LUFC: Images of 1990/91

Sadly a rather limited selection from the first campaign back in the top flight, so any other good quality pics would be most welcome. As always, click on any photo to enlarge…

The biggest story to come out of the summer recruitment campaign was the arrival of Gary McAllister who’s presence ultimately spelt the end of Vinnie Jones’ Leeds career. He was to depart to Bramall Lane in the early weeks of the season.

Opening day at Goodison Park: One team on the up, another on the downward slope – trailing 2-0 at half-time was too much for Neville Southall who staged his own sit down protest, rather than go to the dressing room…

…it’s hardly likely that Imre Varadi poking home from close range after 56 minutes helped cheer his mood. I proved to be the winner as the Whites survived a comeback from the Toffees to win 3-2.

Two young Leeds fans had even greater cause to remember the opening day return.

Talking of returns, Vinnie’s first return to pitch in a Leeds game arrived within weeks of his departure. Add Paul Beesley and Brian Deane to the equation and the photo was essentially one of Leeds past, present and future…

Ironically it was a forgotten man who made many of the headlines that day as John Pearson scored his only top flight goal to set Leeds on the way to a 2-0 victory…a certain Gordon Strachan sealed the points, famously celebrating doing so by sitting atop an advertising board.

If John Pearson scoring in the top flight seems remarkable, it’s also worth remembering that Leeds achieved a fourth place finish with this man a regular in the side for most of the season too.

First season back and a 0-0 draw at Villa Park in October represented a decent return…

…even if the likes of Chapman and Speed were going to be pivotal in a 4-1 demolition, a little over 12 months later.

Only just into his first full season, Gary Speed was blossoming into a ‘Top Man’ both on and off the pitch…

With sweet left foot, a majestic leap, and a keen eye for goal, he formed one part of the finest Leeds midfield since the days of Bremner, Giles, Gray and Lorimer…

…along with these two…

…and the new boy, here in action during the extraordinary April clash versus Liverpool. An astounding first half display saw the visitors lead 4-0 at the interval but a Lee Chapman hat-trick inspired an amazing fightback. Only a ludicrous decision by the referee, Ken Redfearn, to disallow another Chapman goal for a non-existent push on the keeper denied the Whites a point.

Riding on the crest of a wave, the manager was fearless in his pursuit of high fashion.

The title winning season of 1991/92 may be most famous in terms re-igniting the Leeds/Manchester United rivalry, but in actual fact, it was the bitterly fought Rumbelow’s Cup Semi-Final that really sparked off the old animosities, a full 6 months beforehand…

A bitter row over ticket allocations served to ensure 3000 Leeds fans stood above an empty terrace at Old Trafford as a narrow 2-1 defeat set up the return game at Elland Road.

Cue a return leg played out amidst a vicious atmosphere and a fair degree of niggle…

I still have memories of the Kop being packed that day a full hour before kick-off and being unable to hear myself think when the opposition came out to warm up…

But as much as Leeds pressed, that vital, single goal just wouldn’t arrive…

And while Lee Chapman was left to curse his ill fortune, Lee Sharpe raced down to the Leeds end to seal a safe passage with an injury time winner (and trademark w***y dance around the corner flag)

It was especially rough justice on Chapman who scored over 30 goals during the season, but failed to register in either tie having courageously rushed back after sustaining an horrific facial injury at White Hart Lane.

So as not to linger on that spectacle, here’s another pic of Chappy looking rather better…

…and to finish, one to prove his partner in posing, is not shy of going solo.

Follow Fear and Loathing on twitter.