When Don Revie Ruled Them All

This day deserves his achievements to be remembered.Some of this I've written before but there's plenty new. He made us who we are. But for him we may have died as a club in this century.

The 1964/5 season saw Leeds United arrive in the top flight of English football. Don Revie’s top flight reign at Leeds would last for TEN seasons to the end of the 1973/4 when he took over the England job.

It was our greatest ever period of success. It was also a time shared by other great managers. The end of the Busby era at Manchester United, The Shankly years at Liverpool, Brian Clough at Derby. This is probably why no team during that time won the league more than twice, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester United sharing the title twice each. Single winners were Manchester City, Arsenal, Everton and Derby. With the titles so evenly spread it suggests a real strength in depth within our top division during that time.

In addition to the title wins, Runner up was claimed by Leeds on five occasions. Liverpool twice, and once by Arsenal, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

Thirty three teams played in the top division during those years but only nine clubs were ever present during the whole period. Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester United, Stoke City, Spurs, and West Ham.

Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion had nine years each
Manchester City, Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Nottingham Forest and Southampton eight seasons each.
Sheffield United and Coventry, seven years.
Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland six appearances.
Derby five seasons
Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Fulham, four seasons.
Aston Villa and Birmingham, three each.
Blackburn, Huddersfield, Norwich, and QPR twice
Northampton Town once.


Points totals during The 1964-5 1974-5 Don Revie Era

Team -- Pts -- Years in top Flight
.1 Leeds United -- 584 -- 10
.2 Liverpool --548 -- 10
.3 Arsenal -- 483 -- 10
.4 Chelsea -- 480 -- 10
.5 Manchester United -- 476 -- 10
.6 Tottenham Hotspur -- 470 -- 10
.7 Everton -- 467 -- 10
.8 Stoke City -- 394 -- 10
.9 West Ham -- 388 -- 10
10 Newcastle United -- 367 -- 9
11 Manchester City -- 359 -- 8
12 West Bromwich Albion -- 352 -- 9
13 Wolves -- 328 -- 8
14 Burnley -- 325 -- 8
15 Leicester City -- 314 -- 8
16 Nottingham Forest -- 310 -- 8
17 Southampton -- 298 -- 8
18 Sheffield United -- 278 -- 7
19 Coventry City -- 261 -- 7
20 Derby County -- 247 -- 5
21 Ipswich Town -- 239 -- 6
22 Sheffield Wednesday -- 215 -- 6
23 Sunderland -- 206 -- 6
24 Fulham -- 130 -- 4
25 Crystal Palace -- 121 -- 4
26 Blackpool -- 116 -- 4
27 Birmingham City -- 106 -- 3
28 Aston Villa -- 102 -- 3
29 Blackburn Rovers -- 62 -- 2
30 Huddersfield Town -- 61 -- 2
31 Norwich City -- 61 -- 2
32 Queens Park Rangers -- 61 -- 2
33 Northampton Town -- 33 -- 1

His trophy haul was.

2 League Titles
1 FA Cup
1 League Cup
1 Charity Shield
2 Fairs (uefa) Cups


Using the current day qualification criteria his side would have qualified every year for the Champions League I think he would have won it under those rules too. His team got to four European finals in ten years. Five if you allow that just outside of this time period; Jimmy Armfield was in charge for the '75 European Cup Final.

Moreover his side truly was Champions of the European Co-efficiency rankings for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972.

We were the Champions of Europe whatever the results of two of the most dubious finals ever may officially say.

A white star should sit proudly over our badge on the white shirt invisible from a distance; but we know what it’s for.

Maybe Bayern should question the colour of their second star.

Wouldn’t that rattle Uefa?