1972: Behind the Scenes at LEEDS UNITED | I Love Leeds | Classic BBC Sport | BBC Archive

[@njd2342]

Leeds Utd of the early 1970s are the football team of my life.

[@lewisgreen2957]

My father was a West Ham Utd fan and regular at Upton Park but he said that that Leeds team were the greatest he’d ever seen..

[@r3d3y3si]

A mate of mine who's a man united fan agrees with your father.

[@harold5337]

What a team! Don Revies Leeds United. Hated by many, loved by many, but must go down as one of the best English teams.

[@beatlesareshite]

Done by the Celtic 👍🍀

[@barrymorris7856]

As a boy I went to home games with my dad and uncle in this era. Looking back it was a great privilege to see these players and also legends from other teams play.

[@nicholasdavies6264]

I was also very fortunate to have witnessed these legends 👍

[@brendanbrendan9435]

Me too at White Hart Lane back in '74. What a great team. @@nicholasdavies6264

[@rickyraw5457]

Amazing time to witness the best team and manager Leeds has ever seen......

[@beatlesareshite]

And Celtic done rhem Hime and Away

[@gerontius3]

Leeds were my team and I grew up there. They're still my team though I live in NY. I treasure a photo of myself aged 12 with Eddie Gray from a church fete and I remember chatting with Revie's daughter at some kids birthday party. I lived 10 houses down the street from Bobby Collins. A simpler time, a different game, but the players of Leeds United were my idols - Lorimer, Cooper, Jones, Clarke, Charlton etc. There were no subs allowed back then and the squad was small, the same players playing every game for the whole season in spite of tackling that would be straight red today over and over. I used to shop in Paul Madeley's painting and decorating store. Today they'd all be millionaires -back then they made no more than a decent salesman. Geoff Hurst said he made more selling insurance after he retired from West Ham than he did as a player, the man who scored 3 in the World Cup final in 1966. Ordinary men, but Gods in their own way.

[@UKsoldier45]

Colin Welland, lovely voice and a great actor.

[@davidwainwright2816]

Great archive stuff. The team of my boyhood and for life

[@Sriram24044]

It’s amazing to see. What I love the most is the genuine love Don had for the players. It wasn’t a team, it was a family #MOT #ALAW

[@vincentstevens5048]

Fantastic footage. I've always been a Liverpool supporter but Leeds would be my second team if push came to shove. Brilliant players, a great manager and even a wonderful strip.

[@CB-xr1eg]

Other way around for me. I've always supported Leeds United but if they weren't around for whatever reason, then Liverpool would be my team of choice. I've liked Liverpool since the Shankly days. Don Revie & Bill Shankly were great admirers of each other and often paid each other compliments.

[@abubakryasin5082]

Amazing Liverpool and fans....from Leeds fan..

[@johnrockyryan]

I feel the same way about Leeds and Liverpool as an Arsenal fan either of the 2 would be my second team without a doubt

[@PK-yf3hd]

May i as an old time lufc supporter who has seen the great players from all the clubs .since 1956 ,thank those supporters from these clubs who are high minded enough to pay tribute to us...we didnt have every great player ..we had a team in which all were great..others had some but not all great players..there wasnt a team we played against in the top flight that didnt have at least one player as good as ours, with the possible exception of bremner. but that was due to the leadership /inspirational as much as his skill factor.

[@weebolddavy]

As a youngster back then, Leeds were my favourite team, mainly because of the number of quality Scottish players they had. My favourite being Billy Bremner who always gave 110% and expected nothing less from his team, even when wearing the dark blue of Scotland his influence was incredible. I've got the greatest respect for Don Revie for literally knitting this team together, many who came from Scotland as schoolboys. It was more like a close family than a traditional football team. Thanks for the memories boys, for me, you were the best team ever.

[@weebolddavy]

@@jpip1382 Quite simple, less opportunity for homegrown players to break through because of the Homegrown Player Rule not being stronger. Like all things with FIFA ..... Money talks sadly. The Homegrown Player Rule is an initiative of the English Premier League to allow for more domestic players to be developed from an earlier age in the hope of nurturing more homegrown talent. It forms part of the League's Elite Player Performance Plan. The Premier League proposed a maximum of 17 non-"homegrown" players in each club squad, and the squad size is a maximum of 25. This means that in a full squad of 25 players, there must be at least eight homegrown players

[@lorenzoskyhawk]

My heroes from when I was a lad 50 plus years ago.... I got to see Billy and company play live..... unbelievable!!!!

