| 1973–74 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Manny Cussins |
| Manager | Don Revie |
| Stadium | Elland Road |
| First Division | 1st |
| FA Cup | Fifth round |
| League Cup | Second round |
| UEFA Cup | Third round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Mick Jones (14) All: Mick Jones (17) |
| Highest home attendance | 47,128 vsBristol City (19 February 1974, FA Cup) |
| Lowest home attendance | 14,196 vsVitória Setúbal (28 November 1973, UEFA Cup) |
| Average home league attendance | 37,026 |
← 1972–73
1974–75 →
| |
The 1973–74 season was Leeds United's tenth consecutive season in the First Division and the second season in which they won the First Division. Along with the First Division, Leeds United competed in the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup during the 1973–74 season. The season covers the period from 1 July 1973 to 30 June 1974.
Having lost in the finals of the Cup Winners Cup and the FA Cup in 1972–73, manager Don Revie considered a move to Everton, but remained with Leeds after the move broke down due to a new law that prevented wage rises to curb inflation.[1] Continuing with what was largely the same squad as during the previous season, he told them his aim was to go unbeaten throughout the season.[1] Leeds started the season well, winning their first 7 league games.[2] This run ended on 22 September when Leeds were held to a 0–0 draw by Manchester United.[3] On 8 October, Leeds were knocked out of the League cup in the Second Round by Ipswich Town.[4] After finding success in the first two rounds of the UEFA Cup, he played weakened teams to allow an early exit from the UEFA Cup, in order to allow his team to focus on the league.[1] Leeds were knocked out in the third round by Vitória FC.[5] At the start of 1974, Leeds were 8 points clear of second placed Liverpool with 19 games remaining and still remaining unbeaten.[6] On 23 February 1974, Leeds lost their first league game, losing 3–2 away to Stoke. Leeds would lose 3 more times in the 1973–74 season, but they won the 1973–74 title going 29 matches unbeaten.[7] This was still a record unbeaten start to a league campaign in the 20th century, and not bettered until Arsenal's 2003–04 campaign. In total Leeds lost just 4 league games and remained in first place for almost the entire campaign. At the end of the season, manager Don Revie left to manage the England national team.[8]
| Pos | Team
|
Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds United (C) | 42 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 66 | 31 | 2.129 | 62 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
| 2 | Liverpool | 42 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 52 | 31 | 1.677 | 57 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[a] |
| 3 | Derby County | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 52 | 42 | 1.238 | 48 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 67 | 58 | 1.155 | 47 | |
| 5 | Stoke City | 42 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 54 | 42 | 1.286 | 46 |
| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | D | D | W | W | W | D | W | D | D | W | W | W | W | D | D | W | D | D | W | W | L | D | D | W | L | L | L | W | D | D | W | W | W |
| Position | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result[a] | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1973 | Everton | Home | 3–1 | Bremner, Giles, Jones | 39,325 |
| 28 August 1973 | Arsenal | Away | 2–1 | Lorimer, Madeley | 47,429 |
| 1 September 1973 | Tottenham Hotspur | Away | 3–0 | Bremner (2), Clarke | 42,801 |
| 5 September 1973 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Home | 4–1 | Lorimer (2, 1 pen.), Jones, Bremner | 39,946 |
| 8 September 1973 | Birmingham City | Home | 3–0 | Lorimer (3, 1 pen.) | 39,736 |
| 11 September 1973 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Away | 2–0 | Jones, Clarke | 36,980 |
| 15 September 1973 | Southampton | Away | 2–1 | Clarke (2) | 27,770 |
