The 1980-81 season for Leeds United was a year marked by stability, yet it fell short of the lofty ambitions held by fans and club officials. Finishing in ninth position in the First Division, the season was a reminder that Leeds, a club with a rich history and aspirations of European competition, was not living up to its potential.
A Season of Mixed Results
Despite a stable mid-table finish, Leeds United fans were left wanting more. The club had previously been a dominant force in English football and deserved to be competing at the highest levels. In total, Leeds managed to score 39 goals but conceded 47, highlighting significant defensive issues that plagued the team throughout the campaign.
Top Scorer: Carl Harris
One of the few bright spots for Leeds United that season was the performance of Carl Harris, who emerged as the team’s top scorer with 10 goals. His contributions were vital, but they were not enough to propel the team into contention for European places.
Managerial Changes and New Beginnings
The season also saw significant changes off the pitch. On 7 September 1980, following a series of disappointing performances, Jimmy Adamson resigned as Leeds United manager. His departure marked a turning point for the club, as fans hoped for a new direction.
On 16 September 1980, the club appointed former player Allan Clarke as the new manager. Clarke, who had previously managed Barnsley, brought fresh perspectives and strategies to the team. His appointment was widely welcomed, but the challenge of rebuilding and addressing the team’s defensive frailties remained.
Conclusion: Looking Ahead
While the 1980-81 season was stable for Leeds United, it was also a period of reflection. The club’s ninth-place finish was a stark reminder of its ambitions, and the need for improvement was clear. As fans looked forward to the future, the hope was that with new management and a focus on strengthening the defense, Leeds could reclaim its rightful place among the elite of European football.
First Division 1980-81 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aston Villa (C) | 42 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 72 | 40 | +32 | 60 |
| 2 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 23 | 10 | 9 | 77 | 43 | +34 | 56 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 42 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 61 | 45 | +16 | 53 |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 60 | 42 | +18 | 52 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 42 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 62 | 42 | +20 | 51 |
| 6 | Southampton | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 76 | 56 | +20 | 50 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 19 | 12 | 11 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 50 |
| 8 | Manchester United | 42 | 15 | 18 | 9 | 51 | 36 | +15 | 48 |
| 9 | Leeds United | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 44 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 70 | 68 | +2 | 43 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 42 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 51 | 60 | −9 | 42 |
| 12 | Manchester City | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 56 | 59 | −3 | 39 |
| 13 | Birmingham City | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 50 | 61 | −11 | 38 |
| 14 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 53 | 61 | −8 | 37 |
| 15 | Everton | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 55 | 58 | −3 | 36 |
| 16 | Coventry City | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 48 | 68 | −20 | 36 |
| 17 | Sunderland | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 52 | 53 | −1 | 35 |
| 18 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 43 | 55 | −12 | 35 |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 54 | 67 | −13 | 35 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 42 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 49 | 73 | −24 | 33 |
| 21 | Leicester City | 42 | 13 | 6 | 23 | 40 | 67 | −27 | 32 |
| 22 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 47 | 83 | −36 | 19 |
Leeds United 1980-81 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Division One | 16 Aug 1980 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | L | 1-2 |
| League Division One | 19 Aug 1980 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | L | 0-3 |
| League Division One | 23 Aug 1980 | Norwich City v Leeds United | W | 3-2 |
| League Cup | 27 Aug 1980 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | L | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 30 Aug 1980 | Leeds United v Leicester City | L | 1-2 |
| League Cup | 03 Sep 1980 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | L | 1-3 |
| League Division One | 06 Sep 1980 | Stoke City v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 13 Sep 1980 | Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 20 Sep 1980 | Leeds United v Manchester United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 27 Sep 1980 | Sunderland v Leeds United | L | 4-1 |
| League Division One | 04 Oct 1980 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 08 Oct 1980 | Leeds United v Manchester City | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 11 Oct 1980 | Leeds United v Everton | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 18 Oct 1980 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 22 Oct 1980 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 25 Oct 1980 | Leeds United v Crystal Palace | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 01 Nov 1980 | Coventry City v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 08 Nov 1980 | Leeds United v Arsenal | L | 0-5 |
| League Division One | 12 Nov 1980 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | W | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 15 Nov 1980 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 22 Nov 1980 | Southampton v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Division One | 29 Nov 1980 | Leeds United v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 06 Dec 1980 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Division One | 13 Dec 1980 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 20 Dec 1980 | Manchester City v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 26 Dec 1980 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 27 Dec 1980 | Liverpool v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| FA Cup | 03 Jan 1981 | Leeds United v Coventry City | D | 1-1 |
| FA Cup | 06 Jan 1981 | Coventry City v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 10 Jan 1981 | Leeds United v Southampton | L | 0-3 |
| League Division One | 17 Jan 1981 | Leicester City v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 31 Jan 1981 | Leeds United v Norwich City | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 07 Feb 1981 | Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division One | 14 Feb 1981 | Stoke City v Leeds United | L | 1-3 |
| League Division One | 21 Feb 1981 | Leeds United v Sunderland | W | 1-0 |
| League Division One | 28 Feb 1981 | Manchester United v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 14 Mar 1981 | Everton v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Division One | 21 Mar 1981 | Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 1-3 |
| League Division One | 28 Mar 1981 | Crystal Palace v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Division One | 31 Mar 1981 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | W | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 04 Apr 1981 | Leeds United v Coventry City | W | 3-0 |
| League Division One | 11 Apr 1981 | Arsenal v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 18 Apr 1981 | Leeds United v Liverpool | D | 0-0 |
| League Division One | 21 Apr 1981 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Division One | 02 May 1981 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Division One | 06 May 1981 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | D | 0-0 |
