User:Chappy84/History of Leeds United A.F.C. (1988-1996)

Between 1988 and 1996 Leeds United A.F.C. were managed by Howard Wilkinson. Wilkinson’s appointment at Elland Road was something of a shock to all. Leeds were languishing at the bottom of the Second Division, while Sheffield Wednesday, his club at the time, were in the top half of the First Division. Wilkinson's pedigree was good. He had guided Wednesday to promotion in his first season there and had guided them to several quarter-finals and a semi-final in the English cups. Wilkinson joined Leeds nine matches into the 1988-89 season with Leeds 23rd out of 24 at the time. He stabilised the club eventually finishing in the top half of the League and the following season Leeds were promoted as champions. Leeds were impressive in their first season after promotion and the following season Wilkinson guided the club to their first League Championship in eighteen years, which was made all the sweeter to Leeds fans by their arch-rivals Manchester United finishing second. However after the Charity Shield Victory Wilkinson's team never really achieved much of note. They appeared in the League Cup final in 1996 losing badly and following a bad start to the 1996-97 season Wikinson's spell as Leeds manager came to an end, after a bitterly disappointing result at home to Manchester United.

Trophies

 * 1989-90
 * Division 2 - Champions
 * 1991-92
 * Division 1 - Champions
 * FA Charity Shield - Winners

Seasons
1988-89 - 1989-90 - 1990-91 - 1991-92 - 1992-93 - 1993-94 - 1994-95 - 1995-96 - 1996-97

1988-89
Wilko took charge nine league games into the season and instantly set about changing things. He won few friends by ordering the removal of all the mementoes of past glories from the rooms and corridors of Elland Road. However Wilko turned things round well from the 23rd positioned team he took over and the club finished 10th in the league.

He was soon into the transfer market, signing midfielder Andy Williams from Rotherham United for £170,000, while Mike Whitlow and Neil Parsley were picked up for £30,000 from Witton Albion. His liking and trust of his former players became apparent when he went to Bristol City and paid £50,000 to pick up ex-Wednesday striker Carl Shutt, with the promising Bob Taylor leaving in the opposite direction for £200,000. Shutty became an instant hero, scoring a hat-trick on debut in a 3-0 home win over Bournemouth. Mickey Adams was sold to Southampton for £250,000, Peter Swan went to Hull City for £200,000 and Jack Ashurst and Vince Brockie both departed for Doncaster Rovers for £10,000 and £15,000 respectively.

Three consecutive draws were achieved before the first League victory of his reign came, 2-1 over Hull City at Elland Road. League survival was the priority and a steady accumulation of points saw Leeds safe long before the season’s end. Wilko now started to look to the future and began his team-building in earnest with Gordon Strachan moving the correct way across the Pennines, from Manchester United for £300,000 and Spurs' Chris Fairclough came on loan to the end of the season when his move was made permanent for £500,000. Strachan, who was a model professional, proved to be a bargain and just as in the Revie years, a short red-headed Scot became an inspirational leader on which success was built.

In the FA Cup Leeds bead Brighton but were then knocked out of the cup by Nottingham Forest. The League Cup wasn't much better and although Wilko made progression to the third round certain with his first match in charge beating Peterborough United 3-1 (5-2 on aggregate) they were knocked out by Luton Town 2-0 at Elland Road. The Full Members Cup was more of the same. Leeds beat Shrewsbury Town 3-1 in the first round but were then knocked out by Millwall 2-0 away.

Record:

1989-90
The Season started with Wilko's spending spree leaving the club £2 million in debt. John Sheridan went to Nottingham Forest for £650,000, and Mark Aizlewood went to Bradford City for £200,000. The total of outgoing transfers was £1.5million but in-turn Wilko spent £3 million buying players who would be experienced and able to stand up to the rigours of a 46 match campaign. His first choice Vinnie Jones was bought for £600,000 who was immensely popular with fans, he was willing to sweat blood for the cause which made up for his lack of some of the game’s finer skills. John Hendrie came in for £500,000 from Newcastle United, Mel Sterland, for £600,000 from Glasgow Rangers, John McClelland cost £100,000 from Watford and Mickey Thomas, was £10,000 from Shrewsbury Town, while Jim Beglin, came on a free transfer from Liverpool.

The opening few games weren't a sign of things to come. Bobby Davison and Ian Baird gave Leeds a 2-1 lead after 30 minutes over Newcastle United but a dire defensive performance saw Leeds routed 5-2. The visit of Middlesbrough required a freak last minute own goal for Leeds to scrape home 2-1. A run of successive 1-1 draws followed at home to Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town and away at Stoke City before an 11 game undefeated run including 9 victories saw Leeds well up with the leaders, and a 2-0 win at Middlesbrough in early December saw Leeds proudly in first place.

