Leeds United was in fact Leeds City when they first formed in 1904, but on turning professional, and then into a limited company in 1919/20 they changed to United. At the same time, they were elected to Division Two. Leeds never really achieved anything of note until what is known as the Revie years, 1968/75. Don Revie’s superstitions played their part in the history of the team’s badge. Don Revie had a thing about birds.
Leeds were undoubtedly one of the best teams in the country under Revie. This team stuck together for years, and included such greats as Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, Johnny Giles, Peter Lorimer, Eddie Grey, Alan Clarke, and the great Billy Bremner. This side stayed together, played together, and grew old together. As they faded there was no one to replace them, and Leeds suffered for a while after they retired. There is a statue outside Elland road of the late but great Billy Bremner. A fiery little Scot with a big footballing heart, he made his Leeds debut at 17, and started putting the frighteners on people from the word go. He was ever-present in a side packed with talent and of all the major trophies won by Leeds, the Championship win of 1992 was the only one Bremner was not involved in. Leeds most favourite son was often in trouble with the referee and was the first British player to be sent off at Wembley during the 1974 Charity Shield, along with Kevin Keegan, each received an eleven, yes eleven, game ban. You may have seen the clip of the fiery little Scot ripping off his shirt, and squaring up to Keegan. When I think of Leeds I think of Bremner.
I also think of Ian Silvester the club’s Secretary who very kindly answered my request for information on Leeds, and their badge. Thank you, Ian, for sending me a comprehensive package on the subject. Going back to the club’s formation in 1920, Leeds did not have a badge, a few clubs did in the early days, but not many. In the 1930s the club’s first badge was adopted from the City of Leeds coat of arms. (PIC 1) These arms consisted of a fleece upon a shield, the fleece being symbolic of the town’s staple trade. Three mullet’s argent, (Argent being a colour of silver or white) which was part of the Danby arms. The town’s first Alderman was Sir John Savile, whose arms contained three owls, and these are represented in the supporters of the city arms, and one on the crest. (Supporters are usually animals that stand each side of the arms) The motto “PRO REGE ET LEGE” translates as, For King and Law. This badge remained in place until the 1960s, when an owl on a perch succeeded it. (PIC 2) This was disposed of, because the very superstitious Don Revie felt birds were unlucky, and let’s face it, some footballers choice of birds would prove him right.
It was replaced in 1971, by a classic script badge using the letters LUFC. (PIC 3) Although there was nothing classic about this badge until they straightened up the letters, and surrounded them with a far more classic design. (PIC 7) In 1973 the badge changed again to what was known as the smiley badge, incorporating the letters LU. (PIC 4) If you can’t see it, just bend your head to the left a little, think of hippies and a summer of love then you will see a big L with a little u sitting in it. Got it? Great, it took me a while.
In 1979 AR, (After Revie) a pub opposite Elland Road played a part larger than providing the players, sorry, supporters with pre-match pints. The pub was called The Peacock, and at the time the Leeds nickname was “The Peacocks”, so the badge had a peacock plumage fully displayed encircled by the words, Leeds United AFC. (PIC 5) A badge named after a pub! Only in Yorkshire would that happen. Don Revie may have had a point about birds, because Leeds sporting this design were relegated to the 2nd Division in 1982. So Leeds were looking for a new badge, and like many clubs, they turned to their fans. With the help of the local evening newspaper, they ran a competition inviting school children to design a new badge. Eventually, one showing the white rose of Yorkshire with the words, Leeds United AFC on the petals was judged the winner. (PIC 6) A small football was also depicted in the middle of the badge. The team did well sporting this badge, and won the championship in the 1991/92 season. Not bad for a bunch of schoolchildren. Take note, you multi-millionaire logo designers. In 1998 the present badge was designed. (sadly not by children) It is in the shape of a shield, and in a style judged to be more continental, it has the old 1971 lettering down the centre of the shield, and the Yorkshire rose in the crest of the shield. All decorated quite nicely in the club’s home and away colours. (PIC 7)
The name Leeds, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word Loidis, meaning people of the Lat. Lat is an earlier name for the river Aire, meaning Lion of God in Hebrew. Leeds play at the famous Elland Road Stadium, which has a capacity of nearly 38,000. Leeds local rivals, are Bradford, but there is much gnashing of teeth whenever Leeds meet Chelsea, and this goes back to some memorable clashes in the 1970s, including the 1972 FA Cup Final. These fixtures can be repeated as Leeds have been promoted back into the top flight after a far to long absence. Nicknames now in use are “The Whites”, and “United”. If you are united in your support for Leeds, then you would be as wise as owls to go to www.leedsunited.com