| 22 September 1973 | Manchester United | Home | 0–0 | — | 47,058 |
| 29 September 1973 | Norwich City | Away | 1–0 | Giles | 31,993 |
| 6 October 1973 | Stoke City | Home | 1–1 | Jones | 36,562 |
| 13 October 1973 | Leicester City | Away | 2–2 | Jones, Bremner | 36,978 |
| 20 October 1973 | Liverpool | Home | 1–0 | Jones | 44,911 |
| 27 October 1973 | Manchester City | Away | 1–0 | Bates | 45,346 |
| 3 November 1973 | West Ham United | Home | 4–1 | Bates, Jones (2), Clarke | 36,869 |
| 10 November 1973 | Burnley | Away | 0–0 | — | 37,894 |
| 17 November 1973 | Coventry City | Home | 3–0 | Clarke, Jordan, Bremner | 35,552 |
| 24 November 1973 | Derby County | Away | 0–0 | — | 36,003 |
| 1 December 1973 | Queens Park Rangers | Home | 2–2 | Bremner, Jones | 32,194 |
| 8 December 1973 | Ipswich Town | Away | 3–0 | Yorath, Jones, Clarke | 27,110 |
| 15 December 1973 | Chelsea | Away | 2–1 | Jordan, Jones | 40,768 |
| 22 December 1973 | Norwich City | Home | 1–0 | Yorath | 34,747 |
| 26 December 1973 | Newcastle United | Away | 1–0 | Madeley | 54,474 |
| 29 December 1973 | Birmingham City | Away | 1–1 | Jordan | 50,451 |
| 1 January 1974 | Tottenham Hotspur | Home | 1–1 | Jones | 46,545 |
| 12 January 1974 | Southampton | Home | 2–1 | Jones, Jordan | 35,000 |
| 19 January 1974 | Everton | Away | 0–0 | — | 55,811 |
| 2 February 1974 | Chelsea | Home | 1–1 | Cherry | 41,510 |
| 5 February 1974 | Arsenal | Home | 3–1 | Simpson (o.g.), Jordan (2) | 26,778 |
| 9 February 1974 | Manchester United | Away | 2–0 | Jones, Jordan | 60,025 |
| 23 February 1974 | Stoke City | Away | 2–3 | Bremner, Clarke | 39,598 |
| 26 February 1974 | Leicester City | Home | 1–1 | Lorimer (pen.) | 30,489 |
| 2 March 1974 | Newcastle United | Home | 1–1 | Clarke | 46,611 |
| 9 March 1974 | Manchester City | Home | 1–0 | Lorimer (pen.) | 36,578 |
| 16 March 1974 | Liverpool | Away | 0–1 | — | 56,003 |
| 23 March 1974 | Burnley | Home | 1–4 | Clarke | 39,335 |
| 30 March 1974 | West Ham United | Away | 1–3 | Clarke | 37,480 |
| 6 April 1974 | Derby County | Home | 2–0 | Lorimer, Bremner | 37,838 |
| 13 April 1974 | Coventry City | Away | 0–0 | — | 35,182 |
| 15 April 1974 | Sheffield United | Home | 0–0 | — | 41,140 |
| 16 April 1974 | Sheffield United | Away | 2–0 | Lorimer (2, 1 pen.) | 39,972 |
| 20 April 1974 | Ipswich Town | Home | 3–2 | Lorimer, Bremner, Clarke | 44,015 |
| 27 April 1974 | Queens Park Rangers | Away | 1–0 | Clarke | 35,353 |
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result[a] | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third round | 5 January 1974 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Away | 1–1 | Lorimer (pen.) | 38,132 |
| Third round replay | 9 January 1974 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Home | 1–0 | Jones | 42,747 |
| Fourth round | 26 January 1974 | Peterborough United | Away | 4–1 | Lorimer, Jordan (2), Yorath | 28,000 |
| Fifth round | 16 February 1974 | Bristol City | Away | 1–1 | Bremner | 37,000 |
| Fifth round replay | 19 February 1974 | Bristol City | Home | 0–1 | — | 47,128 |
Source:[10]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result[a] | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second round | 8 October 1973 | Ipswich Town | Away | 0–2 | — | 26,385 |
Source:[11]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result[a] | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First round, first leg | 19 September 1973 | Strømsgodset | Away | 1–1 | Clarke | 16,276 |
| First round, second leg | 3 October 1973 | Strømsgodset | Home | 6–1[b] | Clarke (2), Jones (2), Gray, Bates | 18,711 |
| Second round, first leg | 24 October 1973 | Hibernian | Home | 0–0 | — | 27,145 |
| Second round, second leg | 6 November 1973 | Hibernian | Away | 0–0 (a.e.t.)[c] | — | 36,051 |
| Third round, first leg | 28 November 1973 | Vitória | Home | 1–0 | Cherry | 14,196 |
| Third round, second leg | 12 December 1973 | Vitória | Away | 1–3[d] | Liddell | 14,576 |
Source:[12]
