Leeds: "A City Built for Top Flight Football"

Herbert Chapman was best known for his revolutionary spells in charge of Huddersfield Town and Arsenal. However, it was two years into his tenure at Leeds City in 1914 that he stated "Leeds is a city built to support top flight football"

At the time, Leeds were pushing for promotion from the Second Division. This would be their last shot at promotion before World War I broke out. They failed in their bid for promotion and following proven allegations of illegal payments to players during the War, Leeds City were expelled from The Football League in 1919. It would be a fair statement to say that the City of Leeds so far hadn't delivered on Mr Chapman's statement five years prior.

Months later, a new football club was founded. The new club would play its games at Elland Road as Leeds City had done before them and would be managed by former Leeds CIty player Dick Ray. This club would be known as Leeds United.

Although Leeds United evidently went much longer without a scandal than Leeds City did, they didn't enjoy a great deal more success initially, with the club being promoted three times but relegated four times before the arrival of Don Revie at which point, the club were dwindling in the bottom half of the Second Division.

Don Revie is a name that is still met with endless admiration by Leeds fans everywhere, both young and old. It was him that not only gave the city the top flight football that Herbert Chapman had called for, but gave it a club that would be known as a strong force in European football.

Leeds United enjoyed its most successful spell under Revie, winning two league titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups (known these days as the Europa League). To this day, Leeds United remains the most successful club in Yorkshire post-war. Revie left Leeds after 13 years in 1974 to manage England, and was controversially replaced by his biggest critic, Brian Clough. Clough infamously lasted just 44 days in the post.

Jimmy Armfield nearly delivered the ultimate honour to Leeds United in 1975, as the club reached the final of the European Cup (Champions League). The 1975 final is challenged by many as a disgraceful display of refereeing, one that handed the title to Bayern Munich in heavily controversial circumstances. This led to Leeds fans unofficially claiming the title, hence the long standing chant "We are the Champions, Champions of Europe"

The 1975 final would be the peak of Leeds United's glory days as the club withered in the First Division. United were relegated in 1982 and the club would constantly be dragged through the mud as the rise of hooliganism tarnished the name of Leeds United during its 8 year stay in the Second Division.

Howard Wilkinson took charge in 1988 and took the club into the First Division as Champions in 1990. The club managed a fourth-placed finish in its first year back in the top flight and became known as the last Champions of England before the introduction of the Premier League in 1992.

Further mediocrity in the top flight would follow before 1996 when George Graham arrived and laid the foundations for the club's last period of success. Graham left for Tottenham in 1998 and was replaced by David O'Leary whose young side achieved a fourh-placed finish in 2000, meaning the club qualified for the Champions League.

The club- considered minnows by this point- emphatically reached the semi-final of the Champions League in 2001 before being eliminated by Valencia. Two failed attempts at Champions League qualification would follow before Leeds United's gamble on the Champions League became telling.

Leeds were relegated in 2004, with over £100m of debt to the club's name. A fire-sale ensued and despite two seasons of what many would call success (mid-table with a team made up of loans and free transfers, followed by a play-off final), Leeds' financial troubles surfaced once more in 2006/07 and the club were relegated to League One. The club were already effectively relegated on goal difference, but a 10-point deduction sealed United's fate.

The following three seasons would see Leeds consistently finish in the top 6 (more remarkably so in the first season, given the club had a 15-point deduction imposed on it at the start), with two playoff failures followed by automatic promotion in 2010.

2010/11 was a promising season in which United finished in 7th by three points, but a loss of the club's best players saw Leeds finish mid-table in 2012. Since then, two takeovers and four managerial changes have heavily disrupted progress on the pitch, with the club seemingly resigned to bottom half mediocrity each year.

It's evident that top flight football is no longer taking place in the UK's largest one-club city. To add more hurt to the decline of the past decade, football in the city seems to be stepping aside for rugby league, with fans flocking to see the infinitely more successful Leeds Rhinos which has seen attendances at Elland Road struggle to get over 23,000 in a 37,000 capacity stadium.

With news breaking that Neil Redfearn's contract won't be renewed for the coming season- hardly surprising given that Leeds' outspoken owner Massimo Cellino has branded him as 'weak' and 'a baby' in the press in recent days- it seems evident that the search for Cellino's fifth manager since he took over in April 2014 is well and truly underway.

Question is, who has the nerve to take the reigns at this fallen club and give top flight football back to the largest one club city in the UK?

Editor's note- I have admittedly posted many stories here without much progress. Leeds United is a club I have been to see home and away for 15 years, so if I don't stick to this story, I shall not bother you with further failed attempts to start new ones (at least until FM17 is released )

PPS- I will be loading the default database, meaning I won't be blessed with the midfield steel that Liam Bridcutt and Toumani Diagouraga currently bring to the side, however I do still have the delightful talent of Sam Byram

Being a season ticket holder at Elland Road, it's safe to say the club's currently in the worst state I've ever seen - I guess it takes a bit of your magic to resolve it... That's if you don't get sacked!

Leeds are an enjoyable save! Hopefully you can take them back to the top! And hopefully Joan Laporta comes in and acts as the clubs saviour

Jack: Best get your ST renewed by May 31, decent refund deal at the moment! As a member, I know your pain, I've seen most games in the second half of the season with little reward on the pitch

Mgriffin2012: Cheers mate, anyone but Cellino will do!

I'll admit it, I was hoping that having retired seven years ago that I'd be in the dugout. Well, I have been to some extent, if you count leading youth teams and reserve teams, but since I retired in the summer of 2008, my career has offered little in the way of senior management.

At least I can say I've been keeping myself occupied whilst I wait to enter the management game. I started earning my coaching badges a couple of years before I retired and I now hold a UEFA A Licence. I'd like to think I'm a fairly well known figure in the game, but for the benefit of those who don't know my back story, it goes a little bit like this:

I was born in Leeds in February 1975, three months before that ill-fated European Cup final against Bayern Munich. I grew up in Farsley, on the Western outskirts of Leeds. I was passionate about football and captained the primary school team from the age of 7. I blended seamlessly into the senior school team, and was made captain at the tender age of 14.

I had another passion in my life. It was similar to the other one, and it either gave me joy or sadness (mostly the latter) every other Saturday in Beeston. In case you hadn't guessed, Leeds United was the club that stole my heart, despite their lowliness when I first started attending. I was a season ticket holder in the Kop- the memories of craning my neck around to see the electric scoreboard after every goal still remain fresh in my mind.

I was signed into the Leeds United youth team aged 16, a day I'll never forget. We had some quality talent at the club at that time, and I was inspired by the likes of Gary Speed, Gordon Strachan, David Batty and Gary McAllister. It was just as well, given I was a midfielder.

In 1993, my world suddenly seemed to come crashing down when I tore my ACL. The club washed its hands of me in what were very dark and testing times. I looked for a local club to play for once I had recovered and Farsley Celtic seemed more than happy to take me on.

After an impressive two seasons, I was spotted by a Bradford City scout. By his own admission, he was looking for talent younger than myself, but he recommended me to the club and I became a Bantams player in the summer of 1996. I broke into the first team at the start of the 1998/99 season which saw the club promoted to the Premier League.

I was the club's first season in which I gained my first England cap, in March 2000. City stayed up, and I earned the admiration of bigger clubs. One of them was Aston Villa, who signed me for £4 million. My England career got into full swing during my time at Villa, and I was taken along to the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

I took a gamble on my career after Euro 2004 by taking a move abroad. I left Villa for Atletico Madrid. It seemed to benefit my career and I saw out my career there, even earning my place in the 23-man England squad for the 2006 World Cup.

Including Farsley Celtic, I made 560 club appearances and scored 140 goals. On the international stage, I made 67 caps and scored one goal. Impressive given my career was up in the air 18, eh?

Following retirement, I returned to West Yorkshire to take up a coaching role at Bradford City. In 2010, I made the move to Huddersfield Town to manage the youth team. I spent three years at Huddersfield before managing Barnsley's reserves.

That's where I've been ever since. At least until this morning...

