Overview of the Season
The 1979-80 season was a challenging year for Leeds United, marked by underwhelming performances and unmet expectations. After a promising 1978-79 campaign, fans and players alike hoped for a stronger showing, but the team ultimately finished in 11th position in the First Division, a significant disappointment compared to their ambitions.
League Performance
Leeds United’s league form was inconsistent throughout the season. The team’s inability to secure crucial victories against lower-ranked opponents contributed to their mid-table finish. With only sporadic bursts of quality football, the squad struggled to find the rhythm that had previously defined their play.
Key Matches
Several matches highlighted Leeds’ struggles. The team faced tough competition from established clubs, often falling short in critical moments. Their inability to convert draws into wins cost them valuable points, leading to a frustrating season.
European Aspirations
Leeds United aimed to return to European competition, having qualified for the UEFA Cup following their previous season’s performance. However, their European journey was short-lived. In the second qualification round, Leeds faced Universitatea Craiova and suffered a disappointing 4-0 aggregate defeat. This result underscored the challenges the team faced both domestically and on the European stage.
Top Scorer: Kevin Hird
In a season where goal-scoring was a struggle, Kevin Hird emerged as Leeds United’s top scorer, netting only 8 goals across all competitions. Hird’s tally reflected the overall lack of firepower in the squad, with the team failing to find a consistent source of goals. His contributions, while valuable, were not enough to lift the team to the heights they aspired to.
Conclusion
The 1979-80 season was a period of reflection for Leeds United. With a disappointing league finish and a failed European campaign, it became evident that the team needed to regroup and reassess its strategy. As they looked forward to the following season, both fans and management hoped for a renewed focus on reclaiming their status among England’s elite clubs. The challenges of the 1979-80 season served as a reminder of the competitive nature of top-flight football and the importance of consistency in achieving success.
First Division 1979-80 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool (C) | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 81 | 30 | +51 | 60 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 65 | 35 | +30 | 58 |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 68 | 39 | +29 | 53 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 42 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 52 | 36 | +16 | 52 |
| 5 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 63 | 43 | +20 | 48 |
| 6 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 58 | 47 | +11 | 47 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 46 |
| 8 | Southampton | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 65 | 53 | +12 | 45 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 50 | 44 | +6 | 44 |
| 10 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 11 | 19 | 12 | 54 | 50 | +4 | 41 |
| 11 | Leeds United | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 46 | 50 | −4 | 40 |
| 12 | Norwich City | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 58 | 66 | −8 | 40 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 41 | 50 | −9 | 40 |
| 14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 52 | 62 | −10 | 40 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 56 | 66 | −10 | 39 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 47 | 57 | −10 | 37 |
| 17 | Manchester City | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 43 | 66 | −23 | 37 |
| 18 | Stoke City | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 44 | 58 | −14 | 36 |
| 19 | Everton | 42 | 9 | 17 | 16 | 43 | 51 | −8 | 35 |
| 20 | Bristol City (R) | 42 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 37 | 66 | −29 | 31 |
| 21 | Derby County (R) | 42 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 47 | 67 | −20 | 30 |
| 22 | Bolton Wanderers (R) | 42 | 5 | 15 | 22 | 38 | 73 | −35 | 25 |
Leeds United Fixtures and Results – 1979-80 Season
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Division One | 18 Aug 1979 | Bristol City v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Division One | 22 Aug 1979 | Leeds United v Everton | W | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 25 Aug 1979 | Norwich City v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Cup | 29 Aug 1979 | Leeds United v Arsenal | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 01 Sep 1979 | Leeds United v Arsenal | D | 1-1 |
| League Cup | 04 Sep 1979 | Arsenal v Leeds United | L | 0-7 |
| League Division One | 08 Sep 1979 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 15 Sep 1979 | Leeds United v Liverpool | D | 1-1 |
| UEFA Cup | 19 Sep 1979 | Leeds United v Valletta FC | W | 3-0 |
| UEFA Cup | 19 Sep 1979 | Valletta FC v Leeds United | W | 0-4 |
| League Division One | 22 Sep 1979 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 29 Sep 1979 | Leeds United v Manchester City | L | 1-2 |
| League Division One | 06 Oct 1979 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | W | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 13 Oct 1979 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 20 Oct 1979 | Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur | L | 1-2 |
| UEFA Cup | 24 Oct 1979 | Universitatea Craiova v Leeds United | L | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 27 Oct 1979 | Southampton v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Division One | 03 Nov 1979 | Leeds United v Bristol City | L | 1-3 |
| UEFA Cup | 07 Nov 1979 | Leeds United v Universitatea Craiova | L | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 10 Nov 1979 | Coventry City v Leeds United | L | 0-3 |
| League Division One | 13 Nov 1979 | Everton v Leeds United | L | 1-5 |
| League Division One | 17 Nov 1979 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 24 Nov 1979 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 01 Dec 1979 | Leeds United v Crystal Palace | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 08 Dec 1979 | Manchester United v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 15 Dec 1979 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | W | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 21 Dec 1979 | Stoke City v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 26 Dec 1979 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | L | 1-3 |
| League Division One | 29 Dec 1979 | Leeds United v Norwich City | D | 2-2 |
| League Division One | 01 Jan 1980 | Leeds United v Derby County | W | 1-0 |
| FA Cup | 05 Jan 1980 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | L | 1-4 |
| League Division One | 12 Jan 1980 | Arsenal v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 19 Jan 1980 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | L | 1-2 |
| League Division One | 09 Feb 1980 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | D | 2-2 |
| League Division One | 16 Feb 1980 | Manchester City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 23 Feb 1980 | Leeds United v Brighton and Hove Albion | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 01 Mar 1980 | Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| League Division One | 08 Mar 1980 | Leeds United v Southampton | W | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 14 Mar 1980 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | L | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 19 Mar 1980 | Liverpool v Leeds United | L | 0-3 |
| League Division One | 22 Mar 1980 | Leeds United v Coventry City | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 29 Mar 1980 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| League Division One | 02 Apr 1980 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | W | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 05 Apr 1980 | Derby County v Leeds United | L | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 08 Apr 1980 | Leeds United v Stoke City | W | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 12 Apr 1980 | Crystal Palace v Leeds United | L | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 19 Apr 1980 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 26 Apr 1980 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | L | 1-3 |
| League Division One | 03 May 1980 | Leeds United v Manchester United | W | 2-0 |
