ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIRS 1971

 

September 22nd 1971 brought together the "top clubs in Europe"  when the UEFA Cup replaced the very well known Inter Cities Fairs Cup, at the start of the 1971-2 season.

The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was arranged for cities that held international "Trade Fairs". One city per country was invited to play. This was not a UEFA or FIFA event and London City was England's first representative....losing to Barcelona City 8-2 on agg. ICFC held between1955-1971.

The UEFA big wigs, always inventive, decided to mark the change over by bringing together:

the first time winners of the ICFC, Barcelona, who lifted the first trophy in 1958. 

VERSUS the winners of the last Cup, Leeds United, who beat Juventus in the final in 1971.

35,000 turned up to the Camp Nou to witness this "play off", which Barcelona won 2-1.

1971-2: Leeds came second in the Football League First Division (top one then) behind Derby C. with a record of unbeaten at home and away: P21 W7 D5 L9 F10 A21, not a great return. At Home P21 W17 D4 L0 F54 A10, better. 

In a drawn league game 1-1 v Spurs at Boothberry Park (see below), the visitors were at full strength except for Anthony Want? Tony was born in Hackney and played between 1965-72, 50 times. He then went to Birmingham 100 apps and then USA. 2 goals in his full career of 250 games. Leeds had a full team!

In the UEFA cup Leeds met Lierse SK of Antwerp and won away 0-2, Galvin and Lorimer scoring. The return was a disaster of a 0-4 defeat and out went Leeds, with less well known team players in the team of Shaw, Faulkner, Mann, Belfitt and Bates along with the ususal suspects.

In the Football League Cup: Rd 2 Leeds beat Derby 2-0 at home after a replay, then in Rd 3 lost to West Ham after a 0-0 away and 0-1 losing at home. 

In the FA Cup: Leeds beat Bristol Rovers at home 4-1 in Rd 3, Liverpool at home 2-0 after 0-0 away in Rd 4. Cardiff 2-0 away in Rd 5 and Tottenham at Hull's Boothberry Park 2-1 in Rd 6 when Elland Road was banned after crowd hooliganism. Then they beat Birmingham City in the Semi-final (Hillsborough) 3-0 and Arsenal in the Final at Wembley.