WAR OF THE UNITED ROSES

It is 16 years since Leeds United last visited Old Trafford. The War of the Roses has always pitched Lancashire v Yorkshire (red rose v white rose) and in  football the two "senior" teams (apparently) epitomise the rivalry over the Pennines.

In 1950, Leeds were playing an FA Cup quarter-final at Highbury and Man Utd were at Stamford Bridge. The two groups of fans met in anger at Trafalgar Square during their morning sight-seeing trip to the capital. Thousands of fans arrived by train, coach and car, invaded the capital and had their fun.

In 1964 the newly promoted Leeds were in third place in the division and met Manchester Utd at Old Trafford who were leaders. Leeds won  1-0. George Best claims that he was kicked in the calf in the tunnel, by Bobby Collins. The Scot said "and that's for starters Bestie". The protector in chief, Nobby Stiles, came to Best's defence and put Collins into the perimeter wall with  a forceful tackle. BUT the Leeds captain got up to score the only goal of the game.

The Reds were relegated in 1974, on the day that the Whites were crowned champions; trouble between supports intensified. Later Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen crossed the Pennines westwards, within weeks of each other in 1978 and McQueen claimed that anybody would want to play for Manchester United given the chance-well 99% would and the rest are liars. Cantona, Ferdinand and Alan Smith did the same and they were known as Judas' in the Elland Road "Hall of Fame". 

Sir Alex knew what was in store any time his team visited Elland Road making the same pre-match statement: " Get in there, get a result and get out as quickly as we can!"

The present circumstances, of no crowds, will probably tone down the venom in the stadium, but remember the historic duels;the Charlton brothers, Don Revie seeking advice from Sir Matt in 1961 when Revie took the tiller at Leeds, the relationship between the Stiles and the Giles' families. 

Their first meeting was on January 20th 1920 a 0-0 draw..(remember there had been a Leeds City prior 1904-1919)...see link below. Two games were played v Man U who lost the first 0-3 in Div 1 on January 15th 1906. On April 21 1906 Utd won 1-3.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3994718670252035536/6669210713426017758?hl=en-GB

Leeds have won 26 meetings, Manchester 46 and drawn 35. There were meetings in 1925-31 in League Div 1, then briefly in Div 2 and back to Div 1 until the Premier League in 1992

In the FA Cup Manchester has won 4, Leeds 3. Drawn 4...including the notorious 1970 semi-finals....two 0-0s and a Leeds win eventually through the carnage.

League Cup meetings involve 5 with 5 wins for Manchester.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IePqkYSh5oo