Ian Baird left Leeds for Middlesbrough for £500,000 with Lee Chapman, coming in for £400,000 from Nottingham Forest in January. Imre Varadi cost £50,000 from Sheffield Wednesday and Chris Kamara was £150,000 from Stoke City with Noel Blake going in the other way for the same value. The arrival of Chapman and Kamara proved to be the final pieces in the promotion jigsaw for Leeds, as a three way battle developed between the three Uniteds of Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle for the two promotion places. Sheffield United were no opposition for Leeds at Easter being brushed aside 4-0. Goals from Mel Sterland and Gordon Strachan earned a 2-1 victory over Leicester City left Leeds in the top spot as a win at relegation-threatened Bournemouth would bring not only promotion but also the championship. Sheffield United, had Leicester City away, and Newcastle United, had Middlesbrough away.

The two latest Leeds recruits combined as Chris Kamara crossed for Lee Chapman to rise and head the winner, and Leeds had little difficulty in hanging on to their lead to win the championship with 85 points. on goal difference from Sheffield United who won at Leicester City. Old Leeds boy Ian Baird scored twice to earn himself a championship medal, while ensuring both Middlesbrough’s safety from relegation and Newcastle United’s failure to gain promotion. To add irony, Leeds replaced Wilkinson's old club Sheffield Wednesday in the top division.

The cup's weren't anything to boast about. The FA Cup saw Leeds lose 1-0 at home to Ipswich Town, and the League Cup saw leeds go out 4-2 on aggregate to Oldham Athletic. The Full Members Cup was slightly more successful with Leeds putting out Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at home, Barnsley 2-1 away and Stoke City 5-4 on pens after a 2-2 draw away before losing to Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park.

Record:

1990-91
Wilkinson started by spending £2.5 million on three players in preparation for the return to the elite. He bought John Lukic back from Arsenal for Leeds' first £1 million transfer, shortly followed by Gary McAllister from Leicester City for the same price, while West Bromwich Albion defender Chris Whyte joined for £450,000. John Hendrie joined Middlesbrough for £550,000 and there were free transfers Brendan Ormsby to Doncaster Rovers, Chris O’Donnell to Exeter City, and Mickey Thomas to Stoke City.

The return to the top flight saw a first day away trip to Goodison Park to meet Everton. They roared onto the attack and were 3-0 up by half-time with goals from Chris Fairclough, Gary Speed and Imre Varadi, before a second half revival from Everton saw United hang on for a 3-2 victory. The first home game saw a visit from Manchester United, who were fortunate to hold on for a boring 0-0 draw.

Vinnie Jones left due to lack of first team chances for £650,000 to Sheffield United. He came straight back to Elland Road for Sheffield United's next match but Leeds won 2-0.

United could have been forgiven if they had settled for mid-table respectability after such a hard season but it was to their credit that they battled all the odds to finish fourth on 64 points, with some tremendous efforts. They even almost managed to get a draw out of Liverpool pulling it back to 5-4 after being 4-0 down at half-time.

Leeds also had good cup runs. The FA Cup saw Leeds require a replay at Elland Road after a 1-1 score away to Barnsley eventually winning 4-0 before they met Arsenal. It was this meeting that finally convinced the F.A. that replay's were taking too long and too much out of the players. The decision was made for the following season to use Penalties as a decider. Leeds played Arsenal a totl of four times starting away from home. They drew 0-0, 1-1, and 0-0 before the fourth match finally separated the teams. Leeds were beaten 2-1 at Elland Road and the run ended. The League Cup saw Leeds brush aside Leicester City 3-1 on aggregate, Oldham Athletic 2-0 at home, QPR 3-0 away and Aston Villa 4-1 at home before they met old rivals Manchester United in a two legged semi-final. Unfortunately Leeds lost both, losing 2-1 at Old Trafford and 1-0 at Elland Road. In the Full Members Cup Leeds made their furthest progression. Leeds beat both Wolves and Derby County 2-1 before a Northern Alliance Semi-Final against Manchester City which they won 2-0. The Northern Alliance final was a two legged affair against Everton and Leeds managed a 3-3 draw at Elland Road, however the return leg wasn't successful and Leeds lost 3-1. Everton lost the National final 4-1 to Crystal Palace

Two Leeds players didn't finish the season with nothing however. Chapman finished the top scorer in the First Division with 21 league goals and Strachan was awarded Footballer of the Year.

Record:

1991-92
League Champions

Record:

1992-93
Charity Shield Winners & Youth Cup Winners

Record:

1993-94
Record:

1994-95
Record:

1995-96
League Cup Finalists

Record:

1996-97
This was Wilko's last season at Elland Road. At the start of the season Leeds had been overtaken by the Arcadia Group and they were looking to change things round. Leeds didn't start the season well and a particularly embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Elland Road to arch-rivals Manchester United doomed Wilko to his fate. Wilkinson had his contract terminated after only 5 matches (all league matches) of the new season.

Record: