Leeds United and Manchester United rivalry

The rivalry between Leeds United and Manchester United, sometimes nicknamed the Roses rivalry, [cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=302325&in_page_id=1779|publisher=Daily Mail|title=Smith: I'd go to Man Utd|date=2004-05-11|accessdate=2008-02-03] is a footballing rivalry played between the Northern English clubs Leeds United and Manchester United. The rivalry originates from the strong enmity between the historic counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire that resulted from the Wars of the Roses, which took place during the 15th century. Although the cities of Leeds and Manchester lie over convert|40|mi|km apart, the tradition is upheld and this strong feeling can still be seen between the two clubs.cite book| last = Dunning | first = Eric | title =Sport Matters: Sociological Studies of Sport, Violence and Civilisation| publisher =Dover Publications | url =http://books.google.com/books?id=X3lX_LVBaToC&pg=PA151&lpg=PA151&dq=%22roses+rivalry%22+manchester+united+leeds&source=web&ots=ehef6Gv9iZ&sig=Nwxv4i66WCcNEic6WAP9Q9d9Dt0 | isbn = 978-0415093781] Independent research by the Football Fans Census has shown that in English football both Leeds and Manchester United are ranked within the top three clubs based on the number of rivals they have.Citeweb| url = http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf| title = Rivalry Uncovered!| accessdate = 2007-07-25| publisher = The Football Fans Census]

In the past, rivalry between the two clubs has gone beyond the action on the field at Old Trafford and Elland Road. Hostility has become more intense over the years and during the 1970s, when British football hooliganism was at its height, fights between Leeds' "Service Crew" and Manchester United's "Red Army", two of the most notorious hooligan firms in Britain, were commonplace and became known as some of the most violent clashes in British football. [Citeweb| url = http://website.lineone.net/~view_from_the_terrace/britsce.html| title = British Hooligan Scene | accessdate = 2008-02-03| publisher = View from the Terrace] Many people were injured in these encounters and when the clubs face each other nowadays a high level of security is always required. [Citeweb| url = http://www.manunitedview.co.uk/Pages/rivals%20(new).html| title = United's Rivals | accessdate = 2008-02-03| publisher = ManUnitedView.co.uk]

Roots

Wars of the Roses

The rivalry is considered to be a sporting manifestation of the established rivalry between the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, which can be traced back to the Wars of the Roses,cite book| last = Dunning | first = Eric | title =Sport Matters: Sociological Studies of Sport, Violence and Civilisation| publisher =Dover Publications | url =http://books.google.com/books?id=X3lX_LVBaToC&pg=PA151&lpg=PA151&dq=%22roses+rivalry%22+manchester+united+leeds&source=web&ots=ehef6Gv9iZ&sig=Nwxv4i66WCcNEic6WAP9Q9d9Dt0 | isbn = 978-0415093781] a series of civil wars fought between the House of York and the House of Lancaster for the throne of England during the 1400s. The battles contested during the wars were particularly bloody, especially the Battle of Towton, which took place just convert|15|mi|km away from Leeds and is described as "England's bloodiest ever battle". [cite book| last = Gravett | first = Christopher | title =Towton 1461: England's Bloodiest Battle| publisher =Osprey Publishing | url =http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=-UlMBQYccEMC&dq=towton+bloodiest&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=uU_W9XN8f_&sig=S5aKiaB5ZZ-wOn-J-etc5WMpa24 | isbn = 978-0415093781]

Fittingly, the colours of each football team's home shirts correspond to the respective rose representing their historic county – Leeds with a white kit, resembling the Yorkshire rose and Manchester United with a red shirt, like the Lancashire rose. There is a similar rivalry in the sport of cricket, in which matches are contested on a county basis. In this case, the "Roses Match" is the name given to games played between Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Lancashire Cricket Club. Although the clubs cover the larger county region, Yorkshire are based in Leeds and play at the Headingley Stadium, while Lancashire play at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, close to the football stadium of the same name. [Citeweb| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/4165282.stm| title = Roses match peters out to a draw| accessdate = 2008-02-03| publisher = BBC]

