After the glory days of the 60’s and 70’s, Leeds United’s decline was steady but spectacular once Don Revie left Elland Road for his ill-fated stint as England manager. Brian Clough lasted 44 days before Jimmy Armfield took the club to a European Cup final. Celtic legend Jock Stein also reigned for just 44 days.
Fans favourite Allan ‘Sniffer’ Clarke took the hot seat in 1981 hoping to recapture the glory days of his former boss Revie. However, the rot had well and truly set in by the dawning of the 1980’s and at the end of the 81-82 season, Leeds United were relegated to the Second Division for the first time since 1964 where they would remain until 1990.
For that relegation campaign and their return to football’s second tier, Leeds wore this yellow and blue pin-striped Umbro affair with a badge boasting a yellow-feathered peacock. Sponsors RF Winder (now Winder Power) were an electrical company based in the Pudsey area of the city and their 12 month shirt sponsorship deal totalled just £40,000 (the equivalent of £120,000 today).
Playing for Leeds in those dark days were the likes of John Lukic, Brian Greenhoff, Paul Hart and current Argentina national coach Alex Sabella.
Classic Retro shirts now available from www.camporetro.com