[@nigelransome1695]

Leeds are in my heart and soul a supporter since being a nipper, nearly 66 now and just as passionate. The fans are special, the atmosphere at Elland road is always fantastic. Marching on together.

[@bigrobbo75]

The EPL needs the Roses rivalry back to what it was in the 60's 70's . Don Revie , Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles , Peter Lorimer , Norman Hunter LEGENDS !!

[@dod6031]

What Don Revie did at Leeds was extraordinary. Took a team that were languishing in the second division in a city where football wasn’t even the most popular sport being in the traditional rugby league heartland (Leeds United were getting attendances that barely cracked 10,000 while the rugby league side were drawing crowds of around 50,000) and he took them to the top of the first division and made them a side that won everything bar the European Cup (having been cheated out of it in 1975).

[@macjam9090]

Of course they were a great team. I remember as a kid them coming to Molineux and we stopped them doing the double. Then the following year 1973 we lost to them in the FA Cup semi final at Maine road. It was always a big game Wolves v Leeds and still is. I enjoyed football more in those days than now. At least every team had a chance whereas now we have the so called big 6 with all the money. Once again that was a great Leeds side.

[@ytnsanw]

Hated them back in the day, but no denying their status as a legendary team...

[@CB-xr1eg]

Opposing fans always hate successful teams. Ask any scum fan, when they were dominating only their fans liked them.

[@scsutton1]

​@@CB-xr1egAs true now as it was then.

[@Rivelino824]

I'm Manchester United fan but this is a brilliant insight. Can you imagine Ferguson giving Keane a massage after training not happening. Met Jack Charlton very nice fella.

[@stephenreeds3632]

Always found the enjoyment that Revie got from massaging players esp their thighs a bit worrying.

[@michaelgregson7808]

Great team great manager . Elland roads golden years

[@babyshambler]

Pure gold. Amazing footage.

[@airliebird58]

The team I fell in love with when I was a little lass. Great team!

[@tbjdiamonddog]

Great video, so glad i watched football as a teenager in the 70’s, my dad hated Leeds, but as already said it was because they were so good back then. Big Jack with his cigar

[@michaelpower4372]

Tbe ones who heated leeds were jealous that leeds were better than the teams they supported.

[@derekmooney2771]

They were tough, together, talented. Sure they pushed the boundaries a few times but so did other clubs. As a young man I still remember the match of the day game against Southampton when they were able to pass the ball at ease for such long periods, with the opposition chasing around like flies never getting near them. Scary.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

OLÉ! OLÉ! OLÉ!

[@willbee6785]

The words confidence & ability always comes to mind thinking of that Leeds team.

[@jeffreyroberts7438]

That Leeds team were special and Revie is on a par with all the great managers in league football! We were lucky to have Jordan, Hunter and Cooper at Bristol City after they left Leeds, they were absolutely incredible, so at their absolute prime at Leeds they must have been even better. Personally, I think this was the best time to watch football, I find today’s football mostly boring!!

[@duncanbirss8923]

Spot on

[@MrPyjamas1]

Great team, great memories.

[@markbowman7240]

the best team ever imo of their time and now

[@TheEntertainmentsOnMe]

What a team back in the day,my dad was a Leeds fan,he was not English,but was a big fan of Alan Clark. Y.n.w.a. Leeds Leeds Leeds.

[@mildandbitter]

Hard as nails but skillful with it. As a Pompey fan I love watching Leeds vs Southampton 1971/1972, 7-0 to Leeds.

[@billybigtime2808]

Not my team but what a team and full of characters. Amazing footage

[@Muninman]

A couple of observations: JG's comment about losing the title by a point came true, but of course the home draw with Ipswich wasn't the only point they lost that year. Second, Welland's final comment about loosening the reins was something Revie admitted he finally did in that brilliant title win in the 1973-4 season.

