The 1970s were pretty cool; David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Charlie's Angels, Starsky & Hutch, Leeds United. Our most successful era ever may have been coming to an end towards of the decade but as the 1960s turned into the 1970s Leeds United were the height of fashion as this this infographic by Repetiore fashion shows. Many adored us, many more loved to hate us but we were cool and we were pretty good. One First Divison championship, runners up three times. One FA Cup, runners up twice. One Fairs Cup and runners up in both the Cup Winners Cup and European Cup.
1971; Torrential rain washed out the first attempt to play the first leg of the 1971 Inter-Cities Fair Cup Final against Juventus in Turin. Three days later battle commenced in the Stadio Comunale. The Italians looked a good bet early on when their multi-million lire forward line swept into action with Roberto Bettega giving them the lead on 27 minutes. Terry Cooper was causing Juventus massive problems with his left wing sorties but it was Paul Madeley who got the equalizer just before half time. Fabio Capello hit back for the Italians But an unlikely hero emerged from United’s ranks to snatch a second equalizer, substitute Mick Bates. All square after the first leg.
The second leg at Elland Road started well, after only twelve minutes Billy Bremner took a free-kick, the ball fell to Peter Lorimer who couldn’t get in a shot but it ran loose and it was snapped up eagerly by the razor sharp Allan Clarke, who cracked the loose ball low past Roberto Tancredi into the corner for a brilliant goal. The celebrations lasted only seven minutes though as Pietro Anastasi hit back for the Italians. Although Leeds did the majority of the attacking, there was always the fear that Juventus might strike with one of their lightning counter-attacks but Leeds held on for the draw and won the Inter-Cities Fair Cup on away goals.
1972; The date? Saturday 6th May 1972. The time? 4.10pm. The place? Wembley Stadium. David Coleman uttered those famous words ‘Clarke, one nil’. It was the fifty-third minute of the game, Peter Lorimer passed to Mick Jones who evaded Bob McNab’s challenge and crossed from the right touch line. Allan Clarke pounced in the penalty area, diving head first to head the ball past Arsenal goalkeeper Geoff Burnett. The first and only time Leeds United have ever won the FA Cup, probably the most famous moment in our clubs history.
1974; The end of an era, Don Revie’s last season as Leeds United manager and he went out on a high. Not only did Leeds win the first division title for the second time, they did it by a clear five points over runners up Liverpool. The season was topped off in front of a record breaking crowd of 35,353 at Loftus Road, the supporters tuning out to see Super Leeds. Leeds won the game, one nil, that man Allan Clarke again scoring the winning goal. The other good thing about 1974? Oh yeah, Manchester United got relegated to the Second Division.
1975; Forty years ago on 28th May 1975 perhaps the most famous injustice our club has faced occurred in Paris. Leeds played Bayern Munich in the European Cup Final, what was to have been the greatest night in Leeds United’s history turned into a nightmare. There has much been written about this night, but as in 1973 it hinged around some very dubious refereeing decisions. Leeds had dominated the game and were ‘unlucky’ not to have been awarded two penalties, both involving Franz Beckenbauer. The first a hand ball to take the ball away from Peter Lorimer, the second Alan Clarke had his legs taken from under him as he bore down on goal just before half time. The referee, Michel Kitabdjian, gave nothing.
The second half was no better, Leeds were still on top but decisions still went against them. On sixty six minutes Peter Lorimer unleashed a trademark screamer past Sepp Maier, the goal was ruled out as Billy Bremner had judged to have been off-side. The referee had initially given the goal but after Beckenbauer protested to the linesman the decision was overturned. Minutes later against the run of play Franz Roth gave Baynern the lead. Leeds were shell shocked, 10 minutes later they were two down, cheated out of European glory yet again.