This adulation of Leeds United

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Leeds is the biggest one club city in the UK, and most people over 20 support Leeds. You do see Man Utd and Chelsea shirts which you'd never see 8/10 years ago but 90% of people in Leeds support Leeds. They've also got massive support in North Yorkshire in York, Harrogate, Pickering etc.

[J R Hartley]

Leeds is the biggest one club city in the UK, and most people over 20 support Leeds. You do see Man Utd and Chelsea shirts which you'd never see 8/10 years ago but 90% of people in Leeds support Leeds. They've also got massive support in North Yorkshire in York, Harrogate, Pickering etc.

But, but, but what about Blackburn?

[J R Hartley]

So true and the main answer to the original poser.

Correct and the EFL has lost its cash cow. Hopefully Villa will come down to replace Leeds. The Championship needs a massive club to retain Sky’s interest.

[jon1959]

Naff em , hope they get leathered in every game

Amen.

[tforturton]

When I was in school, back in the seventies, Leeds were certainly one of the big teams. I seem to recall that this all started after they lost the epic 1970 FA Cup Final to Chelsea. The game went to a replay at Old Trafford, and Chelsea eventually emerged as winners, but emerged Leeds as the hard-fighting underdog. Leeds were there or there-about for years after that, and they were robbed by some dreadful decisions in the 1975 European Cup Final, and this just seemed to cement the 'legend'.

[BLUETIT]

When I was in school, back in the seventies, Leeds were certainly one of the big teams. I seem to recall that this all started after they lost the epic 1970 FA Cup Final to Chelsea. The game went to a replay at Old Trafford, and Chelsea eventually emerged as winners, but emerged Leeds as the DIRTY, CHEATING, hard-fighting underdog. Leeds were there or there-about for years after that, and they were robbed by some dreadful decisions in the 1975 European Cup Final, and this just seemed to cement the 'legend'.

You left out a few words !!!!

[chrisp_1927]

Im 33 so most of their glory period is well before my time, but even from what I remember their fall from grace was pretty spectacular. One minute they were in the champions league semis with a young team, the next minute financial crisis, and relegation followed a couple of seasons later.

People tend to forget that play off final aswell. In their 2nd season in the championship they got to within 90 minutes of going back up. Next season they got relegated 😂😂. They then hit the league 1 playoffs twice in 2 years and failed again both times!!

Talking about percentage of time in the top flight is a bit misleading . Because this 16 years they've been out skews the stats. Before that they were certainly one of the big boys. I'd imagine the stats would reflect that

[City123]

Leeds has a population of almost 800,000 and there's only one club. That's why they average ~35,000 fans at home. Its a huge city.

They also achieved success at the perfect time (Early Premier League) and have the history of Revie. What's quite funny is how massively overstated Leeds' history seems to be, they've won 9 major honours (and that's counting the Fairs Cup and Charity Shield, without which they've only won 5 major domestic honours). In terms of number of honours that's less than Wednesday, Sunderland, Blackburn, Forest and Newcastle and the same amount as West Brom.

The spectacular fall from grace helps aswell, a bit of a hard luck story always helps ratings

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Forest and Villa didn’t win the top division in the 90s or compete In the champions league and challenge for the league title in the 2000’s.

Leeds have challenged at the top table in the Sky TV era. None of the others you mention have except for Newcastle who get plenty of media attention and also only spent 1 season out of the PL and did what was expected and bounced back straight away.

Leeds also have a bitter rivalry with Manchester United the biggest club in the country.

Leeds think they have a bitter rivalry with united but it's all in leeds eyes . Uniteds rivals are and always will be liverpool

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Leeds has a population of almost 800,000 and there's only one club. That's why they average ~35,000 fans at home. Its a huge city.

They also achieved success at the perfect time (Early Premier League) and have the history of Revie. What's quite funny is how massively overstated Leeds' history seems to be, they've won 9 major honours (and that's counting the Fairs Cup and Charity Shield, without which they've only won 5 major domestic honours). In terms of number of honours that's less than Wednesday, Sunderland, Blackburn, Forest and Newcastle and the same amount as West Brom.

The spectacular fall from grace helps aswell, a bit of a hard luck story always helps ratings

Tyneside is a huge urban area and has one club , newcastle , who average 50000

[jon1959]

Im 33 so most of their glory period is well before my time, but even from what I remember their fall from grace was pretty spectacular. One minute they were in the champions league semis with a young team, the next minute financial crisis, and relegation followed a couple of seasons later.

People tend to forget that play off final aswell. In their 2nd season in the championship they got to within 90 minutes of going back up. Next season they got relegated ����. They then hit the league 1 playoffs twice in 2 years and failed again both times!!

Talking about percentage of time in the top flight is a bit misleading . Because this 16 years they've been out skews the stats. Before that they were certainly one of the big boys. I'd imagine the stats would reflect that

Why should we ignore the 16 years Leeds have been out of the top flight? How do those 16 years skew the stats? The stats are the stats! They are all part of the picture, and for the current Leeds United the last 16 years are more relevant than earlier periods.

Leeds are clearly a big club - with a large fan base in a big one-club city (although attendance at their home games in recent years has been a smaller % of the city population than Cardiff!), a lot of 'plastic' fans around the world, a golden age (whether that is part myth or not....) only two generations ago, a catastrophic fall from grace that makes them a constant source of interest, and a level of loathing from fans of other clubs around the country based equally on the 'dirty Leeds' legacy of Don Revie and their continuing sense of entitlement that pisses everyone else off. For good or bad they are box office!

