The 1971-72 season was another remarkable chapter in the history of Leeds United, showcasing their resilience and competitive spirit. Despite facing challenges, they managed to excel in various competitions.
League Performance
Due to a pitch invasion during the previous season’s match against West Bromwich Albion, Leeds were banned from playing their first five home games of the 1971–72 season at Elland Road. However, this setback did not deter their ambition. Leeds finished the season in second position in the First Division, just one point shy of the title, which went to Derby County.
Key Statistics
- Final Position: 2nd in First Division
- Points: 59 (just 1 point behind Derby County)
Top Scorer
The standout performer for Leeds United that season was Peter Lorimer, who emerged as the club’s top scorer. He netted an impressive 29 goals across all competitions, highlighting his importance to the team’s offensive play.
Top Scorer
- Peter Lorimer: 29 goals
FA Cup Triumph
Leeds United also had a successful run in the FA Cup, ultimately lifting the trophy. They secured victory against Arsenal in the final with a solitary goal from Allan Clarke, which sealed a 1-0 win.
FA Cup Highlights
- Final Opponent: Arsenal
- Result: Leeds won 1-0
- Scorer: Allan Clarke
The Challenge for the Double
Despite their achievements, Leeds faced intense fixture congestion towards the end of the season. In a crucial week, they played a league match against Chelsea just three days before the FA Cup final and had to face Wolverhampton Wanderers less than two days after lifting the trophy. Leeds needed only a draw in their final league game to secure the title, but they were defeated, allowing Derby County to claim the championship.
Final League Game
- Opponent: Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Result: Loss
- Title Outcome: Derby County won the league
Conclusion
The 1971-72 season encapsulated the highs and lows of Leeds United’s journey. While they were unable to clinch the league title, their FA Cup victory and strong league performance underscored their status as one of the top teams in English football during this era. Leeds United’s legacy continued to grow, setting the stage for future successes.
First Division 1971-72 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derby County | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 69 | 33 | 2.091 | 58 |
| 2 | Leeds United | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 73 | 31 | 2.355 | 57 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 64 | 30 | 2.133 | 57 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 77 | 45 | 1.711 | 57 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 58 | 40 | 1.450 | 52 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 63 | 42 | 1.500 | 51 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 58 | 49 | 1.184 | 48 |
| 8 | Manchester United | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 69 | 61 | 1.131 | 48 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 65 | 57 | 1.140 | 47 |
| 10 | Sheffield United | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 61 | 60 | 1.017 | 46 |
| 11 | Newcastle United | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 49 | 52 | 0.942 | 41 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 41 | 46 | 0.891 | 39 |
| 13 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 39 | 53 | 0.736 | 38 |
| 14 | West Ham United | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 47 | 51 | 0.922 | 36 |
| 15 | Everton | 42 | 9 | 18 | 15 | 37 | 48 | 0.771 | 36 |
| 16 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 54 | 0.778 | 35 |
| 17 | Stoke City | 42 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 39 | 56 | 0.696 | 35 |
| 18 | Coventry City | 42 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 44 | 67 | 0.657 | 33 |
| 19 | Southampton | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 52 | 80 | 0.650 | 31 |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 39 | 65 | 0.600 | 29 |
| 21 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 47 | 81 | 0.580 | 25 |
| 22 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 27 | 59 | 0.458 | 25 |
Leeds United 1971-72 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Division One | 14 Aug 1971 | Manchester City v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 17 Aug 1971 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 21 Aug 1971 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 25 Aug 1971 | Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 28 Aug 1971 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 01 Sep 1971 | Leeds United v Newcastle United | W | 5-1 |
| League Division One | 04 Sep 1971 | Leeds United v Crystal Palace | W | 2-0 |
| League Cup | 08 Sep 1971 | Derby County v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 11 Sep 1971 | Arsenal v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| UEFA Cup | 15 Sep 1971 | Lierse SK v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 18 Sep 1971 | Leeds United v Liverpool | W | 1-0 |
| Fairs Cup | 22 Sep 1971 | Barcelona v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 25 Sep 1971 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Cup | 27 Sep 1971 | Leeds United v Derby County | W | 2-0 |
| UEFA Cup | 29 Sep 1971 | Leeds United v Lierse SK | L | 0-4 |
| League Division One | 02 Oct 1971 | Leeds United v West Ham United | D | 0-0 |
| League Cup | 06 Oct 1971 | West Ham United v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 09 Oct 1971 | Coventry City v Leeds United | L | 3-1 |
| League Division One | 16 Oct 1971 | Leeds United v Manchester City | W | 3-0 |
| League Cup | 20 Oct 1971 | Leeds United v West Ham United | L | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 23 Oct 1971 | Leeds United v Everton | W | 3-2 |
| League Division One | 30 Oct 1971 | Manchester United v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 06 Nov 1971 | Leeds United v Leicester City | W | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 13 Nov 1971 | Southampton v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 20 Nov 1971 | Leeds United v Stoke City | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 27 Nov 1971 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 04 Dec 1971 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | W | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 11 Dec 1971 | Chelsea v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 18 Dec 1971 | Crystal Palace v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 27 Dec 1971 | Leeds United v Derby County | W | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 01 Jan 1972 | Liverpool v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 08 Jan 1972 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | D | 2-2 |
| FA Cup | 15 Jan 1972 | Leeds United v Bristol Rovers | W | 4-1 |
| League Division One | 22 Jan 1972 | Leeds United v Sheffield United | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 29 Jan 1972 | Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| FA Cup | 05 Feb 1972 | Liverpool v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| FA Cup | 09 Feb 1972 | Leeds United v Liverpool | W | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 12 Feb 1972 | Everton v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 19 Feb 1972 | Leeds United v Manchester United | W | 5-1 |
| FA Cup | 26 Feb 1972 | Cardiff City v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 04 Mar 1972 | Leeds United v Southampton | W | 7-0 |
| League Division One | 11 Mar 1972 | Leeds United v Coventry City | W | 1-0 |
| FA Cup | 18 Mar 1972 | Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur | W | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 22 Mar 1972 | Leicester City v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 25 Mar 1972 | Leeds United v Arsenal | W | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 27 Mar 1972 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | W | 6-1 |
| League Division One | 31 Mar 1972 | West Ham United v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Division One | 01 Apr 1972 | Derby County v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 05 Apr 1972 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | W | 3-1 |
| League Division One | 08 Apr 1972 | Stoke City v Leeds United | W | 0-3 |
| FA Cup | 15 Apr 1972 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | W | 0-3 |
| League Division One | 19 Apr 1972 | Newcastle United v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 22 Apr 1972 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 01 May 1972 | Leeds United v Chelsea | W | 2-0 |
| FA Cup | 06 May 1972 | Arsenal v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 08 May 1972 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
