When Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2003/04 season, everyone knew it would be hard for the Yorkshire club to make an instant return due to the club’s financial situation.
Relegation came just three years after an appearance in the Champions League Semi-Final stage, a demise which happened so quickly that no one expected it.
Overpaying for players and paying astronomical wages had caught up with the club and the fans were set for years of suffering.
Now just over 10 years later the club seem as far away from a return to the top flight of English football, especially with controversial owner Massimo Cellino at the helm.
Our landlord here in The Transfer Tavern has been reminiscing about the Yorkshire club’s time in the top flight and has come up with FIVE reasons why the Premier League is a poorer place without Leeds United…….
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE REASONS!
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Fans
The fans of Leeds United are a bunch of the most loyal fans you will find anywhere in England.
Even when the club plunged to the depths of League One and deducted 15 points by the Football League, they traveled in their thousands and got behind the team with their is against everyone else mentality, regularly selling out their away allocations.
Stadium
Elland Road is missed sorely in the Premier League for it’s match day atmosphere.
It is cauldron of noise and was one of the most intimidating grounds for visiting teams to play a game of football.
The fans sing from the first to the 90th minute and with the old fashioned look of the stadium, it gives you that feel of being back in the good old days when football was for the fans and not the money men.
Young Talent
The amount of young talent to have come through the club’s youth complex Thorp Arch is second to none. and the quality of players still coming through the ranks tells you something about the facilities.
Players such as James Milner, Aaron Lennon, Paul Robinson and Alan Smith all went on to have great careers following their spells at the club.
Now a new bunch of talented youngster have broken into the first team, with Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt both being a plus side to another disappointing campaign for the club.
Rivalries
Leeds United’s rivalry with Manchester United is one of the hottest in English football plain and simply fans of both clubs detest each other with a passion.
It was one of the first fixtures Leeds fans looked for when the fixtures came out and one that the TV companies would fight over the rights to show.
Games against Liverpool were also keenly anticipated and games between the club’s were often fiery occasions that guaranteed goals, and who can forget Mark Viduka scoring four in 4-3 win over the Anfield club.
History
No one has a divine right to be in the Premier League, but it’s always a shame when clubs who have had success in the past drop out, just as Aston Villa look set to come the end of the season.
Leeds have great history previously winning the Championship on a couple of occasions, being former FA Cup winners and successful in Europe having previously won the UEFA Cup and featuring in a Champions League Semi Final.