[@ivantodd3037]

I thought it was 1971/72 too - but it's actually from the start of the following season when they ended up third, seven points behind Liverpool.

[@mick6370]

​​@@ivantodd3037 Correct and we all know what happened in May that season still ranks with me losing you know what game.

[@Muninman]

Thanks for the correction@@ivantodd3037

[@Lord_Hillcrest02]

Good post @Muninman , was thinking the exact same thing .

[@steakandsidjustleeds]

What fantastic footage - The Leeds team at this time were the most consistent side in the land..the camera crews followed them everywhere..surely there must be more archive gems like this waiting to be uncovered ?

[@davidcocker8878]

Thanks so much for this, it’s emotional as they were all my family, not just my Dad, great to see Colin Welland too whom I shared a few pints with

[@daveywhyte6254]

Is your dad the fitness coach?

[@dangerousdaz89]

I was going to either send you this on waccoe or on twitter - glad you've seen it! (And beaten me to it!)

[@coops1964]

Les Cocker I assume?

[@themannappy]

Big Jack....RIP!🍀🍀🍀

[@geoffreychadwick8230]

I went to my first game at Elland Rd to watch Leeds when i was 13 and i'm 70 next year. I was there in 68 when we beat Arsenal at Wembley to win our first major trophy, i was also at Elland Rd for the record attendance of 57,892 v Sunderland FA Cup replay i think it was the 67-68 season. I still pop down to ER now when i can buy a ticket which unfortunately are a rare commodity. Roĺl on the ground expansion when we are again promoted at the end of this season 23-24. Great memories!

[@jonathanmonck-mason6715]

I was also at The League cup final at Wembley. It was a misty day and I was at the far end when Terry Cooper scored, so I could hardly see what was going on. Great days.

[@davidfogarty2220]

Even though the England national side was in the doldrums during the seventies I still love this period in English football, with its unpretentious and gritty players, muddy pitches, the commentary of Hugh Johns and great shirts. I think knackered old Colin Welland should have had the theme from Chariots of Fire playing in the background, when he was huffing and puffing around the Leeds training ground.

[@alansmithee8831]

@davidfogarty. I joke that the kids wearing clomp soles, like Slade, to play football in the street, meant they could only toe poke and England team lost a generation. I always say to look at Madness video for Baggy Trousers.

[@davidfogarty2220]

@@alansmithee8831Good call.

[@Dinobaburas.]

english? David Harvey, Eddie Gray Andy Gray Gordon McQueen Peter Lorimer and of course Billy Bremner yeah engerlish football flourishing.

[@maullinp]

And now players head off to Saudi Arabia to sell their souls for money. I grew up watching teams who had soul, and despite all the bad things[hooligans/racism] of the time, I would rather this period than the sanitised fare we get delivered now.

[@davidfogarty2220]

.@@Dinobaburas. I was talking about the England national side and not the many fine Taff, Jock or Irish players in the national league.​

[@chrissilvester5663]

As a Man United fan I literally despise Leeds cannot stand them but I do admire the team & manager they had back in the day. They were one hell of a formidable force back then had a cracking team. I do love the hatred between us when we play one another especially. That's proper football

[@michaelpower4372]

Sniff Sniff. Weres that smell of prawn sandwich coming from Oh ye theres a man u fan on.

[@chrissilvester5663]

@@michaelpower4372 What's that smell of u Leeds fans??? Rotten curdled milk that's under a baby's neck lmao. Get a sign that says hazardous

[@michaelpower4372]

@@chrissilvester5663 can't read your reply allergic to prawn sandwich make my eyes water so can see your reply.

[@michaelpower4372]

@@chrissilvester5663 Alex Ferguson's, prawn sandwich eaters, Roy Keane, and the res, ye'r boys took one hell of a beating. 🤭🤣😅😆😁😄😃😀😂🙂😊☺

[@barryanthonywing4848]

Leeds Utd brilliant 70s Team.See you March 9th-3.00pm🤜🤛🦉

[@katiedeery9654]

This takes me back

[@nige8161]

Legends

[@esseel7896]

Norms really strong accent there. It mellowed in later years.

[@andygrimshaw1431]

Great to see them training on what was then known as Fullerton Park.....its now a car park

[@horse69outside]

In the 1980s I watched Eddie Gray and then Billy Bremner lead training with John Sheridan and co. on those pitches after relegation.