They deserve to be back in the Premier League because they have earned it this season. No other reason. They may well deserve to be relegated again in a years time.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

They are another glory seekers club , except their glory was long time ago and what has happened is that in places like south Wales sad cases who supported leeds in the revie years have passed on that support onto sons and grandchildren

Like liverpool , united , chelsea , arsenal etc leeds have buses going to take brain dead morons from south wales , the west country , norfolk etc up to leeds to see " their " team

But it isnt their team , leeds true fans hate cardiff as anyone who went up to see city in the past will know

They are glory seekers , they are welsh and should be supporting cardiff , swansea or newport or in the case of out west country cousins , plymouth , bristol citysuck etc

These clubs suck dry the support of traditional football clubs and that's why I hate SKY and hate Liverpool , United , Leeds , Chelsea , Arsenal etc

I have nothing but contempt for them

Sheffield Wednesday, United , Derby , Sunderland ........great clubs

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Why should we ignore the 16 years Leeds have been out of the top flight? How do those 16 years skew the stats? The stats are the stats! They are all part of the picture, and for the current Leeds United the last 16 years are more relevant than earlier periods.

Leeds are clearly a big club - with a large fan base in a big one-club city (although attendance at their home games in recent years has been a smaller % of the city population than Cardiff!), a lot of 'plastic' fans around the world, a golden age (whether that is part myth or not....) only two generations ago, a catastrophic fall from grace that makes them a constant source of interest, and a level of loathing from fans of other clubs around the country based equally on the 'dirty Leeds' legacy of Don Revie and their continuing sense of entitlement that pisses everyone else off. For good or bad they are box office!

They deserve to be back in the Premier League because they have earned it this season. No other reason. They may well deserve to be relegated again in a years time.

I hope they are relegated as soon as possible

[MacAdder]

When I was in school, back in the seventies, Leeds were certainly one of the big teams. I seem to recall that this all started after they lost the epic 1970 FA Cup Final to Chelsea. The game went to a replay at Old Trafford, and Chelsea eventually emerged as winners, but emerged Leeds as the hard-fighting underdog. Leeds were there or there-about for years after that, and they were robbed by some dreadful decisions in the 1975 European Cup Final, and this just seemed to cement the 'legend'.

I seem to remember the Leeds fans not taking the loss very well.

No doubt Europe top brass disliking Revie's style of play.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

I seem to remember the Leeds fans not taking the loss very well.

No doubt Europe top brass disliking Revie's style of play.

Aggro

A lot of plastic hooligans from all over the country hung onto leeds , millwall and chelsea for the violent reputation

[Wash DC Blue]

Some crazy blinkered comments on here.
Leeds are a club with a massive loyal supporter base.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Some crazy blinkered comments on here.
Leeds are a club with a massive loyal supporter base.

It's no bigger than Newcastle, Manchester City , Everton etc

They are of course a big club but the only right they have to be back in top flight football is that they have been promoted .

I hope they get relegated as quickly as possible .

[jeepster]

Why should we ignore the 16 years Leeds have been out of the top flight? How do those 16 years skew the stats? The stats are the stats! They are all part of the picture, and for the current Leeds United the last 16 years are more relevant than earlier periods.

Leeds are clearly a big club - with a large fan base in a big one-club city (although attendance at their home games in recent years has been a smaller % of the city population than Cardiff!), a lot of 'plastic' fans around the world, a golden age (whether that is part myth or not....) only two generations ago, a catastrophic fall from grace that makes them a constant source of interest, and a level of loathing from fans of other clubs around the country based equally on the 'dirty Leeds' legacy of Don Revie and their continuing sense of entitlement that pisses everyone else off. For good or bad they are box office!

They deserve to be back in the Premier League because they have earned it this season. No other reason. They may well deserve to be relegated again in a years time.

The tables do not lie at the end of the season,fcuk.

[delmbox]

This is a crazy amount of rubbish, let alone the police officer who got hurt

https://www.theguardian.com/football...e-celebrations

[TheGoose]

ok... but so what?

[Feedback]

Forest and Villa didn’t win the top division in the 90s or compete In the champions league and challenge for the league title in the 2000’s.

Leeds have challenged at the top table in the Sky TV era. None of the others you mention have except for Newcastle who get plenty of media attention and also only spent 1 season out of the PL and did what was expected and bounced back straight away.

Leeds also have a bitter rivalry with Manchester United the biggest club in the country.

that rivalry is very much one way

[Feedback]

Some crazy blinkered comments on here.
Leeds are a club with a massive loyal supporter base.

for massive read bigger than us. Leeds are not even the biggest club in Yorkshire

[Wash DC Blue]

for massive read bigger than us. Leeds are not even the biggest club in Yorkshire

Yeah, OK Mate.
😄

[the other bob wilson]

It could be that the whole "dirty Leeds" thing goes back a hundred years to when Leeds City were expelled from the Football League for financial irregularities;-

https://www.sportinglife.com/footbal...ds-city/172864

What I'm sure about though is that the label goes back to the early sixties with the appointment of Don Readies/Revie - Leeds were. Soon successful under Revie, but they just as quickly gained a reputation for foul play, gamesmanship and intimidation of referees.

An interesting side issue to 1973 FA Cup Final when Leeds were beaten by Second Division Sunderland was the ill feeling between the rival managers - these links will tell you why that was and quite a bit more about the man who oversaw their “glory years”.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/gr...h-daily-mirror

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ues-67604.html

https://www.molineuxmix.co.uk/forum/...ecider.163478/

[life on mars]

Leeds is the biggest one club city in the UK, and most people over 20 support Leeds. You do see Man Utd and Chelsea shirts which you'd never see 8/10 years ago but 90% of people in Leeds support Leeds. They've also got massive support in North Yorkshire in York, Harrogate, Pickering etc.

Manure robbed Salford of their status