Rob Atkinson column: Leeds United are Yorkshire's number one

As a major part of my calling is to write about the fortunes of my beloved Leeds United, I frequently find myself in receipt of what I might politely term 'feedback' from those unfortunate enough to support lesser clubs.
Leeds United League Champions 1992.  Howard Wilkinson with trophy - celebration pictures, 3rd May 1992.Leeds United League Champions 1992.  Howard Wilkinson with trophy - celebration pictures, 3rd May 1992.
Leeds United League Champions 1992. Howard Wilkinson with trophy - celebration pictures, 3rd May 1992.

These sallies come from all directions, but a good proportion originate within the Broad Acres, due to the fact that Super Leeds share this great county with a number of smaller outfits, none of whom, of course, are worthy to tie the bootlaces of our warriors in white.

It’s a state of affairs that has many fans of “rival” Yorkshire clubs, who labour under almighty chips on their shoulders where Leeds United AFC is concerned, as well as several easily dismissed delusions regarding the county pecking order, rather hot under the collar. It goes without saying that I always advance Leeds United as being Yorkshire’s number one football club, whatever the league tables might currently proclaim. It’s hardly even an argument, and yet some will try to argue, no matter how daft it makes them look.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Take Huddersfield Town. Since achieving the remarkable feat of being promoted two years ago, with a minus two goal difference, and failing to win any of three play-off matches, some of their fans have tried to lord it over United despite their team’s pitiful struggles in a higher sphere.

One of the more laughable jibes that I’ve noticed is the old “you’re not famous anymore” directed at the fan base of a club in Leeds that still boasts a fervent worldwide following. This really does make me chortle – how Huddersfield fans can presume to aim such an observation at a club which literally has a bucket more famous than Town are, simply defies belief. But there you go. It seems Huddersfield fans are quite happy getting thrashed out of sight most weeks and patronised by TV pundits for their “pluckiness” - just so long as they can revel in their temporarily higher status. There really is no accounting for taste.

Sheffield Wednesday is another club that provokes chuckles around the Leeds United world with some of their fans’ wilder claims. As some of the less historically aware Owls fans consider their favourites to be Yorkshire’s number one club, despite a post-war trophy tally of (count ‘em) one, I set out on my blog to explain gently that Leeds United had been at the top of the Yorkshire tree since the early 60s, and that there wasn’t really a debate to be had about that simple fact. Not entirely to my surprise, this was met with shrieks of anguish from supporters of what is now not even Sheffield’s top club. They argued that the number of pots won over their entire history made them the most successful club in Yorkshire and, technically, that is so. But Wednesday were founded in 1867, and won many of their honours in their 52 years of existence prior to Leeds United’s formation in 1919. The Hillsborough outfit won their last FA Cup in 1935, and their last League title in 1930. Mussolini had good years more recently than that. Their sole post-war honour was the League Cup in 1993 – they simply don’t hold a candle to Leeds United in modern times.

And the sad fact is that these two clubs, Huddersfield and Wednesday, are the nearest that Leeds United has to local rivals. The rest have hardly won a bean between them, with Bradford City’s most recent glory day being a record 0-5 Wembley cup final thrashing at the hands of a Pablo Hernandez inspired Swansea City. No, I’m sorry all you lesser clubs in the White Rose county – you really don’t have an argument. It’s Leeds United first, and the rest – just nowhere.

Rob Atkinson is a lifelong LUFC fan. He writes a column for the Yorkshire Evening Post every fortnight.