Don Revies transformation of Leeds United was if anything even more dramatic than Shankly’s at Liverpool. The Yorkshire club was flirting with relegation to the Third Division 1962, yet by the middle of the decade they were a formidable footballing machine. Revie had been a deep-lying centre-forward in the Manchester City side of die mid-1950s, and Footballer of the Year in 1955. Ten years later he was the architect behind a powerhouse Leeds side that was universally respected if not always admired. Players of the stature of Bdly Bremner, Bobby Collins, Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter took Leeds to the top - or, more often, second place. 1964-65 was to prove all too typical; runners-up in the league and beaten finalists in the Cup.
New points record as defences get on top
After three more seasons of finishing in the top four, and defeat in 1966 Fairs Cup Final, Leeds finally won the title in 1968-69. And they did it in fme style, losing just twice in the League. 67 points set a new record, eclipsing Arsenal’s 1931 tally by one. Leeds’ goals column that season made interesting reading: 66 scored, just 26 conceded. At the beginning of the decade Spurs Doublewinning side had scored 115 and let in 55. In that year even relegated Newcastle scored 86! English teams were now regularly coming up against Continental opposition, and in particular the miserly “catenaccio” system operated by Italian sides. Tight defence was seen as the key to success.
Opposite below left: Referee Ken Burns hears the views of the disgruntled Leeds players (l-r: Greenhoff, Bremner, Giles and Bell) after he disallows Leeds’ equaliser in the semi-final of the 1967 FA Cup. Their opponents, Chelsea, reached the Final defeating, Leeds by I goal to nil. But Don Reviews team were to take the league in the following season, losing only twice. Reviews contribution was recognised: he was awarded Manager of the Year in both 1969 and 1970, the preceding recipients being Matt Busby and Jock Stein.
Opposite below right: Crowds at Craven Cottage cause officials to order the gates to be closed before the start of Fulham’s derby with Chelsea.
Above: West Ham and England World Cup heroes Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore and Martin Peters.
Left: North London rivalries are put aside for a moment when Spurs’Terry Venables (left) acts as best man for Arsenal centre-forward George Graham.
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