Football in Leeds
Encyclopedia
The city of Leeds
, West Yorkshire
, England, has several Football Clubs within its boundaries. Due to the popularity of rugby league
almost all association football clubs in the city have the suffix "A.F.C." instead of the more prevalent "F.C." used in most of England.
are the only Football League team in the city of Leeds, with Leeds considered to be England's largest "one-club" city. Leeds United were formed after the original team Leeds City was forcibly disbanded by The Football League
in 1919 in response to allegations of financial irregularities regarding illegal payments to players during the First World War.
Though currently in the Football League Championship
, Leeds United are still one of the most successful clubs in English football. In domestic competitions they have won the Football League First Division
3 times and have been runners-up on 5 occasions, as well as having won the Second Division
3 times, and being runners-up a further 3 times. United have reached the FA Cup Final
4 times, winning in 1972
, the Football League Cup
Final twice, winning in 1968
, and the Charity Shield 3 times, winning in 1969 and 1992. In Europe United have been runners-up in the European Cup
in 1975
and in the Cup Winners' Cup
in 1973
. They have won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
twice, in 1968
and 1971
, and were runners-up in 1967
.
as the club badge and adopting Blue, Yellow and White as the club's colours. They were elected to the Football League
in 1905. Leeds City's whole league career was in the Second Division
with Herbert Chapman
guiding the club to their highest position of 4th. However during World War I there ensued a sequence of financial irregularities, including breaking the ban on paying players during the war, that led to the club's dissolution in 1919. They were expelled from The Football League eight games into the 1919–20 season. Port Vale
took over their remaining fixtures (as well as their results up to that point). In the wake of their demise, Leeds United
were formed, and entered the Football League the following year.
The club did re-form in 1924 as an amateur club, taking part in the Yorkshire Football League
, but dissolved in 1927. Currently there is a men's senior team under the name of Leeds City which formed in 2006. They play in the West Yorkshire League Division One, level 12 of the English football league system
pyramid, 10 levels below where the original club played.
There is also a female team using the Leeds City name; Leeds City Vixens L.F.C.
(see below). Neither club is recognised as an official continuation of the old club.
are currently the second highest Leeds team in the National League System
, playing in Conference North
. The club, nicknamed the Lions, were formed sometime in the 1900s. They joined the Yorkshire League
in 1968, remaining in this league until 182–83 when they became founder members of Northern Counties East League. In 1990–91 Guiseley won the FA Vase
in a replayed final played at Bramall Lane
against Gresley Rovers
after a 4–4 draw at Wembley Stadium
. This was coupled with the along with the Northern Counties East League title, gaining the club promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One. The club reached the FA Vase Final again in 1992, losing to Wimborne Town
, and won the Northern Premier League
Division One in 1994. They stayed in the Premier Division until relegation in 2000 but returned to the top division in 2004 and won promotion to Conference North in 2009.
were formed in 2010, following the demise of Farsley Celtic
. The club secured enrety to the Northern Counties East League
Premier Division. The original club were founded in 1908 by a group of local men from the village of Farsley
, Celtic competed in local leagues around the Leeds
area and Hospital Cups before moving into the Yorkshire Football League
in the 1940s. They stayed in this league until 1982, when the Yorkshire and Midland Leagues merged to form the Northern Counties East League. A few successful seasons later Farsley were invited into the Northern Premier League
. Farsley won promotion to the Conference North
in 2005–06 via the play-offs, a success repeated the following season, promoting Celtic into the Conference National
.
Farsley Celtic announced in July 2007 that they were considering changing their name to FC Leeds or Leeds Celtic because Farsley is not well known and so their fanbase is small, a change that could be in place by the 2008–09 season.
Following promotion to the Conference National, the club lasted one season and were relegated back to Conference North. The club went into administration and were unable to fulfill all of their fixtures in the 2009/10 campaign.