LEEDS APPOINT TOWNEND

Leeds United have today confirmed the appointment of Josh Townend as the club's new head coach. Townend started his career at Leeds, but his time there was cut short at the age of 18, following a potentially career ending injury.

Since then, he has gone on to make his rise through football, most notably with Bradford City, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid. He has also been capped by England 67 times and played at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well as Euro 2004.

The 40-year-old has spent the last seven years in coaching and will leave his post as manager of Barnsley's reserve side to take the reigns at Elland Road. Speaking to Radio Yorkshire, Townend had this to say:

"I'm delighted and honoured to have been given the opportunity to manage the team I've loved since I was little. This club has spent too long in the Championship, and it is my job to ensure we're up as soon as possible. I'm not saying it will happen this season, but I won't rest until it does.

People asked me before I took on the role if I felt any bitterness about being released because of an injury, but it's all in the past and the ownership and coaching staff have changed more times than I dare count since then. I just want to focus on my job and take the club into the Premier League where we belong"

Great appointment for Leeds i think

Been around the block a bit, hey?

We all hate Leeds!

Get Leeds up the table, man! Will be watching.

mmgriffin2012: Who else could they have picked?

Jack: You got me. Back in my playing days, I wasn't nicknamed 'The Slut' for nothing!

ScottT: We all love everyone else too

tenthreeleader: Cheers man, good to have you along

Today was a day that brought back many memories. Anyone lucky enough to have played for and managed this club will tell you that the first day back is a special one (see Simon Grayson, Billy Bremner, Eddie Gray et al.).

Just like I'll never forget the day I signed my playing contract at Leeds, the day I signed my managerial contract is one that I'm equally likely to forget. The logistics may have changed- when I signed as a youngster, I did it in an office in the West Stand; this time as a manager, it was done in the East Stand- but the feeling of immense pride never changes.

When I was first offered the job a few days previously, I got myself onto the website a bespoke sign designer, and ordered a sign with the words 'KEEP FIGHTING' on it in bold black letters, to replicate the one Don Revie had for his team in the dressing room. I brought that sign with me, so that as soon as I had signed my contract, I could put it up above what I intended to have as the captain's peg. The captain's peg would sit at the centre of all other pegs, regardless of numerical order of the players' shirts.

Once I had signed my contract, Mr Cellino took me out into his Directors' Box, situated in the upper tier of the East Stand- first to admire my new place of work, and then to partake in the customary photo shoot.

The East side of the ground was the only thing that had changed to any significant extent. It was still in construction when I left in 1993, replacing the old Lowfields Road stand. It's predecessor was a two-tiered affair, similar in size to the rest of the ground, with the top tier being all-seated and sitting astride the halfway line, 2/3s in length; the bottom tier was a terrace divided into 'pens' that ran the full length of the pitch. It was replaced by a 17,000 all-seated behemoth, that now dwarfs the rest of Elland Road and at the time of completion, it was the largest stand of its kind in the country.

To my right was the Kop, also known as the Don Revie Stand, named after the club's most successful manager. Just before I left, it was fitted with seating under the stipulations of the Taylor report. It is, like the rest of the ground, half the size of the East Stand and was until recently considered the vocal end of the ground.

Opposite me sat the John Charles West Stand, the oldest stand in the ground. The only thing that had changed since I left was that away fans had moved in from their old home in the South East corner. The dugouts sit in front of this stand, up the pitch from the tunnel. The tunnel sits halfway up the South half of the pitch, because it used to be on the halfway line before the pitch was moved North, owing to the demolition of the Scratching Shed to make way for the South Stand.

Speaking of which, the South Stand sat to my left. It's slightly smaller than the Kop, and it's where the more vocal fans sit, following the SS5 movement which was an attempt to challenge the Kop for atmosphere. Since I left the exterior has been renovated and new boxes have reduced the size of the upper tier (as have the new boxes in the East Stand) but little has changed since my last time here.

After the contract-signing formalities, I made my way to Thorp Arch to greet my players. Thorp Arch is the club's training ground and has been since 1996, following the relocation from Fullerton Park which was in a more convenient location opposite Elland Road. The site has been sold and leased back by the club following financial troubles in the mid 2000s.