[@robbieduffy9998]

As a liverpool supporter growing up in the 70's i still think leeds should of won more silverware than what they did...fantastic side..

[@steviebgooder]

Football was a man’s game back then. Revie and Leeds were decent. (From a long time Chelsea fan who will never forget those FA cup games)💙💙💙

[@CB-xr1eg]

You only say it's a man's game because of the way Chelsea physically battered Leeds in the 1970 Cup Final. It still makes me wince to see how the animal known as Chopper Harris assaulted Eddie Gray in the replay. Gray had run rings around Eddie McCreadie in the first game so Chelsea set their pet Rottweiler on him. I've hated the Chelsea c*nts ever since seeing that.

[@markauckland666]

Whenever there is talk of the great managers in English football, the names Shankley, Busby, Clough and the like always come up, the one man who never seems to get a mention, is Don Revie, what he did with that Leeds United team was extraordinary, imagine a club now going from the bottom of the Championship to the top of the Premiership, playing in major domestic and European finals in a space of half a dozen years , the man deserves to be granted more respect

[@It-Wasnt-Me-Was-It-You]

Don created the first truly clinically professional team. At their best no one in England could touch them. Clough was a nasty individual. Shankley was over rated, Paisley was the brains at Liverpool. Busby was fortunate to have Best and Charlton, the rest of that team were average.

[@markauckland666]

and in 72 they beat the team of Charlton, Best and Law 5-1 @@It-Wasnt-Me-Was-It-You

[@mick6370]

Leeds with Revie became the first Super team to stay at the top for a 10 year period with virtually the same players & only one sub is a tremendous achievement in a much harder playing field than today's billionaire owners.

[@christopherburleigh]

Wonder why...

[@davidlockwood9915]

Revie is revered as one of the best managers ever!

[@hillfigure4]

As a Derby fan growing up in the 70's the games against Leeds were the most nerve wracking. We didn't often beat them, particularly in the cup competitions

[@richards2920]

Ah, The great Dublin brogue off Johnny Giles, brilliant 💚🤍🧡

[@kimaspindale9721]

I've been a Leeds supporter for 60 years I still am Bremner world class

[@narkslufc7677]

Total Class how time has changed. I only remember the training ground

[@dave2261]

Greatest club side ever. Super Leeds. MOT

[@vincentmcnabb939]

That Leeds team is the most iconic club side in history. Say that as a Celtic fan. 🍀

[@abubakryasin5082]

Your Celtic team 1970 in European Cup semi final....I went to Glasgow extraordinary atmosphere great people and we love your support for Palestine, stay well

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Behave. Real Madrid, Liverpool, Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich. They are the iconic clubs.

[@vincentmcnabb939]

@@lyndoncmp5751 I said team/club side, not club. As you like to use puerile scolding language: Behave and learn better to read! Leeds Utd, after all, play in all-white in homage to Real Madrid at the instigation of Don Revie. No one is or was claiming that Leeds is on a par with the likes of Real Madrid, not even Leeds or Don Revie.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@vincentmcnabb939 What did you think I was talking about? Franchises? 😂 That Ajax side of the early 1970s, that Liverpool side of the mid 70s to mid 80s, that AC Milan side of the early 1990s, that Barcelona side with Messi etc are far more iconic than this Leeds Utd side, especially from an international perspective. So I'll say again. In capitals this time. BEHAVE!!!

[@vincentmcnabb939]

@@lyndoncmp5751 Words mean what they're meant to mean. unless you're the Cheshire Cat. You said 'clubs' not teams, not sides and not franchises. The Leeds side of the early 1970s is a great team of iconic status; certainly comparable to any of the sides you mention. We are still talking about them today. The fact that you are on this page says enough.

[@paulsowney771]

So liked Colin welland brilliant actor

[@alanadair4893]

Met Jack in Thornhill Dumfries as a boy delivering sun papers ,he was going fishing,I said are you Jack Charlton. I am that my lad and he proceeded to talk and ask me about our football team ,respect was instant in that wonderful meeting,how many stars would delay their fishing for a paperboy

[@johnreed3638]

These were world class players despite the fact that most of them were smokers and enjoyed to drink and party. And Certainly far better football than todays game.

