LEEDS BOOK 1963 - 1975

Leeds United
1974-75
A Season in Brief
DIVISION ONE
Preview
Leeds United, Champions once more, but
the man that masterminded it wouldn’t
be around to have another crack at
winning the European Cup (EC). Don
Revie had been chosen to replace Joe
Mercer as England boss, who in turn was
acting as caretaker, after Sir Alf Ramsey
had been sacked. Clearly the most
important decision was who would the
new boss be? The board ignored Revies’
recommendation to promote Johnny
Giles and to the surprise of everyone,
plumped for the club’s number one critic,
Brian Clough.
After his well reported early dealings
with the players, he then went out and
spent more on transfers than Revie had in
thirteen years. Duncan McKenzie from
Nottingham Forest at £250,000 was the
most expensive.
Four Forty Days
The reign of Brian Clough was shortlived,
despite the assertions by the players that
they were right behind the new manager,
results didn’t back this up. Losing his
captain Billy Bremner to suspension after
he had been sent off in the Charity Shield
along with Kevin Keegan, didn’t help, but
there were obviously underlying issues.
Acting swiftly, the board admitted their
mistake and parted ways with Clough.
The Season
After a poor start, Clough had been
dismissed after the home draw with Luton
left United in nineteenth place. Refusing
204 /((’681,7(’
to be rushed into immediately appointing
a successor, they eventually turned to
Bolton boss, Jimmy Armfield. He turned
out to be exactly the type needed to calm
the situation. Although not able to greatly
improve the team’s league position, by
building bridges with the senior players,
he was to guide the team to the final of
the EC. Maurice Lindley oversaw the first
round matches against FC Zurich, 5-3 on
aggregate before Armfield took over. His
first game was a 2-0 victory over Arsenal,
but this was followed by only one win in
five games.
Old rivals Ujpest Doza from Hungary
were the second round opponents in
the EC, Leeds turned back the clock
and won both home and away legs to
cruise through. There was a slight upturn
in league results, but there was also a
humiliating 3-0 League Cup defeat to
fourth tier Chester as well. The year ended
with a 2-0 win at Leicester, Leeds were
ensconced in eleventh place in the table,
with only cup success realistically to play
for. Progress was made in the FA Cup, but
Leeds eventually went out to Ipswich after
a replay.
The ‘old’ Leeds United was very much in
evidence in the defeat of Anderlecht in the
EC quarter finals. Again, home and away
victories gave the Whites a 4-0 aggregate
victory, setting up a much anticipated
semi-final against Barcelona. The Barca
side contained the Dutch superstars Johan
Cruyff and Neeskins, but United weren’t
intimidated by them. Bremner and
Clarke with the goals, secured a 2-1 home
win. The return at the Nou Camp was a
loud and passionate affair, but when Peter
Lorimer extended the advantage to 3-1 it
looked all over. There was a sting in the
tail however, when Gordon McQueen was
sent off, but a sterling, backs to the wall
defensive performance saw Leeds reach
the final. Their opponents were to be the
cup holders Bayern Munich and the final
was to be played at the Parcs des Princes,
Paris, ensuring a massive Leeds following.
The league obviously meandered to a
standstill, players were rested to avoid
injury, the major concern was the gap
between the last league game, a 4-2 defeat
at Tottenham and the final, exactly one
month afterwards.
Bayern like Leeds had had a terrible
league season, finishing in mid-table,
their only hope of European football was
to retain the trophy. They had real class
in the team, Sepp Maier in goal, Franz
Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller amongst
many, but Leeds had Bremner Giles and
Clarke to match them.
A game that has gone down in infamy
for non footballing reasons, Leeds were
well on top, not only creating chances but
denied a couple of penalties that looked
‘nailed’ on. When Lorimer had a goal
disallowed mid-way through the second
half, tempers on and off the pitch began
to fray. English teams had been on the
wrong end of many suspect refereeing
performances in Europe, so when Bayern
clinched the game with two late strikes,
the United fans lost control and began
rioting behind the goal.
Postscript
This really was the end of an era and the
last hurrah for an ageing team. Don Revie
might not have been sat on the touchline,
but these were his boys and this was the
culmination to a journey that began
fifteen years ago.
A period of sustained success was coming
to an end, but while it had lasted, it was
fantastic. Championships, cup victories,
great nights in Europe, who cared if there
had been controversy along the way. This
period will live on forever as the time
when Leeds United really were one of the
best teams in the world.