English First Division 1973-74
When Revie’s Leeds realized their potential, when Man Utd went down
1973/74 season witnessed Don Revie’s Leeds United running away with the league after a strong start to the campaign.
After losing the FA Cup Final against second division Sunderland the previous summer, Billy Bremner and co surprised their doubters by going unbeaten for almost 30 games. Revie’s team included the perfect mix of tough Scottish and English stars who were so competitive with a win-at-all-cost attitude. Their robust style of play made them a divisive team with many admirers and haters as well.
Leeds relied on Norman Hunter and Gordon McQueen in defence, Bremner, Giles, Lorimer and Gray in midfield and Clarke and Jones in attack.
Their campaign hit a blip after a 3-2 defeat away to a Stoke City featuring World Cup winner Geoff Hurst. A series of indifferent results followed especially a defeat to their main rivals Liverpool and against Burnley. But the Yorkshire outfit managed to regroup and finish the season properly.
Arsenal and Tottenham finished in mid- table while Southampton got relegated despite having the division’s top scorer Mick Channon in their ranks. A disappointing Manchester United and Norwich were also relegated.
Don Revie left his beloved Leeds United on a high to become England’s Manager in summer 1974. Unfortunately, a team that should have won more trophies broke up in the years following his departure and never scaled the same heights again until Wilkinson’s class of 1992.
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