, but by 1920 it was sold to the newly formed Leeds United for £250. The club were one of the original founding members of the Yorkshire Football League
in 1920–21, and played at various home grounds, as far away as Harrogate Town
at one point. The following year they became the first ever football club from Britain to tour the Eastern European countries of Latvia
and Estonia
and moved to their current home of Bracken Edge, in Leeds. The most successful year in the club's history was in 1931–32; they reached the FA Cup
1st round going out to Carlisle United 3–1, they reached the semi-finals of the FA Amateur Cup
before going out to Marine
2–1 and were crowned champions of the Yorkshire Football League
Division Two. Yorkshire Amateur currently play in Northern Counties East League
Division One.
. The team joined the West Yorkshire League in 1976, at the same time acquiring their own ground in Garforth
. In order to gain election into the Yorkshire League in 1978 the club were forced to change their name to Garforth Miners, pub teams not being allowed in the league. They changed their name again in 1985 to Garforth Town A.F.C. In 2003 the club was bought by Simon Clifford
, the man who had brought Brazil
ian coaching methods to the United Kingdom with his string of ICFDS (International Confederation of Futebol de Salão) footballing academies. Despite the Yorkshire
club's low level in the National League System
, Garforth gained both national and international press attention at the start of the 2004–05 season with the signing of Brazil
legend Sócrates
on a one month deal as a player-coach, he played for Garforth against Tadcaster Albion
. The same season, former England
and Manchester United
winger Lee Sharpe
also played for the club. Another former Brazil international, Careca, who came out of retirement and spent time at the club during the 2005–06 season. Garforth currently compete in the Northern Premier League Division One North
.
. They remained in this league until 1980, when they entered into the Northern Universities League, under the name Leeds Polytechnic. The name of the club was changed to Leeds Met Carnegie during the early part of the 1990s, following the name change of the club's mother institution. In 2004, Leeds Met left the Northern Universities Leagueand rejoined the English football pyramid in the West Yorkshire League. The club won the league's Premier Division in 2005–06, but were not promoted due to their ground being unsuitable. After some re-organising following the 2006–07 season, the club were accepted into the Northern Counties East League
Division One courtesy of the club's groundsharing arrangement at Farsley Celtic's Throstle Nest
.
Leeds United Ladies play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division
having previously been promoted from the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division
in 2001. They are one of two Yorkshire teams in the national league, along with Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC
. Leeds Ladies finished 7th in the league last season (2005–06).
Their first attempt at a major trophy came in came in 2006 in the FA Women's Cup
final against Arsenal L.F.C.
. Leeds United
legend Allan Clarke
presented them with sock tags before the match, similar to those worn by the Leeds male team in 1972 Final F.A. Cup victory, in a gesture to give the team luck. The final however did not turn out how the team had hoped with the result ending up 5–0 in Arsenal
's favour with centre-back Lucy Ward scoring the opening goal (as an own goal) for Arsenal.
The second attempt at a major trophy came in came in 2007, also against Arsenal L.F.C.
. Leeds put in a much better performance than in their previous cup final appearance but cruelly lost out to a last minute strike by Arsenal's Jayne Ludlow
(Final Score — Leeds United Ladies 0 – 1 Arsenal Ladies)
After the clubs funding was cut from Leeds United
by chairman Ken Bates
they managed to survive by using sponsorship money. They were first sponsored by EmpireDirect.co.uk before receiving sponsorship from Leeds Metropolitan University in a deal reported to be worth over £250,000 over 5 years starting in 2007.
The club play their home matches at The Park, the home of Tadcaster Albion A.F.C.
, in Tadcaster
, North Yorkshire having previously played at the home of Garforth Town A.F.C.
.
Their most notable player is Sue Smith
who has played for over 10 years at international level for England, including at the 2007 Women's World Cup.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England, has several Football Clubs within its boundaries. Due to the popularity of rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
almost all association football clubs in the city have the suffix "A.F.C." instead of the more prevalent "F.C." used in most of England.
Leeds United
Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
are the only Football League team in the city of Leeds, with Leeds considered to be England's largest "one-club" city. Leeds United were formed after the original team Leeds City was forcibly disbanded by The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1919 in response to allegations of financial irregularities regarding illegal payments to players during the First World War.
Though currently in the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, Leeds United are still one of the most successful clubs in English football. In domestic competitions they have won the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
3 times and have been runners-up on 5 occasions, as well as having won the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
3 times, and being runners-up a further 3 times. United have reached the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
4 times, winning in 1972
1972 FA Cup Final
The 1972 FA Cup Final took place on 6 May 1972 at Wembley Stadium. It was the Centenary final and the 44th to be played at Wembley....
