LEEDS AND WBA 1971

With Leeds Utd in the news, mainly through the sad death of Norman Hunter and also the soon to be televised (again) "The Damned United", I thought "The People" newspaper report of 18th April was a good date to remind you of the "riotous" football associated with Don Revie's team and English football in general in the 70s.

Hooliganism seemed to be order of the decade in the 1970s, although, of course, reports of mob violence can be traced back to the origins of the game (and of course to other battle fields).
Football enthusiasts hoped that all that had been forgotten but not so. If we were to locate a point in history where the "wheels dropped off", some commentators would suggest April 1971 and Elland Road.

Top of the table Leeds were two points ahead of Arsenal and had played two more games than their rivals, with two games left.

Leeds met West Bromwich Albion on Saturday 14th April and few would have bet on The Throstles going home with maximum points. The two had met in October 1970 and drew 2-2 at West Brom.

They took the lead in the 20th minute. Leeds were masters of the offside trap and when Tony Brown sprinted away with the ball in the 72nd minute, the Leeds' defence pointed to Suggett who was in an offside position. The referee, Ray Tinkler, waved play on, saying Suggett was not interfering with play. Brown had "paused" but then carried on, passing a long ball to Jeff Astle, who also seemed to be in an offside position. Leeds stopped, the linesman didn't flag, the ref didn't whistle and Astle made it 2-1.

The whole Leeds' team pitched in and so did some of their supporters. RIOT! in the centre-circle, police, fights, 23 arrests, linesman hit by missile......

Leeds pulled a goal back. Revie said the pitch invasion had been justified...he would wouldn't he!
To rub it in, the Albion manager, Alan Ashman, agreed the goal was offside. Not helpful.

Leeds were nudged off the table and it stayed like that till the end of the season. Arsenal were champs, by one point and a very slightly greater "goal diffference".

Leeds maintained their demonstration, so the Football League got bored and made Leeds pay a fine...not financial; their first next four league games must be played away from home.
This event was the start of a series of shameful stories associated with football and over the next 15 years there was going to be more trouble.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBhpJZJ8O6U
BTW Spurs were 3rd , in the division that year, only 12 pts adrift!

Ironically, the state of play in the Championship at the moment (2020) is:
1. Leeds played 37 GD 26 Total 71 pts
2. WBA  played 37 GD 27 Total 70 points
3. Fulham with 64 points!

Happy Days.