Industrial Revolution

A direct rivalry between the cities of Leeds and Manchester sprang up during the Industrial Revolution in Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries. The entire country was going through an unprecedented phase of economic growth and Leeds' economy had grown rapidly thanks to the woollen industry. Meanwhile, to the west in Manchester, the cotton industry began to flourish, with factories fuelled by the transportation of cheap coal down the Bridgewater Canal.Citeweb| url = http://www.footballderbies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1144| title = Leeds United vs. Manchester United - 2003 matchday program| accessdate = 2008-02-03| publisher = Leeds United]

Manchester's cotton industry was highly successful and it also ruined the traditional Yorkshire woollen industry, due to cotton being far cheaper to produce. This left the weavers in Yorkshire feeling undercut and a loathing for the new wealth in Manchester began to set in. During the mid-1800s, Leeds had constructed the impressive Grade I listed Leeds Town Hall, though the wealth which Manchester had acquired allowed them to retort by constructing striking architectural works of their own, such as the Grade I listed Manchester Town Hall. This served to establish the rivalry between the two cities even further.Citeweb| url = http://www.footballderbies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1144| title = Leeds United vs. Manchester United - 2003 matchday program| accessdate = 2008-02-03| publisher = Leeds United]

Football

Earliest meetings

Manchester United were the first side to emerge, despite club football itself first originating in Yorkshire. [cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsFromTheFA/Postings/2006/12/OldestClub.htm|title=World's Oldest Football Club|accessdate=2007-06-27] The club was founded in 1878 as Newton Heath L&YR by employees of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway company with the company, as the name suggests, covering both historic counties. The club's new owners later changed their name to Manchester United in 1902.cite book |last=Shury |first=Alan |coauthors=& Landamore, Brian |title=The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. |publisher=SoccerData |date=2005 |isbn=1899468161 |pages=pp.6-8 ] Leeds had traditionally been a rugby league city so it was a while before the attraction of football finally appealed to the local people. An association football club was finally made though in 1904, when Leeds City emerged. The two sides clashed for the first time in the Second Division at Manchester United's Bank Street stadium on 15 January 1906 in front of 6,000 fans. Leeds City won the game 3–0, but United won the return game at Elland Road 2–1 in April. [cite web|url=http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/190506fix.htm|publisher=MightyLeeds.co.uk|title=The Definitive History of Leeds United: Review of 1905-06 - Results and table|accessdate=2008-02-03]

This proved to be both the first and the last time the two clubs met, as Manchester United were promoted and Leeds City were eventually forcibly disbanded due to financial irregularities. [cite web|url=http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/Articles/1919-20article.html |title=Leeds City expelled from the Football League |accessdate=2008-02-11] A new club was formed, taking the name Leeds United, and they began playing in the Midland League, taking the place vacated by City's reserve team. The club also took over Elland Road, which had been occupied by Yorkshire Amateurs since the demise of Leeds City.Citeweb| url = http://www.footballderbies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1144| title = Leeds United vs. Manchester United - 2003 matchday program| accessdate = 2008-02-03| publisher = Leeds United] Leeds were elected to the Second Division on 31 May 1920 and the new Leeds United met Manchester United for the first time in the 1922–23 season in a game at Old Trafford that ended 0–0. Manchester United claimed the first victory, and indeed the first away win, between the two sides, when they beat Leeds 1–0 a week later at Elland Road on 27 January. It took Leeds until the 1925–26 season to gain their first victory, winning 2–0 at Elland Road on 3 October.

In the 1928–29 season Leeds achieved their first away victory against Manchester United, with a 2–1 win at Old Trafford in the First Division. Leeds also won the fixture at Elland Road 3–2 and became the first of the two sides to achieve "the double". The first time Manchester United won both fixtures did not come until 1946–47 with a 3–1 win at Old Trafford followed by a 2–0 win at Elland Road in the First Division. Neither side was particularly successful during this period though, and the two sides only met sporadically due to several promotions and relegations.Citeweb| url = http://www.footballderbies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1144| title = Leeds United vs. Manchester United - 2003 matchday program| accessdate = 2008-02-03| publisher = Leeds United]