[@maxpowerii7368]

Leeds 7 Southampton 0 is still one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen by any team globally. Leeds players were holding onto the ball like they were 2012 Barcelona playing a school team.

[@williamneary3166]

Brilliant more please great team

[@headgroundsman1650]

Giles was the cream- beautiful player

[@paulbrennan3996]

One of the best teams ever to play in the Top flight after WORLD War 2 . DON REVIE was a manager Who was way head of his time never gets a mention it's always SHANK'S,Matt Busby, Cloughie Never the DON . His training methods and dietary was second to none The DON brought in his methods before anyone else. What a legendary Manager with Legendary player's Who played some of the best football this country has ever seen marching on together we all love Leeds keep fighting all Leeds aren't we 🦚🇮🇨👊✊🤍💛💙

[@It-Wasnt-Me-Was-It-You]

He brought discipline and thoroughness to a fantastic bunch of players. They could be so clinical. Yes they had probably more hard men than the rest. If that team was playing now, the ref would probably red card half the team every game.

[@Muninman]

You are joking about the diet aren't you? This clip shows them boozing and puffing away the whole way through...

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

That was a team bonding moment. You can't do team bonding on mineral water and lettuce?@@Muninman

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@maratonlegendelenemirei3352 Jack Charlton and Billy Bremner were heavy smokers. Not sure about the others.

[@daveratcliffe1016]

​@@CB-xr1egDon Revie smoked,and Allan Clarke.

[@grange247]

As a young Leeds fan at school, this was bloody fascinating...... really enjoyed this. So much to mention.....beer drinking, smoking.... probably only hours before a big game.👍

[@stephend7679]

Great great team .

[@waltontony1]

Nice find. Thank you.

[@SMSJSC]

Hey, thanks for uploading! Never seen this before. A clue in this clip told me it was from August 1972. Really interesting to see the styles and attitudes of the day.

[@davidphilips5543]

Don Revie - still # 1 mot.

[@alancawfield6549]

I think the fella with the sideburns and moustache doing the speech was the schoolteacher in the film Kes.

[@BadgerBotherer1]

Yes - Colin Welland.

[@JMoruzzi]

Oscar-winning screenwriter of Chariots of Fire!

[@starkeystarkey1322]

I was lucky to see the old Leeds team when i was 7 years old.

[@gerryhenderson6442]

Always loved Leeds United since the days of Bremner Giles Madely. It's on my bucket list to go and see them play at Elland Road. All the best against Southampton

[@normancameron6165]

I am scottish loved Leeds football club my class mate went to leeds at 15 Peter Lorimer from Dundee what a team

[@YerDa67]

All the Scot’s in that team… How we’ve never done well in the international tournaments with players like that (and the others in Liverpool, Man U, etc) is absolutely beyond me…

[@D.Hawkeye180]

This is a great video

[@corrupt1238]

Brillant !

[@martinwoodworth3715]

I grew up with this team. Mums side of my family is from Leeds. My grandad sent me a hat & scarf when I was 8. Hooked from then on. So by 1975 I cud see no reason for it not to continue. That corrupt European final seemed to be the start of the end. I love the club though.

[@yozzsongs]

One of the best footballing, fighting, & dark arts teams I’ve ever seen. They literally had the lot. Up the Toffees!

[@dilipkhednah]

Gor this on VHS, it came out when we win the division 1 league in 1992.

[@piratescoron]

I was privileged to have seen Revie's team play, owilcos team were good, alough i though oleary's team was the best after Revie, Bielsas team just magic entertainment. Four supremely good sides in 61 years. I have a feeling that with Farke we could be witnessing the birth of a fifth

[@tonynesbit9673]

I am an evertonian,l loved this leeds team they were brilliant and should have won many more trophies especially that European cup final were that bent ref robbed them.

[@GranulatedStuff]

I'd only seen small fragments of this event before.

