Welcome to the history of Leeds United FC! We
aim to take you right through the history of our
beloved club from the humble beginnings of our
club as Leeds City right up to the present-day
all-glamour side. We recommend you either save
every page when it has loaded and read it off-line
or print the pages as you go through or even just
go through the pages reading and then 'bookmarking'
the pages when you want to stop, so you can resume
your place next time. There are just over 30 pages
to it.
Sport in Leeds in 1880
In 1880, Rugby was the dominant sport in Leeds
and West Yorkshire. Leeds was the largest city
in Britain without a professional football team.
Even towns, such as Burton had a professional
football team. West Yorkshire was a football desert,
as Bradford had no team either. In 1880, Rugby
was the people's sport in West Yorkshire.
The Introduction of Soccer to Leeds
Sam Gilbert, a Hunslet cricket club cricketer
from Sheffield, a city where football was the
main game, first brought football to the people
of Leeds in 1877, forming the Hunslet Association
Football Club. He kept it going for 5 seasons,
but arranging fixtures proved difficult, and,
with the introduction of a knockout rugby cup,
which was also formed in 1887, there was little
interest. In 1883, Hunslet AFC closed due to lack
of fixtures, finance and interest. 1885 saw the
successors of Hunslet: Leeds F C. They also, struggled,
failing to attract any real decent opposition
or much support and in time folded.
In 1888, the year of the formation of The Football
League, Leeds F.C. re-appeared. This prompted
the formation of more West Yorkshire football
clubs. So much so, in fact, that in 1894, they
formed The West Riding Association Football League.
By 1897, the best clubs started the Yorkshire
League, with South Yorkshire teams as well as
the reserve sides from Sheffield United and Sheffield
Wednesday involved.
Come the turn of the century, Hunslet AFC had
re-emerged. They were the strongest club in Leeds,
but without a ground of their own. This meant
that their future, in both, playing and financial
terms was always uncertain. In 1902, after losing
their lease on their Nelson Street home, Hunslet
AFC closed to concentrate on fund-raising and
planning.
Elland Road
When Holbeck Rugby Club folded in 1904, it gave
Hunslet AFC the ideal chance of their own ground
at Elland Road. Holbeck had developed the ground
into one suitable for football and athletics in
1896 after joining the Northern Rugby Union, but
folded after losing out on a play-off place to
Division 1 in 1904.
Hunslet officials went to a meeting in the Griffin
Hotel that August with other interested parties.
The meeting concluded that Elland Road should
be used for a professional football club. This
club would be established and play their home
matches in Leeds at Elland Road and would go under
the name of Leeds City F.C. They would rent the
ground from Holbeck for a season with the option
to buy it for no more than £5000.
Leeds City F.C.
Leeds City joined the West Yorkshire League.
Their first match at Elland Road was played on
October 15th 1904 against Hull City, attracting
a crowd of approximately 3000. Leeds City lost
2-0 and had a tough season, finishing 11th in
the end.
In 1905, off-pitch events were of more importance
than those on it were - In April that year, the
club gained 15 directors. They were pleased that
the ground, Elland Road, was located in the centre
of the working-class and were encouraged by the
potential of support, 2000 people regularly turning
up for home matches.
On 29th May 1905, Leeds City was elected into
the Division 2 of The Football League, which had
grown from 36 to 40 clubs.
City then started building Elland Road so it would
match their Ambitions. 'The Scratching Shed',
as it was known to fans, was built with a 30 foot
high barrel wooden roof on the Elland Road side
of the ground. In 1906, the pitch was turned end-on
to Elland Road and another barrel-roofed main
grandstand was built on the West Side of the ground.
Further terracing was also added to the ground
as well.
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