This adulation of Leeds United

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Where does it come from? Last night, following West Brom's defeat, Sky Sports Football dedicated what seemed like ages in getting opinion from Leeds stars past and present regarding their promotion. Talk that Leeds were now back where they belonged and the 16 years they have been absent was too long. Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City would be looking forward to having Leeds back at the top table. Not even Newcastle or Aston Villa, both bigger clubs than Leeds, had such adulation from the media on their recent promotions.

I thought I'd have a look and see how Leeds fared with regard how long they've spent in the top flight in their history. In terms of percentage, Leeds have spent 53.8% of their seasons in the top flight. 17 teams have spent more of their history (in terms of percentage) in the top flight than Leeds, including Sunderland, West Ham, West Brom, Bolton, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Sheff Wed and Stoke City. Even Derby and Wolves had an almost identical percentage to Leeds.

Leeds can hardly be described as a top table club. They're nowhere near it. In terms of their history they're another Derby County or Stoke City.

[The Lone Gunman]

Where does it come from?

You really have to ask that question?

For the first twelve seasons of the Premier League, Leeds were among the ten best-supported clubs in the division. They were ranked as high as third at one point, behind only Manchester United and Liverpool. This season they were far and away the best-supported club in the Championship before the lockdown. They are a genuinely big club and it's daft to pretend otherwise.

Leeds' fall from grace was spectacular and it's taken them a long, long time to get back to the top flight. That's why there is a high level of media interest in them. Big club, very well-supported, major players during the first decade of the Premier League's history, a high-profile fall from grace, all sorts of problems since then, high-profile manager, etc. Basically, they are box office as far as Sky and the Premier League concerned, and that goes for fans of most other clubs too. You only have to look at City's crowds when Leeds come to town for evidence of that.

[J R Hartley]

They’ve been out of the PL for 16 years. Both of Newcastle’s recent visits to the second tier were short and sweet. Bounced back straight away.

Villa took what? 3 or 4 seasons?

After their capitulation last year It’s hardly rocket science why there’s so much attention this year.

The EFL have lost their big club and will be hoping Villa come down I’m sure.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

You really have to ask that question?

For the first twelve seasons of the Premier League, Leeds were among the ten best-supported clubs in the division. They were ranked as high as third at one point, behind only Manchester United and Liverpool. This season they were far and away the best-supported club in the Championship before the lockdown. They are a genuinely big club and it's daft to pretend otherwise.

Leeds' fall from grace was spectacular and it's taken them a long, long time to get back to the top flight. That's why there is a high level of media interest in them. Big club, very well-supported, major players during the first decade of the Premier League's history, a high-profile fall from grace, all sorts of problems since then, high-profile manager, etc. Basically, they are box office as far as Sky and the Premier League concerned, and that goes for fans of most other clubs too. You only have to look at City's crowds when Leeds come to town for evidence of that.

Where does this thing about Leeds being a genuinely big club come from? What from their history puts them on a par with any of the big 6, Villa, Newcastle, even Sunderland or West Brom?

[Joe Gillis]

Where does this thing about Leeds being a genuinely big club come from? What from their history puts them on a par with any of the big 6, Villa, Newcastle, even Sunderland or West Brom?

You'd have had to have lived through the 60s and 70s to understand their appeal, they had a fabulous side, it all stems from that

[The Lone Gunman]

Where does this thing about Leeds being a genuinely big club come from?

Forget it. It's a dumb conversation.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Forget it. It's a dumb conversation.

Well it is when you are involved

Apart from the review years they have been a yo yo club

I remember going up to watch city v leeds at elland road in 1983

We had about 1500 fans there in a crowd of ....


Under 13000

Bigger club than us .....no doubt about it .........bigger than villa , everton , spurs , man city ?

Not a chance

Feck em , hope they go down

[splott parker]

You'd have had to have lived through the 60s and 70s to understand their appeal, they had a fabulous side, it all stems from that

For all their supposed superiority, they ‘only’ won two League titles in that era, in fact they bottled it many a time in major competitions. A dirty, cynical side who, maybe, if their dodgy manager had concentrated more on getting the best out of his undoubtably talented players rather than attempting, a lot of the time unlawfully, to nobble the opposition they may have achieved more.

[Packerman]

Leeds were not a big club in their glory years but Revie built the Legend and it all stems from there, now they are a big club, massive away support everywhere they go and they will probably sell out every home game (covid permitting) example they played Chelsea in the 1970 fa cup final replay at Old trafford and their fans were outnumbered heavily by Chelsea despite only 40 miles distance from Leeds.
However plastics and glory hunters slowly latched on during the halcyon days and the support base grew, once a team has a history and a cache they will always attract fans and they do from all over the country, not forgetting Leeds is the biggest single club football city in the uk

[Eric the Half a Bee]

For all their supposed superiority, they ‘only’ won two League titles in that era, in fact they bottled it many a time in major competitions. A dirty, cynical side who, maybe, if their dodgy manager had concentrated more on getting the best out of his undoubtably talented players rather than attempting, a lot of the time unlawfully, to nobble the opposition they may have achieved more.