Busby v Revie — the rivalry intensifies

It was not until after the Second World War that Manchester United became a fully-fledged footballing power, but they picked up three Championships during the 1950s. [cite web | title=Past winners of the Football League| work=Football League website | url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PastWinners/0,,10794,00.html| accessdate = 2008-02-03] Sir Matt Busby was the man who had coached Manchester United to glory and he remained at the club until 1969. Meanwhile, across to the east, Leeds United had signed up former player Don Revie as their player-manager and he soon became manager. Manchester United's side of this era featured the likes of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best, while under Revie Leeds had gained a reputation as a tough, uncompromising side, with the likes of Jack Charlton (brother of Bobby), Billy Bremner, who was once described as "10 stone of barbed wire" [cite web| url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2215721.ece |title = Football's 50 greatest hard men |accessdate = 2008-02-03 | publisher = TimesOnline.co.uk] and Norman "Bite Yer Legs" Hunter.

During the 1964–65 season, both sides had made it through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup for a chance to reach the final. The tie at Hillsborough was a very rough game – Jack Charlton and Denis Law wrestling on the ground and punching each other epitomised the mood in which the game was played – and it ended 0–0, with the Yorkshire Post commenting "both sides behaved like a pack of dogs snapping and snarling at each other over a bone".cite web | title=31 March 1965 - Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1| work=MightyLeeds.co.uk| url=http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19650331.htm| accessdate = 2008-02-03] The replay at the City Ground was tense and it took 89 minutes for Bremner to fire in the winner for Leeds.cite web | title=31 March 1965 - Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1| work=MightyLeeds.co.uk| url=http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19650331.htm| accessdate = 2008-02-03] The two clubs finished 1st and 2nd in the league that same season, both on 61 points, however the Mancunians won the title due to a better goals average.cite web | title=The soul of Leeds in 50 moments| work=Times Online| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2819379.ece| accessdate = 2008-02-03]

The rivalry between the two sides carried on at full force throughout the rest of the 1960s and the 1970s. Leeds attained a level of domestic success, winning the top division of English football in the 1968–69 season and the 1973–74 season, as well as finishing runners-up four more times and never finishing outside the top four places whilst Revie was at the helm. [cite web |url=http://www.leedsutd-mad.co.uk/footydb/loadlghs.asp |title=Leeds United League History |accessdate=2008-11-02 |work=Leeds United mad] During this period Manchester United only won the league once, in the 1966–67 season, but they had other successes, including winning the European Cup in 1968, an honour Leeds have yet to win, although they came close in 1975 when they lost 2–0 to German champions Bayern Munich.

In 1978, Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen, two of Leeds' best players at the time, were both sold to Manchester United. This was tough for the Leeds fans to take, especially in the case of McQueen as he was a fan favourite. The following season, the two players appeared against their former club. McQueen was targeted in particular with booing and jeering at Elland Road and objects were hurled at him before he scored a headed goal for Manchester United to silence the home fans. [cite web|url=http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/190506fix.htm|publisher=MightyLeeds.co.uk|title=The Definitive History of Leeds United: Review of 1905-06 - Results and table|accessdate=2008-02-03]

Renewal

The Roses rivalry did not take place for nine years because Leeds were relegated in 1982. They eventually returned under the stewardship of Howard Wilkinson in 1990 with a newly-strengthened squad that had finished as Second Division Champions. The last ever league championship before the introduction of the Premier League came in the 1991–92 season, two seasons after Leeds' promotion, and it was a straight title race between Leeds United and Manchester United. Thanks to the likes of Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty and Eric Cantona, Leeds won the league, four points ahead of Manchester United. [Citeweb| url = http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng92.html| title = England 1991-92| accessdate = 2008-02-03| publisher = rsssf.com] However, much to the surprise and displeasure of Leeds fans, Cantona was sold to Manchester United for a mere £1.2 million, the following year.cite web | title=The soul of Leeds in 50 moments| work=Times Online| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2819379.ece| accessdate = 2008-02-03] He would spur Manchester United's 1990s revival, leading them to the Premier League title on four occasions in just five seasons and he thus became one of the club's legends. [cite web | title=A Genius| work=Eric Cantona Page| url=http://freespace.virgin.net/tony.smith/cantona.htm| accessdate = 2008-02-03] In 2001 he was voted their player of the century and to this day Manchester United fans refer to him as "King Eric". [cite web| title=Eric Cantona| work=manutdzone.com| url=http://www.manutdzone.com/legends/EricCantona.htm| accessdate = 2008-02-11]

