Over the years, there have been some incredible games of football at Elland Road – Leeds United are, without a doubt, one of those clubs that never fail to provide an emotional experience – win or lose, there is always some element of drama. And, we never seem to do things the easy way, do we?!
This, of course, has made it frustrating for our loyal fanbase over the years which continues to stick by the club, through thick and thin. One consistency about us though, is that, regardless of how results are going, we still attract fans in their droves, making it one of the most fiercely followed clubs in the country. ALAW!
🙌 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗔𝗬
🆚 Stoke City
🏟️ Elland Road
🕗 7:45pm pic.twitter.com/6orvRROQuZ— Leeds United (@LUFC) March 5, 2024
For me, and I’m sure many of you, the period between 2000 and 2020 was certainly, one of the most tumultuous in the club’s history, which started us flying high at the top of the Premier League, reaching the Champions League semi-final stage (pftt, this feels like a distant memory!), before a gradual decline resulting in relegation to League One. Now, that stung!
Without a doubt, the years spanning between 2010 and 2020 were ones of particular uncertainty for most of us, that is at least, until Bielsa came in. I don’t think any of us knew what to expect to be honest but that first match against Stoke City and the football was just tickety-boo – couldn’t believe what I watched.
But, that’s just one of many and let’s face it – that 20 years between 2000 and 2020, there were some absolute stonkers!
Leeds United 3-0 Deportivo La Coruna: April 04, 2001
What a time this was to be a Leeds fan. There were some classics at Elland Road in this period, though I think this has to rank as the best, purely for the the status of the match and what it meant. Up against what was one of the toughest teams in Europe at the time with Roy Makaay, Diego Tristan and Juan Carlos Valeron, we tore them apart.
I mean, we weren’t too shabby either. Goals from Ian Harte, Alan Smith and Rio Ferdinand on the night and to keep a clean sheet was cracking. Sure, it was big ask to win at the Riazor but we didn’t half get the job done at home.
Leeds United 4-3 Liverpool: November 04, 2000
Blimey, what a game this was. Mark Viduka with four, wow. He was unplayable wasn’t he? And, for me, probably still the best striker we’ve had in the last couple of decades and we got him for a steal – £6 million from Celtic!
We only had four players on the bench as well and when Liverpool scored within five minutes I feared the worst. They weren’t ‘alf bad either – a heck of strikeforce but this is a game that had everything.
Leeds United 2-1 Tottenham: January 27, 2013
I remember this very well because we were down in the doldrums and this scalp against Spurs on what was a wet and cold afternoon was well worth the trip.
From the first minute we shot out the blocks – I don’t think they were quite expecting that, at least their fans, especially given Bale, who was pretty prolific for them at the time, was scoring for fun.
McCormack and Varney – who remembers these guys?! They were class in this game putting us 2-0 up and the stadium was bouncing.
Leeds United 2-1 Bristol Rovers: May 8, 2010
This is one that sticks in my mind, due to what was riding on it. A win would take us back to the Championship but it felt like ‘same old, same old’ when they went one up and I thought ah, “not again, please no”.
But there was no way after the season we had – beating Man Utd at Old Trafford 1-0 in the FA Cup and the way we tore up League 1 – it just felt right that we would go up. I don’t think there was any question that Jermaine Beckford would have a hand in this match and it felt pretty fitting that he bagged the goal that took us up after Jonny Howson levelled. I was absolutely bouncing – great feeling.
Leeds United 1-0 Manchester United: September 14, 2002
To get one over on ‘that lot’ was awesome – a lot of lads at school were Man Utd fans as well, so this one felt great, especially after we’d given them Rio in the summer.
The goal from Kewell as well was pretty deserving of a match-winner, though that game was probably the only highlight from that season – it was basically the start of our decline for us, which after the previous few seasons was bittersweet.
Leeds United 2-1 Everton: September 25, 2012
Danny Pugh and Rodolph Austin – I bet a few of you had forgotten those two, but blimey didn’t they put a shift in to get us past Everton in that League Cup tie and, we were 11th in the Championship as well.
I mean, we basically schooled a Premier League side that was second at the time with some quality players as well. We held our own against the Toffees and definitely deserved to go through. Another memorable night at Elland Road.
Leeds United 4-0 Charlton Athletic: July 22, 2020
What a way to round off one of the best seasons of the last 20 years. We’d already been confirmed champions after what was an insane few months with lockdown but wow this felt strange – obviously none of us were allowed in to watch with the restrictions.
But, we didn’t half go up in style – 4-0 with a stunning performance to boot and some belting goals, especially the football involved in Shackleton’s finish to cap a great move.
We sent them down as well, but they didn’t really show up to be fair – it felt like they knew what was coming and basically gave up.
Leeds United 5-2 Newcastle United: December 16, 2020
What a season this was – probably the absolute best we’ve had in the last 20 years. I don’t think anyone knew what to expect when we got back to the big time, but from the first whistle in August, we basically became everyone’s ‘second club’ with the way Bielsa had us playing.
I remember this one very well – a great early Christmas present. To beat a team as big as Newcastle by this margin was incredible and, wow – that goal from Harrison. Pfft, absolute rocket!
It’s almost insane that we were level with 15 minutes left – those three goals came from nowhere, though we did run them ragged – I definitely think their legs were going and they just couldn’t keep up with us.
GOAL Leeds 5-2 Newcastle (88 mins)
Wow! What a finish for Leeds – in every sense – as Jack Harrison smashes in a magnificent shot from long range#LEENEW
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 16, 2020
Leeds United 3-1 Stoke City: August 05, 2018
As I mentioned above, this game had me dreaming again. Especially with it being Bielsa’s first match, not knowing what to expect and the way we swept Stoke aside.
I’m not sure anyone expected that, least of all the fitness levels. It was like he’d had us sprinting around the Dales all summer, but the football we played was probably the best any of us had seen for easily 20 odd years. I can confidently say that this was the day ‘football’ returned in spectacular fashion.
Leeds United 4-0 West Bromwich Albion: March 01, 2019
That first season with Bielsa – the one we should have gone up had many high points for us but to smash the Baggies at home, with them being promotion rivals as well and at such an important time also.
It genuinely felt like ‘El Loco’ had basically, almost single-handedly brought a feel good factor back to the city that year and it was wins like this that did the trick. After this game, I like probably many of you really felt that we’d go up – and automatically as well. Pfft.