In the 60s and 70s they had 12 successive seasons where they finished in the top 5 as part of a run of 18 consecutive top flight seasons. Since the relegation that ended that in 1982 they have spent 24 out of 38 seasons outside the top flight, more than the likes of Middlesbrough, Coventry, Sunderland, Leicester, Blackburn, Forest, Charlton, Fulham, Norwich, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday.

Wolves had a similar run in the 50s to the one Leeds enjoyed a decade or so later. They've endured lengthy spells outside the top flight over the last few decades. They don't get the same level of adulation that the media affords Leeds. Both clubs best days are generations ago.

[Packerman]

In the 60s and 70s they had 12 successive seasons where they finished in the top 5 as part of a run of 18 consecutive top flight seasons. Since the relegation that ended that in 1982 they have spent 24 out of 38 seasons outside the top flight, more than the likes of Middlesbrough, Coventry, Sunderland, Leicester, Blackburn, Forest, Charlton, Fulham, Norwich, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday.

Wolves had a similar run in the 50s to the one Leeds enjoyed a decade or so later. They've endured lengthy spells outside the top flight over the last few decades. They don't get the same level of adulation that the media affords Leeds. Both clubs best days are generations ago.

that ten year difference brought us match of the day and greater football coverage, that's the difference more plastic appeal also Leeds did win div 1 in 1992 and had a good european run

[Eric the Half a Bee]

that ten year difference brought us match of the day and greater football coverage, that's the difference more plastic appeal also Leeds did win div 1 in 1992 and had a good european run

Forest and Villa did that in the 80s. They don't get the same level of interest as Leeds.

[splott parker]

It was those poxy little flags on their sock tie ups that attracted the impressionable!

[Seabird]

Sky are deeply in love with Leeds. The commentators and pundits are total sycophants when Leeds games are being covered.

Kalvin Phillips "The Yorkshire Pirlo" ........."my arse".

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Naff em , hope they get leathered in every game

[J R Hartley]

Forest and Villa did that in the 80s. They don't get the same level of interest as Leeds.

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.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

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 2000s

Ok. Blackburn haven't received the same adulation as Leeds, then.

My point is that, for every scenario and reason given for this adulation of Leeds, there are other teams with similar scenarios who don't get that adulation.

[bobh]

Naff em , hope they get leathered in every game

This, with bells on.

[J R Hartley]

Ok. Blackburn haven't received the same adulation as Leeds, then.

My point is that, for every scenario and reason given for this adulation of Leeds, there are other teams with similar scenarios who don't get that adulation.

We have given a multitude of reasons for Leeds and one or two of those reasons might apply to individual clubs but not all of them. Blackburn have got nowhere near the fan base of Leeds. The worst comparison of the lot.

[MacAdder]

Where is Chris??

Come on Chris, let's have your view on the subject for a bit of "balance".

[life on mars]

Where does it come from? Last night, following West Brom's defeat, Sky Sports Football dedicated what seemed like ages in getting opinion from Leeds stars past and present regarding their promotion. Talk that Leeds were now back where they belonged and the 16 years they have been absent was too long. Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City would be looking forward to having Leeds back at the top table. Not even Newcastle or Aston Villa, both bigger clubs than Leeds, had such adulation from the media on their recent promotions.

I thought I'd have a look and see how Leeds fared with regard how long they've spent in the top flight in their history. In terms of percentage, Leeds have spent 53.8% of their seasons in the top flight. 17 teams have spent more of their history (in terms of percentage) in the top flight than Leeds, including Sunderland, West Ham, West Brom, Bolton, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Sheff Wed and Stoke City. Even Derby and Wolves had an almost identical percentage to Leeds.

Leeds can hardly be described as a top table club. They're nowhere near it. In terms of their history they're another Derby County or Stoke City.

Don Revie days I suspect ,they were the Man U of the age ,bloody winning machine , in Newport there are hundreds of Leeds fans so many of my Gwenty mates love them .

[MacAdder]

Don Revie days I suspect ,they were the Man U of the age ,bloody winning machine , in Newport there are hundreds of Leeds fans so many of my Gwenty mates love them .

It was all about Leeds and Man United when I were a lad.

[insider]

I'm sure there must be some nice Leeds fans, by the law of averages.

[life on mars]

Sky are deeply in love with Leeds. The commentators and pundits are total sycophants when Leeds games are being covered.

Kalvin Phillips "The Yorkshire Pirlo" ........."my arse".

that's more about attracting new Sky subscribers Leeds globally like it or not are massive .

The City well they are not really big anywhere , even worse for us , in the CF area we have more plastic settee fans watching and supporting Premier clubs that the City .

[MacAdder]

more about attracting new Sky subscribers Leeds globally like it or not are massive .

The City well they are not really big anywhere , even worse for us , in the CF area we have more plastic settee fans watching and supporting Premier clubs that the City .

So true and the main answer to the original poser.