On-the-pitch clashes continued to happen between the clubs, with notable incidents including the beginning of a personal grudge between Manchester United captain Roy Keane and Alfie Haaland in 1997, [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/photo_galleries/football/2190003.stm |title=Keane v Haaland: Key clashes |accessdate=2008-02-08 |date=15 October 2002 |publisher=BBC Sport] a clash between Ian Harte and Fabien Barthez in March 2001, [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/football/eng_prem/1199127.stm |title=Leeds earn Man Utd draw |accessdate=2008-02-08 |date=3 March 2001 |publisher=BBC Sport] [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/1202684.stm |title=Row between rivals rumbles on |accessdate=2008-02-08 |date=6 March 2001 |publisher=BBC Sport] and a tussle between Robbie Keane and David Beckham in October 2001. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/1623888.stm |title=(Robbie) Keane 'deserved red card' |accessdate=2008-02-08 |date=27 October 2001 |publisher=BBC Sport]

Two Leeds United fans were stabbed to death during a UEFA Cup game against Galatasaray in 2000. [cite web | title=Turks in court for stabbing Leeds fans| work=The Independent UK| url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/turks-in-court-for-stabbing-leeds-fans-716238.html| accessdate = 2008-02-03] Many Manchester United fans paid their respects, leaving tributes at Elland Road, and there were even reports of Leeds and Manchester United fans embracing, with The Independent using the headline "Old rivalries forgotten as fans unite in grief". [cite web | title=Old rivalries forgotten as fans unite in grief| work=The Independent UK| url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/old-rivalries-forgotten-as-fans-unite-in-grief-721349.html| accessdate = 2008-02-03] However, by the time the two sides faced up in the league, the dark underbelly from a subsection of the fans came out of the shadows and some Manchester United fans unfurled banners bearing the words "MUFC Istanbul Reds" [cite web | title = Arrests at Leeds game | work = Daily Telegraph, 3 March 2001 | url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2001/03/03/sfnfoc04.xml | accessdate = 2008-05-06] and "Galatasaray Reds". The Manchester United fans who unfurled these banners may have been retaliating to Leeds consistent taunting of the Munich Air Disaster over the years, however these highly offensive banners angered the Leeds fans, who retorted by chanting songs about Munich, and there were reports of seats being ripped up and confrontations after the game. [cite web | title=United 1 Man Utd 1| work=Stotty| url=http://www.astott.demon.co.uk/scumh.htm| accessdate = 2008-02-03]

After going through a period of extreme financial difficulties, resulting from huge amounts of money being poured into the club to help them reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2001, Leeds United were relegated at the end of the 2003–04 season. [cite web | title=Leeds relegated| work=BBC| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3676195.stm| accessdate = 2008-02-03] Alan Smith, a local boy and firm fan favourite at Leeds, shocked the Leeds fans after their relegation by transferring to Manchester United.cite web | title=The soul of Leeds in 50 moments| work=Times Online| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2819379.ece| accessdate = 2008-02-03] The Leeds fans dubbed him "Judas" and his actions were made particularly hard for them to take as Smith had been noted for kissing the Leeds badge and he had said that he would stay with the club even if they went down. He had also previously stated years before on an interview with Soccer A.M that he would never join Manchester Unitedcite web | title=The soul of Leeds in 50 moments| work=Times Online| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2819379.ece| accessdate = 2008-02-03] . He was welcomed by Manchester United fans and soon became a fan favourite, the fans respecting him and his decision to join a rival club.

Although the two sides have not met since 21 February 2004, the fans of both clubs still feel animosity towards each other. This is evident as on matchdays the two sets of fans regularly sing about each other. [cite web | title=Stand up if you hate Man U| work=Youtube (grant198)| url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hU08-QQgxIQ| date=24 February 2007| accessdate = 2008-02-11] [cite web | title=We all hate Leeds scum| work=Youtube (Roca22)| url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyH5mfQntg| date=11 August 2006| accessdate = 2008-02-11]

Results summary

Most goals

Player transfers

To Leeds United

To Manchester United

ee also

*Leeds United A.F.C.
*Manchester United F.C.
*Major football rivalries

References

External links

* [http://www.leedsunited.com Leeds United Official Website]
* [http://www.manutd.com Manchester United Official Website]