, the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
Final twice, winning in 1968
1968 Football League Cup Final
The 1968 Football League Cup Final took place on 2 March 1968 at Wembley Stadium. It was the eighth final and the second to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Arsenal and Leeds United....
, and the Charity Shield 3 times, winning in 1969 and 1992. In Europe United have been runners-up in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 1975
1975 European Cup Final
The 1975 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Parc des Princes, Paris, on 28 May 1975 between Leeds United and Bayern Munich.-Background:...
and in the Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
in 1973
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1972-73
The season 1972-73 of the European Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by AC Milan after a 1-0 victory against Leeds United at the Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, in Greece.- First round :-First leg:-----Second leg:...
. They have won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
twice, in 1968
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1967-68
The tenth Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was played over the 1967-68 season. The competition was won by Leeds United over two legs in the final against Ferencváros. It was the first English victory in the competition, despite sides from the country having finished as defeated finalists on four previous...
and 1971
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1970-71
The thirteenth and final Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was played over the 1970-71 season. The competition was won by Leeds United for the second time over two legs in the final against Juventus. It was the first time the competition final had been won on away goals. The competition was replaced the next...
, and were runners-up in 1967
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1966-67
The ninth Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was played over the 1966-'67 season. The competition was won by Dinamo Zagreb over two legs in the final against Leeds United. For the first time in the history of the cup, replays were scrapped, with sides going through thanks to scoring more away goals, or by...
.
Leeds City
Leeds' first professional football club, Leeds City, was formed in 1904, taking the crest of LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
as the club badge and adopting Blue, Yellow and White as the club's colours. They were elected to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1905. Leeds City's whole league career was in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
with Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman was an English association football player and manager. Though he had an undistinguished playing career, he went on to become one of the most successful and influential managers in early 20th century English football, before his sudden death in 1934.As a player, Chapman played for...
guiding the club to their highest position of 4th. However during World War I there ensued a sequence of financial irregularities, including breaking the ban on paying players during the war, that led to the club's dissolution in 1919. They were expelled from The Football League eight games into the 1919–20 season. Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
took over their remaining fixtures (as well as their results up to that point). In the wake of their demise, Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
were formed, and entered the Football League the following year.
The club did re-form in 1924 as an amateur club, taking part in the Yorkshire Football League
Yorkshire Football League
The Yorkshire Football League was a football competition founded in 1920 which existed until 1982 when it merged with the Midland League to become the Northern Counties East League.-Original League:...
, but dissolved in 1927. Currently there is a men's senior team under the name of Leeds City which formed in 2006. They play in the West Yorkshire League Division One, level 12 of the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
pyramid, 10 levels below where the original club played.
There is also a female team using the Leeds City name; Leeds City Vixens L.F.C.
Leeds City Vixens L.F.C.
Leeds City Vixens Ladies Football Club is an English women's football team founded in 1993 by Martin Cockerill, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
(see below). Neither club is recognised as an official continuation of the old club.
Guiseley
Guiseley A.F.C.Guiseley A.F.C.
Guiseley A.F.C. are an English football club from Guiseley, West Yorkshire, England.-History:Founded in 1909 by a local group of enthusiasts, the club’s first success came in 1913 when they won the local Wharfedale League...
are currently the second highest Leeds team in the National League System
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
, playing in Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
. The club, nicknamed the Lions, were formed sometime in the 1900s. They joined the Yorkshire League
Yorkshire League
Yorkshire League may refer to*One of the rugby league county leagues which ran between 1895 and 1970 as the premier rugby league competitions in the United Kingdom.*The CMS Yorkshire league, an amateur rugby league competition in the United Kingdom....
in 1968, remaining in this league until 182–83 when they became founder members of Northern Counties East League. In 1990–91 Guiseley won the FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
in a replayed final played at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
against Gresley Rovers
Gresley Rovers F.C.
Gresley Football Club are an English football club from Church Gresley, near Swadlincote, Derbyshire. Gresley are currently in the Midland Football Alliance, playing their home games at The Moat Ground...
after a 4–4 draw at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. This was coupled with the along with the Northern Counties East League title, gaining the club promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One. The club reached the FA Vase Final again in 1992, losing to Wimborne Town
Wimborne Town F.C.
