Greatest Football Rivalries: Part 3
Manchester United and Leeds United
The rivalry between the two Northern English clubs often termed as “war of the roses”, making it perhaps the oldest rivalry in English football which is actually 500 years in the making according to some football experts and historians. This rivalry basically
originated between the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire during the 15th century.
Although the Leeds and Manchester lie 40 km apart, the deep feelings about the past run deep between the two cities and have become immortalized in their respective football clubs, Manchester United and Leeds United.
The rivalries between the two clubs go beyond the football field and during the 1970s, when British Football Hooliganism was at its peak, two firms were formed. Leeds named it’s firm Service Crew and Manchester United based firm was Red Army. Both
firms are still at large and are considered to be the most notorious hooligan firms in UK.
The encounters between the two firms have always resulted in injuries but recently the encounters have decreased largely owing to Leeds’ relegation from the English Premier League back in 2001. After Leeds’ relegation, the two clubs have played only one
match which was an F.A Cup encounter last season at Old Trafford which the away side one 1-0 thanks to a goal from Jermain Beckford. The victory was more of a revenge for Leeds United as it was Manchester United who was responsible for Leeds’ relegation in
2002. On the last day of the season, Manchester United needed to win their home game against which United won against Leeds and the result relegated Leeds from the English Premier League.
Sir Matt Busby and Don Revie rivalry
Manchester United became a fully-fledged football power after World War II. Sir Matt Busby was the architect of Manchester United dominance during the early 50s and kept the post till 1969. On the other end of North England, Leeds signed up Don Revie as
a player manager and he eventually became the club’s full-time manager. Manchester United had players like Bobby Charlton, Dennis Law and George Best who were the part of the golden generation of a group of players affectionately called “Busby Babes”. Leeds
United had a tough and uncompromising side featuring Bobby Charlton’s brother, Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter.
The two sides met each other at Hillsborough for the F.A Cup semi final tie and it was a gruesome affair involving Dennis Law and Jack Charlton aiming punches at each other in a 0-0 draw. The replay of the tie was won by Leeds United 1-0 as the two teams
finished the league at 61 points on 1st and 2nd with Manchester United winning the league through a greater goal difference.
In 1978 Joe Jordon and Gordon McQueen, the best Leeds players of all-time, left the club for Manchester United which further enraged and intensified the rivalry. Leeds fans, took the departure of McQueen very hard as he was a real crowd favourite. The “Roses”
rivalry did not take place for 9 years as Leeds were relegated in 1982. However, the rivalry was to intensify further with the inception of English Premier League as Gordon Strachan’s Leeds beat Manchester United to the title a year before the inception. Once
again, the fans were infuriated as talismanic Eric Cantona was sold to Manchester United for 1.2 million pounds. Cantona, on his arrival became a key figure of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team plans as Manchester United started an era of English football dominance.
Two Leeds fans were stabbed to death during a UEFA Cup match against Turkish giants Galatasaray and many Manchester United fans paid tributes at Elland Road and it was thought that the rivalry had mellowed down a bit. All this was to intensify when during
a Premier League encounter between the two, some Manchester United fans unfurled banners that read “MUFC Istanbul Reds” and “Galatasaray Reds” in a retaliation to Leeds’ fans remarks and taunting of the “Munich air disaster” and there were reports of confrontations
later on.
When Leeds were relegated again in the 2003-04 season, Leeds home boy, Alan Smith moved to Manchester United (not for the first time a player left for United), it was another major blow for the Elland Road faithful as many a times, Alan Smith had kissed
the Leeds batch after scoring a goal.
In terms of trophies, the Lancashire club Manchester United has had the better of Leeds with 58 competitive trophies as compared to Leeds’ 9.
Currently Leeds United lie in the Coca Cola Championship after gaining promotion from the n-power premier league last season. The side is doing pretty well in the league for now and are in the top 6, so, if not next season, maybe in a couple of seasons,
the rivalry is sure to revive again between the two great rivals.
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