[@NoosaHeads]

My dad and I had a session ticket in the West Stand for years. Halcyon days. Unfortunately, in about 1972 or '73, when i was leaving the ground and got onto Elland Road, the police baton charged the violently unruly crowd. I almost got trampled underfoot by a tsunami of humanity trying to get out of the way of the mounted police galloping towards us. After that, I never went to another match. The Hillsborough disaster (1989) came as no surprise to me. Football crowds were breeding grounds for cruel thugs and hooligans. I don't live in England any more. I do hope football has become a little more civilised. I've never seen such violence in Australia at football or rugby matches. - Spirited support, yes, but never the savagery, such as I witnessed in England.

[@paulsowney771]

Fantastic clip. All the players seemed so down to earth. I don’t know if don revie had stayed would he have had the heart to move then on. ? Sad though how his life ended. Did he ever do a book ?

[@CB-xr1eg]

I don't think he wrote an autobiography, but there is a biography written by Christopher Evans. I've got it and it's worth reading.

[@davidv.8655]

Every schoolboy could name that Leeds team from 1 to 11 back then . And it was 1 to 11 as well.

[@horse69outside]

That eleven that everyone names only ever actually started one game together, in the FA cup against Mansfield Town.

[@philwoollin6470]

LEEDS FAN SINCE 1967 SEEN IT ALL MY HEART IS WHITE GOD BLESS EM LUFC ALAW MOT

[@hairynews1973]

Norwich fan here, but what a great manager your Don Revie was to you Leeds. Think you guys will shade tonights play offs, but not fussed if we lose or not. If you win then goodluck for the final, Farkes the man hopefully he'll be given cash to spend to invest in your team, unlike us at Norwch. OTBC!

[@WeAreRobotsUK]

It’s mad, all the players look about 50 years old.. great team

[@NigelCharlesworth]

Legends.

[@MrGranfield]

The Leeds vs Ipswich 3-3 draw was on August 23rd 1972.

[@AIJimmybad]

When Revie said "Bend your knees" he put his feet in the air!😂

[@normanby100]

Colin Welland's summing up of the club at the end sounded very perceptive.

[@garywoollard810]

Colin Welland legend

[@ianburrill2072]

I see why Revie wanted Johnny Giles to be his replacement.

[@thesmithselvis]

Wow, incredible footage. #MOT #ALAW #LUFC

[@brendanbrendan9435]

When I was last visiting Leeds, I was lucky enough to buy a lock of Billy Bremner's hair from a market stall in the town centre. It's tastefully done. Preserved under glass in a frame, complete with Billy's signature. The stallholder told me he'd already sold 2,000 that week (it was a Tuesday). Thinking it through though, either Billy had a very big head, or I've been swindled.

[@gerontius3]

Yer think?

[@MrGilliganz]

I was born in the now Zimbabwe in 75. In the 80s I would sit to watch with my Dad wat was then called Big League Soccer. Leeds was always a team we looked forward to watching never knowing if they had played that weekend. No social media then but BBC WORLD service. I think. Shocked seeing comments that Don Revie was and to be honest hardly ever mentioned. Awful that respect his name

[@johnmusk7007]

Great actor seen him in Sweeney

[@ash6415]

Can’t imagine Klopp or Pep massaging their players 😂

[@staceygrove5976]

9:58 You'd have thought someone could have spelled Joe Jordan's name properly.

[@72mossy]

Johnny Giles still doing a bit of punditry on a podcast by Eamon Dunphy and Off the Ball. Great man to listen to. He's 83

[@lauraruddy5315]

Allan Clarke Manager at Barnsley sacked n replaced with Norman Hunter. But still came back to Oakwell but with Eric Winstanley as Coach.

[@murakami99]

Cigarette smoke everywhere.

[@robertmoulson5685]

That's how football was a man's game working class people playing football Great players playing what they loved football not for money like the prema donas now

[@lukemccrohon5152]

I’m so pure long Leeds fan from Oxford but I wasn’t born until 1981 so wasn’t around in these days but I love watching old videos on KZbin of this great team 😊 I will love and support this magnificent club until the day I die. MOT ALAW 🤍💛💙

[@israelguerrero8253]

THAT WAS INTERESTING AND LITTLE BIT WEIRD AS WELL BUT COOL,YES I LIKED THE VIDEO!!😁👍

[@FrancisKillackey-ks2jc]

What a team Leeds were in the 1970