Wimborne Town F.C. is a football club based in Wimborne Minster in Dorset, England. They were established in 1878 and won the FA Vase in 1992. They reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup in the 1982-83 season for the first time...
, and won the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
Division One in 1994. They stayed in the Premier Division until relegation in 2000 but returned to the top division in 2004 and won promotion to Conference North in 2009.
Farsley AFC
Farsley AFCFarsley A.F.C.
Farsley A.F.C. are a football club based in the town of Farsley in the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. They were established in 2010 from the ashes of Farsley Celtic and commenced playing in the Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division....
were formed in 2010, following the demise of Farsley Celtic
Farsley Celtic A.F.C.
Farsley Celtic Association Football Club was an English football club based in Farsley, in the City of Leeds. The club was known by the nicknames of the Villagers and the Celts; their colours were blue and white. Founded in 1908, the club spent their entire existence in non-league football, winning...
. The club secured enrety to the Northern Counties East League
Northern Counties East Football League
The Northern Counties East Football League is an English football league that was founded in 1982 by the merger of the former Yorkshire League and Midland League. The league has two divisions at present; The Premier Division and Division One which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the football...
Premier Division. The original club were founded in 1908 by a group of local men from the village of Farsley
Farsley
Farsley is a commuter town in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, West Yorkshire, England 6 miles to the west of Leeds city centre, and 4 miles east of Bradford. It was formerly in the municipal borough of nearby Pudsey....
, Celtic competed in local leagues around the Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
area and Hospital Cups before moving into the Yorkshire Football League
Yorkshire Football League
The Yorkshire Football League was a football competition founded in 1920 which existed until 1982 when it merged with the Midland League to become the Northern Counties East League.-Original League:...
in the 1940s. They stayed in this league until 1982, when the Yorkshire and Midland Leagues merged to form the Northern Counties East League. A few successful seasons later Farsley were invited into the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
. Farsley won promotion to the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
in 2005–06 via the play-offs, a success repeated the following season, promoting Celtic into the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
.
Farsley Celtic announced in July 2007 that they were considering changing their name to FC Leeds or Leeds Celtic because Farsley is not well known and so their fanbase is small, a change that could be in place by the 2008–09 season.
Following promotion to the Conference National, the club lasted one season and were relegated back to Conference North. The club went into administration and were unable to fulfill all of their fixtures in the 2009/10 campaign.
Yorkshire Amateur
Yorkshire Amateur A.F.C. were formed in Leeds in 1918, around the same time that Leeds City became defunct. Yorkshire Amateur were able to lease City's ground, Elland RoadElland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, but by 1920 it was sold to the newly formed Leeds United for £250. The club were one of the original founding members of the Yorkshire Football League
Yorkshire Football League
The Yorkshire Football League was a football competition founded in 1920 which existed until 1982 when it merged with the Midland League to become the Northern Counties East League.-Original League:...
in 1920–21, and played at various home grounds, as far away as Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
at one point. The following year they became the first ever football club from Britain to tour the Eastern European countries of Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and moved to their current home of Bracken Edge, in Leeds. The most successful year in the club's history was in 1931–32; they reached the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
1st round going out to Carlisle United 3–1, they reached the semi-finals of the FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
before going out to Marine
Marine F.C.
Marine Football Club is an English football club in Crosby, Merseyside. The club, which was founded in 1894, is a member of both the Liverpool County and Lancashire County Football Associations, and currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.Marine is notable for having the...
2–1 and were crowned champions of the Yorkshire Football League
Yorkshire Football League
The Yorkshire Football League was a football competition founded in 1920 which existed until 1982 when it merged with the Midland League to become the Northern Counties East League.-Original League:...
Division Two. Yorkshire Amateur currently play in Northern Counties East League
Northern Counties East Football League
The Northern Counties East Football League is an English football league that was founded in 1982 by the merger of the former Yorkshire League and Midland League. The league has two divisions at present; The Premier Division and Division One which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the football...
Division One.
