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March 1968: Leeds United's first ever major trophy - the League Cup. This picture was taken at Wembley after the one goal victory over Arsenal. Back row, left to right: G. Sprake, P. Lorimer, E. Gray, J. Charlton, P. Madeley, R. Belfitt (Substitute). Front row, left to right: J. Greenhoff, T. Cooper, P. Reaney, N. Hunter, J. Giles, B. Bremner. |
| There is no doubt that 2nd March,
1968, is a date that will always carry great significance throughout the history
of Leeds United F.C., because it was on that day that the club at last won its
first major honour, when Arsenal were beaten in the final of the League Cup at
Wembley. The match itself was by no means a great one, with United showing
tension on an occasion when they dare not fall again at the last hurdle, and
after Terry Cooper had struck a superb half-volley into Arsenal's goal from a
corner clearance with 19 minutes gone, they were prepared to defend that lead -
with Arsenal lacking the guile to do much about it. After the game Arsenal
claimed that Jack Charlton had fouled their goalkeeper in the corner incident
that led up to the vital goal, but they conveniently ignored the fact that
Charlton was pushed down as the ball was on its way across from another
corner-kick a few minutes later, and most people felt that a penalty should have
been awarded.
Arguments or not though, the crucial psychological breakthrough had been made and it now seemed only a matter of time before other, even bigger, honours would come the club's way - perhaps in that same 1967-68 season. When title challengers Manchester City visited Elland Road three weeks later they sank to defeat, with goals from Johnny Giles and Jack Charlton settling a classic encounter, but it was City who recovered from that set-back and they went on to win the League Championship in which Leeds again finished in fourth place. The F.A. Cup had once more provided considerable interest for United, and they reached the semi-final stage again where they met Everton in a close, hard fought match on a heavy Old Trafford pitch, but it was Everton who went on to the final with a single goal scored in rather bizarre circumstances. Goalkeeper Gary Sprake made a ghastly mess of a throw out from the corner of the penalty area, and intended for Terry Cooper, but instead the ball landed at the feet of an Everton forward who was left with a straight shot at an almost empty goal. There was no alternative for a desperate Jack Charlton, who managed to get a hand to the ball and prevent it from entering the net, but alas, Johnny Morrisey scored from the resulting penalty-kick and so once more it was the dear old Fairs' Cup that Leeds were left to fall back on. |
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