On This Day – 4th April
Footballers of today complain if they have to play three games in a week.
This pales into insignificance when you look back fifty years to Leeds United’s run in to the end of the 1969/70 season.
It was on this day in 1970 that Leeds United played their eighth game in 20 days, beating Burnley 2-1 in the First Division.
Eddie Gray scored two goals in the win over Burnley, the first from long-range and second an incredible solo goal. I have put a video showing both of the goals at the bottom of the article.
The Yorkshire club were chasing the League, FA Cup and European Cup Treble at the time under manager Don Revie. Sadly for all at Elland Road, United would fall short in all three competitions.
Everton would end up winning the League, nine points ahead of Leeds in second place. Leeds would lose the FA Cup Final to Chelsea, in a 2-1 replay at Old Trafford. Celtic won the European Cup Semi Final between the two but lost the final to Feyenoord.
This is the list of the eight games that Leeds played over a 20 day period back in 1970:
21st March Won 2-1 Wolves (Division One)
23rd March Drew 0-0 (after extra time) Manchester United (FA Cup Semi Final Replay)
26th March Won 1-0 Manchester United (FA Cup Semi Final 2nd Replay)
28th March Lost 1-3 Southampton (Division One)
30th March Lost 1-4 Derby County (Division One)
1st April Lost 1-0 Celtic (European Cup Semi Final First Leg)
2nd April Drew 2-2 West Ham United (Division One)
4th April Won 2-1 Burnley (Division One)
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