from Leeds United. A remarkable player in that he played for club and country as both a goalkeeper and as a defender. He stayed with Villa for six years and is regarded as a great stalwart in Villa's past. A certain player named Fabian Delph was a more recent ex-Leeds arrival.
As to the outcome of the forthcoming match this week-end, well, it will be a tough match against another team with promotion hopes. But Villa are on a roll and I expect at least a draw.
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