The 1972-73 season was a pivotal year for Leeds United, as they demonstrated their strength in the First Division while also experiencing the highs and lows of cup competitions. Finishing 3rd in the league, Leeds maintained a consistent performance throughout the season, although they never truly mounted a convincing title challenge.
Key Highlights of the Season
One of the standout players for Leeds United was Allan Clarke, who emerged as the club’s top scorer with an impressive 26 goals in all competitions. His contributions were vital as the team aimed for glory both domestically and in Europe.
Domestic and European Campaigns
Leeds United showcased their prowess in cup competitions, reaching two finals in quick succession. Unfortunately, both encounters ended in disappointment:
- 1973 FA Cup Final: Leeds faced second-division Sunderland and were stunned by a 1-0 defeat. Despite fielding a full-strength side, they couldn’t secure the coveted trophy.
- 1973 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final: Just two weeks later, Leeds played against A.C. Milan in a highly controversial match. Depleted by injuries and the absence of key players like Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles, and Allan Clarke, the team suffered another 1-0 defeat. Tensions flared during the match due to dubious refereeing, leading to the sending off of Norman Hunter for retaliation as Leeds sought to equalize.
Atmosphere and Controversy
The lead-up to the European final was marked by speculation surrounding manager Don Revie, who had been linked to the Everton managerial position. Revie’s announcement just before the match that he would accept the job added to the tense atmosphere in the dressing room. Despite this, the players aimed to honor their departing manager with a strong performance.
The match against A.C. Milan was marred by contentious refereeing decisions, with Leeds being denied two penalty appeals for handball and a foul on forward Mick Jones. The match ended in chaos, with things thrown by the crowd at the officials and Milan players, reflecting the frustration of the Leeds supporters. UEFA later banned referee Christos Michas for life due to his poor officiating, but Leeds United’s appeals for a replay were denied, leaving them to cope with the bitter aftermath of defeat.
Conclusion
Despite the heartaches of the 1972-73 season, Leeds United remained a formidable force in English football. The combination of talented players and passionate support ensured that the club was a respected competitor in both the league and cup competitions. The legacy of that season still resonates with fans, illustrating the highs of scoring prowess and the lows of heartbreaking losses.
First Division 1972-73 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 72 | 42 | 60 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 57 | 43 | 57 |
| 3 | Leeds United | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 71 | 45 | 53 |
| 4 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 55 | 45 | 48 |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 66 | 54 | 47 |
| 6 | West Ham United | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 67 | 53 | 46 |
| 7 | Derby County | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 56 | 54 | 46 |
| 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 58 | 48 | 45 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 51 | 45 |
| 10 | Birmingham City | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 53 | 54 | 42 |
| 11 | Manchester City | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 57 | 60 | 41 |
| 12 | Chelsea | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 49 | 51 | 40 |
| 13 | Southampton | 42 | 11 | 18 | 13 | 47 | 52 | 40 |
| 14 | Sheffield United | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 51 | 59 | 40 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 61 | 56 | 38 |
| 16 | Leicester City | 42 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 40 | 46 | 37 |
| 17 | Everton | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 41 | 49 | 37 |
| 18 | Manchester United | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 44 | 60 | 37 |
| 19 | Coventry City | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 40 | 55 | 35 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 36 | 63 | 32 |
| 21 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 41 | 58 | 30 |
| 22 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 38 | 62 | 28 |
Leeds United 1972-73 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Division One | 12 Aug 1972 | Chelsea v Leeds United | L | 0-4 |
| League Division One | 15 Aug 1972 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | W | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 19 Aug 1972 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | W | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 23 Aug 1972 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | D | 3-3 |
| League Division One | 26 Aug 1972 | Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 30 Aug 1972 | Leeds United v Southampton | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 02 Sep 1972 | Leeds United v Norwich City | W | 2-0 |
| League Cup | 06 Sep 1972 | Leeds United v Burnley | W | 4-0 |
| League Division One | 09 Sep 1972 | Stoke City v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 13 Sep 1972 | Ankaragucu v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 16 Sep 1972 | Leeds United v Leicester City | W | 3-1 |
| League Division One | 23 Sep 1972 | Newcastle United v Leeds United | L | 3-2 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 27 Sep 1972 | Leeds United v Ankaragucu | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 30 Sep 1972 | Leeds United v Liverpool | L | 1-2 |
| League Cup | 04 Oct 1972 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 07 Oct 1972 | Leeds United v Derby County | W | 5-0 |
| League Cup | 11 Oct 1972 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | W | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 14 Oct 1972 | Everton v Leeds United | W | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 21 Oct 1972 | Leeds United v Coventry City | D | 1-1 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 25 Oct 1972 | Carl Zeiss Jena v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 28 Oct 1972 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | W | 2-0 |
| League Cup | 31 Oct 1972 | Liverpool v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Division One | 04 Nov 1972 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 08 Nov 1972 | Leeds United v Carl Zeiss Jena | W | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 11 Nov 1972 | Leeds United v Sheffield United | W | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 18 Nov 1972 | Crystal Palace v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Cup | 22 Nov 1972 | Leeds United v Liverpool | L | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 25 Nov 1972 | Leeds United v Manchester City | W | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 02 Dec 1972 | Arsenal v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 09 Dec 1972 | Leeds United v West Ham United | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 16 Dec 1972 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | W | 4-0 |
| League Division One | 23 Dec 1972 | Manchester United v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 26 Dec 1972 | Leeds United v Newcastle United | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 06 Jan 1973 | Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur | W | 2-1 |
| FA Cup | 13 Jan 1973 | Norwich City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| FA Cup | 17 Jan 1973 | Leeds United v Norwich City | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 20 Jan 1973 | Norwich City v Leeds United | W | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 27 Jan 1973 | Leeds United v Stoke City | W | 1-0 |
| FA Cup | 29 Jan 1973 | Leeds United v Norwich City | W | 5-0 |
| FA Cup | 03 Feb 1973 | Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle | W | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 10 Feb 1973 | Leicester City v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 17 Feb 1973 | Leeds United v Chelsea | D | 1-1 |
| FA Cup | 24 Feb 1973 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | W | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 03 Mar 1973 | Derby County v Leeds United | W | 3-2 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 07 Mar 1973 | Leeds United v Rapid Bucuresti | W | 5-0 |
| League Division One | 10 Mar 1973 | Leeds United v Everton | W | 2-1 |
| FA Cup | 17 Mar 1973 | Derby County v Leeds United | W | 1-0 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 21 Mar 1973 | Rapid Bucuresti v Leeds United | W | 3-1 |
| League Division One | 24 Mar 1973 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 28 Mar 1973 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 31 Mar 1973 | Manchester City v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 02 Apr 1973 | Coventry City v Leeds United | W | 1-0 |
| FA Cup | 07 Apr 1973 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | W | 1-0 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 11 Apr 1973 | Leeds United v Hajduk Split | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 14 Apr 1973 | West Ham United v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 18 Apr 1973 | Leeds United v Manchester United | L | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 21 Apr 1973 | Leeds United v Crystal Palace | W | 4-0 |
| League Division One | 23 Apr 1973 | Liverpool v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 25 Apr 1973 | Hajduk Split v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 28 Apr 1973 | Southampton v Leeds United | L | 3-1 |
| League Division One | 30 Apr 1973 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| FA Cup | 05 May 1973 | Leeds United v Sunderland | L | 0-1 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 09 May 1973 | Leeds United v Arsenal | W | 6-1 |
| UEFA European Cup Winners Cup | 13 May 1973 | AC Milan v Leeds United | L | 0-1 |
