Great Moments of Football Part 4: Leeds are Alive.

FA Cup 3^rd Round 2010, Manchester United 0-1 Leeds United

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjEnEjfiWWk

In all of my football supporting life, I’ve never seen a fall from grace quite as hard or rapid as the one Leeds United endured during the last decade.

They entered the year 2000 with one of the best young teams England had seen for years and left their mark on the last title race of the 20^th century by beating Arsenal 1-0 to hand arch rivals Manchester United the first part of their historic treble.

With Harry Kewell, Lee Bowyer, Oliver Dacourt, Robbie Keane, Mark Viduka, Alan Smith in midfield and attack, Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate in defence with Nigel Martyn in goal, Leeds had serious aspirations to rule the first decade of the new millennium.

It’s easy to forget, but in 2001 they were 90 minutes away from the Champions League final. They then entered 2002 top of the league having signed Robbie Fowler from Liverpool to boost their front of line.

But that was as good as it got.

For the rest of the decade, Leeds suffered a lot of downs and very little ups.  Through financial mismanagement, Leeds lost a lot of money and started selling their players. By 2003 they were flirting with relegation. In 2004 they went down. A few years later, they went into administration and were relegated to the 3^rd tier of England football.

I’ve seen other sides fall from grace with a thud. Manchester City for example. But not a single one fell so fast and so hard. One second they were fighting for the title and the next they were in league 1.

I can’t fully comprehend how much Leeds fans suffered during this period, but I can imagine it wasn’t easy.  Losing your best players to your rivals, witnessing your side get relegated, missing out on promotion in the playoff finals, relegation again, administration,  going to every ground to hear “You’re not famous anymore” chanted at you, playing against some minnows week in week out, living in fear of receivership, spending your time thinking just how the hell things got this bad, wondering whether you’ll ever recover.

It must have been nightmare.

But the beautiful thing about football is that it always gives something back. No matter how bad things get, football always gives you a lifeline; a reward for enduring through the bad times.

The 3^rd round cup game at their arch rivals Old Trafford in 2010 was that moment for Leeds fans.

Now in League 1, this was their biggest game since relegation from the premier league in 2004. This was Leeds’ moment in the spotlight, a reminder to the world that they had not died, that they were marching on together once again.

In the bright Manchester sunshine, Leeds took the lead through Jermaine Beckford in the first half and defending like lions from then on. They were leading 1-0 at the champions’ home ground and the fans were going wild.

Personally, I was convinced United would come back. Unfortunately, that’s what they do. I kept betting on them throughout the game, as the odds got bigger and bigger.

But by the last 10 minutes, I’d stopped betting. I could barely watch the game. I was so nervous, as nervous as ever been during a game that has no effect on Liverpool. I wanted this so bad for Leeds. I wanted them to get their reward for the all anguish they’d suffered. I wanted a fairytale story for them, a reinforcement of my belief that football ultimately is a metaphor of life; that however hard we fall we can always get back up.

Leeds held out and their players went mad while their fans were in tears. They’d finally, after so many years of hurt and embarrassment, got something to cling to. They wrote history once again.

Today they’re in the championship. The premier league needs Leeds United. I’ll be rooting for them to come up.

But even if they do, I’d wager nothing will beat this game in the hearts of Leeds fans. This was the moment they showed the world they didn’t die.

This was when Leeds lived again.

Comments

[Joe]

Be very careful what you wish for habibe. They are a horrible club...

[Dimmy B]

But a proper club. Like them or lump them, they add value. An away game at Elland Road will always set the pulses racing. The league is better off with them in it and the likes of Wigan and Bolton, who can barely sell out half their grounds, out of it.