I arrived and made my way straight to the pitches, where my staff and players were waiting for me, following instruction to do so before hand. As the rain fell on North East Leeds, I addressed my the mostly tired-looking faces.

"Right fellas, I'm your new head coach. For those of you who don't know, my name is Josh Townend, known for my playing days at Bradford City, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid. I expect to see three things from my players:

Firstly I want to see passion. We have a core of around 22,000 supporters who with saint-like patience have tolerated the club's fortunes over the past 12 years. That takes a passionate following, and I want to see our passion match theirs both on and off the pitch.

Secondly, I want to see respect. Respect for your head coach, respect for my staff, respect for each other, respect for the club and its fans and respect for the officials. You respect me and my staff and you learn things, and in a more cohesive manner, learn how to play according to the game plan. Respect each other and the game plan works like clockwork. Respect the officials and we don't get stupid bookings or get caught not playing to the whistle. Respect the club and its fans and the fans respect you back, and will support you.

Thirdly, I want to see hard work. I can accept an off-day as long as its visibly clear that you couldn't have put any more effort in. Work hard for each other and this game will become a hell of a lot easier.

There may be new arrivals as I look to put together a side that can get us results. Departures are less likely, especially on a permanent basis but don't be surprised to see them happen.

Sort yourselves out into 11 vs 11, I want to see who can play"

great update man..... hopefully you can take Leeds back to "where they belong"

Good way to set the tone with your players, hopefully you can be the man to bring some consistency to the side's performances!

Live For FM: We belong in the Championship, the last four years are proof of that. I'm here to change where we belong

Justice: Or if anything, turn consistently shit into consistently half decent

Thursday 2nd July 2015
First training match
Leeds United Senior Squad vs Leeds United U21s
Thorp Arch

In my humble opinion, there is no better way to get a first impression of your players than an intra-squad friendly. If the U21 side is considerably weaker, it will be a test of the senior side's motivation to win any game. If the U21 side is so strong it could practically play in the same league as the seniors, it's a good barometer of which players will be more impressive. In the former situation, it's also a chance for the U21s' stronger players to stake their claim for first team football.

If the U21s ever needed any inspiration, it would be the emergence in recent years of young talents such as Sam Byram, Charlie Taylor, Alex Mowatt and Lewis Cook- all of whom were selected in today's first team starting lineup, and are expected to be pivotal for us this season. For the most part, their breaks came from impressing in pre-season, so the unders had much more than pride to play for.

Leeds 1st XI starting lineup (4-3-3): Marco Silvestri, Charlie Taylor, Giuseppe Bellusci, Sol Bamba (C), Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt, Tom Adeyemi, Lewis Cook, Jordan Botaka, Stuart Dallas, Chris Wood

Leeds 1st XI subs: Ross Turnbull, Liam Cooper, Casper Sloth, Souleymane Doukara, Gaetano Berardi, Tommaso Bianchi, Mirco Antenucci, Chris Dawson, Kalvin Phillips, Lee Erwin, Scott Wootton


Leeds U21s starting lineup (4-3-3): Charlie Horton, Matthew Downing, Ross Killock, Jack Vann, Lewie Coyle, Alex Purver, Jake Croft, Tyler Denton, Lewis Knight, Clarke Odour, Frank Mulhern

Leeds U21s subs: Will Huffer, Jovanni Sterling, Henry Rollinson, Jack Turnbull, Jake Skelton, Tom Pearce, Max Hill, Michael Taylor, Lewis Walters, Thomas Godden, Eoghan Stokes, Robbie McDaid

It didn't take long for the senior squad to take the lead, 57 secs as a matter of fact. It started with a Jordan Botaka free kick taken from the near right hand side, and ended with a free header that fell to Tom Adeyemi, seven yards from goal at the far post.

The lead was doubled four minutes later. Adeyemi and Wood held up the ball brilliantly outside the box before the latter released Dallas down the right. Dallas swung in a first time cross, finding the left foot of Jordan Botaka at the far post, who fired home for 2-0.

The unders cracked their first shot at goal shortly after. Frank Mulhern- one of the leading lights in the youth setup- picked out Tyler Denton on the edge of the box, who took a touch before firing a decent effort at Marco Silvestri.