Garforth Town
Garforth Town was formed during 1964 as a pub team called Miners Arms, playing in SwillingtonSwillington
Swillington is a small village and civil parish near Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough. It is located east of the River Aire and surrounded by streams including Fleakingley Beck. As of 2001, Swillington had a population of about 3,530.Swillington used to be a...
. The team joined the West Yorkshire League in 1976, at the same time acquiring their own ground in Garforth
Garforth
Garforth is a town within the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, in West Yorkshire, England. The 2001 Census lists 23,892 residents in the Garforth and Swillington ward - 80.57% of which are homeowners, 20% more than the average for Leeds. Garforth itself has 15,394 of those people...
. In order to gain election into the Yorkshire League in 1978 the club were forced to change their name to Garforth Miners, pub teams not being allowed in the league. They changed their name again in 1985 to Garforth Town A.F.C. In 2003 the club was bought by Simon Clifford
Simon Clifford
Simon Darcy Clifford is an English football coach, and a businessman known for introducing Brazilian training techniques into the UK with his Brazilian Soccer Schools....
, the man who had brought Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian coaching methods to the United Kingdom with his string of ICFDS (International Confederation of Futebol de Salão) footballing academies. Despite the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
club's low level in the National League System
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
, Garforth gained both national and international press attention at the start of the 2004–05 season with the signing of Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
legend Sócrates
Sócrates
Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, MD, , more commonly known simply as Sócrates, is a Brazilian former association footballer....
on a one month deal as a player-coach, he played for Garforth against Tadcaster Albion
Tadcaster Albion A.F.C.
Tadcaster Albion A.F.C. are an English football club based in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, formed in 1892. Their ground is situated behind the John Smith's brewery in Tadcaster, thus the reason for their nickname "The Brewers". Currently, they are members of the Northern Counties East Football...
. The same season, former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
winger Lee Sharpe
Lee Sharpe
Lee Stuart Sharpe is an English former footballer. Predominantly a left winger, Sharpe joined Manchester United from Torquay United as a youngster in 1988, playing for the club up until 1996...
also played for the club. Another former Brazil international, Careca, who came out of retirement and spent time at the club during the 2005–06 season. Garforth currently compete in the Northern Premier League Division One North
Northern Premier League Division One North
Division One North is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at tier 4 of the National League System, tier 8 of the English football league system...
.
Leeds Metropolitan Carnegie
Leeds Metropolitan Carnegie F.C. were established in 1970 as Leeds & Carnegie College F.C. andwere entered into the Yorkshire Football LeagueYorkshire Football League
The Yorkshire Football League was a football competition founded in 1920 which existed until 1982 when it merged with the Midland League to become the Northern Counties East League.-Original League:...
. They remained in this league until 1980, when they entered into the Northern Universities League, under the name Leeds Polytechnic. The name of the club was changed to Leeds Met Carnegie during the early part of the 1990s, following the name change of the club's mother institution. In 2004, Leeds Met left the Northern Universities Leagueand rejoined the English football pyramid in the West Yorkshire League. The club won the league's Premier Division in 2005–06, but were not promoted due to their ground being unsuitable. After some re-organising following the 2006–07 season, the club were accepted into the Northern Counties East League
Northern Counties East Football League
The Northern Counties East Football League is an English football league that was founded in 1982 by the merger of the former Yorkshire League and Midland League. The league has two divisions at present; The Premier Division and Division One which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the football...
Division One courtesy of the club's groundsharing arrangement at Farsley Celtic's Throstle Nest
Throstle Nest
Throstle Nest is a football ground situated adjacent to a new housing development, that was the home of Farsley Celtic football club, in Farsley in the Metropolitan District of the City of Leeds from 1948 to 2010. It has a capacity of 3,900 of which 400 are seated...
.