The first team came close to a third after just 12 minutes. Cook picked out Wood with a brilliantly timed ball from his own half. Under normal circumstances, Wood would have put the first team three up, but he was stopped in his tracks by a brilliant intervention from Ross Killock.

A minute later, another superb ball from Cook lead to the third goal. It came from the edge of the centre circle in his own half, and it found Botaka in acres of space on the left. Botaka took a few neat touches before picking out Wood in the box, whose head sent the ball into the back of the net for 3-0.

It was an explosive start from the first team. The play after would determine one of two things: whether the unders had the fight to recover from going down by three goals in thirteen minutes; or if the first team were professional enough to push on and continue to pile on the misery.

The way the play continued to unfold afterwards, it was looking more like a case of the latter. Cook picked out Wood with another terrific ball. Wood showed great skill to skin Matthew Downing before firing a powerful effort which was parried behind by Charlie Horton.

With seven minutes until half time, it was four. Lewie Coyle's attempted clearance reached Charlie Taylor on the far left hand side. What happened next was something I wouldn't complain about seeing in competitive matches, as Taylor proceeded to pick out Wood with an inch-perfect long ball with his first touch, before Wood swivelled and lashed a first time volley into the top corner.

Half-time came around with the score at 4-0 to the first XI. I felt bad for the unders, and could only hope that my head of youth development Paul Hart, could rally them around to battle for some pride in the second half.

With the exception of Charlie Taylor, we were all change at half-time. Turnbull replaced Silvestri in goal, Berardi came on at right-back for Byram, Cooper and Wootton were brought on for Bellusci and Bamba. Mowatt, Adeyemi and Cook were replaced by Phillips, Bianchi and Dawson, Botaka and Dallas came off for Erwin and Antenucci whilst Doukara came on for Wood.

In the meantime, I told my seniors to do a professional job, to not take their foot off and make sure they kept a clean sheet and added more goals after the break.

Just before the hour, the unders conceded a penalty. Berardi tried to cut in from the right, and was stopped in his tracks, illegally so, in the box, by Tom Pearce. Antenucci stepped up and comfortably dispatched the spot kick into the bottom left hand corner. 5-0.

If nothing else, I was impressed with how the unders continued to try against the first team. Up until the penalty, the defending had improved and they were breaking slightly more frequently, unfortunately with no end product.

One U21 player that was impressing me with his passing was Alex Purver. Shortly after the fifth goal, the unders could well have pulled one back. Purver picked out Lewis Walters with a Cook-esque long ball. The young striker was too indecisive once he got the ball, and was forced to fire wide by the recovering Liam Cooper and Gaetano Berardi.

Charlie Horton became a more commanding figure in the U21s' goal. On 67 minutes, Lee Erwin shook loose of Jake Skelton and was through on goal. The young American keeper rushed straight off his line to close the space that the Scot had to aim at and with cat-like reflexes, parried the shot behind for a corner.

Three minutes later, the unders got the goal their improved play deserved. McDaid picked up a clearance on the edge of the area before threading it through to Purver. Purver took a touch before cutting inside and laying off a brilliant ball to Walters, who rose elegantly to head the ball towards the far top corner. 5-1.

Doukara was presented with a golden opportunity ten minutes from the break. More by luck than judgement, a first time long ball from Scott Wootton found the Frenchman in acres of space in the box and onside. However, instead of controlling the ball, Doukara proceeded to attempt a header at goal which bobbled high, wide, and as the cliched saying goes, not at all handsome.

The game finished 5-1. A dominating performance for the first team, but one player in the unders that did give me food for thought was Alex Purver. His breakup play was impressive and he showed an eye for a good pass. According to the coaching staff, he is one of the more talented players we have below the first team, and he may well have booked his place on the team sheet for the first leg of our tour of France, as we face off against French CFA 2 outfit AS Beauvais Oise.

FT:
Leeds First XI 5 (Adeyemi, Botaka, Antenucci (pen), Wood (2))
Leeds U21s 1 (Walters)
Man of the Match: Jordan Botaka

Great update man!