Women's Football
Leeds City Vixens was started in 1993 as Meanwood Vixens, growing into what is now Leeds City Vixens. The team started in the Sheffield and District Girl’s League, winning the U12’s, U14’s and U16’s . The senior team was formed, competing in the Yorkshire & Humberside League, before being promoted in 2003 to the Northern Combination League. They only lasted one season there and were relegated back to the Yorkshire & Humberside League. They won the league at the first attempt and were again promoted, finishing 2nd in their first season back in the Northern Combination. From 2007–08 Vixens groundshare with Yorkshire Amateur A.F.C. as their previous ground was unsuitable.Leeds United Ladies play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
having previously been promoted from the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division
FA Women's Premier League Northern Division
The FA Women's Premier League Northern Division is a league in the third-level in the women's football pyramid in England, along with the Southern division. These two divisions are below the FA Women's Super League and National Division....
in 2001. They are one of two Yorkshire teams in the national league, along with Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC
Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC
Doncaster Rovers Belles Ladies Football Club, previously Doncaster Belles, are an English semi-professional Women's association football club based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire...
. Leeds Ladies finished 7th in the league last season (2005–06).
Their first attempt at a major trophy came in came in 2006 in the FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
final against Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
. Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
legend Allan Clarke
Allan Clarke (footballer)
Allan John Clarke , nicknamed "Sniffer", is a former footballer who played in the Football League for Walsall, Fulham, Leicester City, Leeds United and Barnsley, and won 19 international caps for England.-Early career:Clarke started his career at Walsall and made his debut aged 17, in 1963...
presented them with sock tags before the match, similar to those worn by the Leeds male team in 1972 Final F.A. Cup victory, in a gesture to give the team luck. The final however did not turn out how the team had hoped with the result ending up 5–0 in Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
's favour with centre-back Lucy Ward scoring the opening goal (as an own goal) for Arsenal.
The second attempt at a major trophy came in came in 2007, also against Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
. Leeds put in a much better performance than in their previous cup final appearance but cruelly lost out to a last minute strike by Arsenal's Jayne Ludlow
Jayne Ludlow
Jayne Louise Ludlow is a Welsh football player. She plays for the English side Arsenal, and captains the Welsh national team...
(Final Score — Leeds United Ladies 0 – 1 Arsenal Ladies)
After the clubs funding was cut from Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
by chairman Ken Bates
Ken Bates
Kenneth William Bates is a British businessman and football executive. The current chairman and now owner of Leeds United AFC, Bates was previously chairman and majority shareholder of Chelsea FC from 1982 until 2003....
they managed to survive by using sponsorship money. They were first sponsored by EmpireDirect.co.uk before receiving sponsorship from Leeds Metropolitan University in a deal reported to be worth over £250,000 over 5 years starting in 2007.
The club play their home matches at The Park, the home of Tadcaster Albion A.F.C.
Tadcaster Albion A.F.C.
Tadcaster Albion A.F.C. are an English football club based in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, formed in 1892. Their ground is situated behind the John Smith's brewery in Tadcaster, thus the reason for their nickname "The Brewers". Currently, they are members of the Northern Counties East Football...
, in Tadcaster
Tadcaster
Tadcaster is a market town and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. Lying on the Great North Road approximately east of Leeds and west of York. It is the last town on the River Wharfe before it joins the River Ouse about downstream...
, North Yorkshire having previously played at the home of Garforth Town A.F.C.
Garforth Town A.F.C.
Garforth Town Association Football Club are an English football team based in Garforth, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One North, the 8th level of the English football pyramid.-History:...
.
Their most notable player is Sue Smith
Sue Smith (footballer)
Susan Jane "Sue" Smith is an international footballer, currently playing for Lincoln Ladies and England. She is an experienced left-sided winger or forward.-Club career:...
who has played for over 10 years at international level for England, including at the 2007 Women's World Cup.
See also
- LeedsLeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
- Sport in EnglandSport in EnglandSport plays a prominent role in English life. Popular team sports in England are association football, cricket, rugby union and rugby league. Major individual sports include badminton, athletics, tennis, golf, motorsport and horseracing...
- Sport in the United KingdomSport in the United KingdomThe United Kingdom has given birth to a range of major international sports including: Association football, rugby , cricket, golf, tennis, badminton, squash, rounders, hockey, boxing, snooker, billiards and curling...
- Sport in LeedsSport in LeedsLeeds has a strong sporting heritage, with the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Carnegie playing at Headingley Stadium, and Leeds United A.F.C. playing at Elland Road. The Headquarters of the Rugby Football League is based in Leeds.-Football:In the early 20th Century Leeds...