1976–77_Leeds_United_A.F.C._season
1976–77 Leeds United A.F.C. season
1976–77 season of Leeds United
The 1976–77 season was Leeds United's thirteenth consecutive season in the Football League First Division. Along with the First Division, they also competed in the FA Cup and the Football League Cup.
| 1976–77 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Manny Cussins |
| Manager | Jimmy Armfield |
| Stadium | Elland Road |
| First Division | 10th |
| FA Cup | Semi-finals |
| League Cup | Second round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Joe Jordan (10) All: Joe Jordan (12) |
| Highest home attendance | 48,708 vs Manchester City (27 December 1976, First Division) |
| Lowest home attendance | 16,891 vs West Ham United (26 April 1977, First Division) |
| Average home league attendance | 31,176 |
← 1975–76 | |
Leeds United's league form was inconsistent and they could only muster fifteen league wins all season. Their start was poor with one win in their first nine games. They recovered a little through the autumn but continued to struggle for goals. Leeds though faded away and finished in 10th, their lowest finish since 1964.
On a more positive note, Leeds went on a brilliant FA Cup run they beat Norwich City, Birmingham City, Manchester City and Wolves to reach the semi-finals, where they were drawn with Manchester United. They conceded two early goals at Hillsborough and even after Allan Clarke pulled a goal back, Leeds could not recover.
There was an inconsolable feeling about the club as the season drew to a close. The crowd of 16,891 who watched Leeds draw 1–1 with West Ham United on 26 April at Elland Road was the lowest since the club's return to the First Division, bearing testimony to the depression felt by the Leeds fans.
Football League First Division
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Arsenal | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 64 | 59 | +5 | 43 |
| 9 | Everton | 42 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 62 | 64 | −2 | 42 |
| 10 | Leeds United | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 48 | 51 | −3 | 42 |
| 11 | Leicester City | 42 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 47 | 60 | −13 | 42 |
| 12 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 40 | 45 | −5 | 41 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Matches
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result[lower-alpha 1] | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 August 1976 | West Bromwich Albion | Home | 2–2 | Clarke, Harris | 40,248 |
| 24 August 1976 | Birmingham City | Away | 0–0 | — | 35,399 |
| 28 August 1976 | Coventry City | Away | 2–4 | Currie, F. Gray | 18,227 |
| 4 September 1976 | Derby County | Home | 2–0 | Cherry, E. Gray | 33,352 |
| 11 September 1976 | Tottenham Hotspur | Away | 0–1 | — | 35,525 |
| 18 September 1976 | Newcastle United | Home | 2–2 | Harris, McNiven | 35,089 |
| 25 September 1976 | Middlesbrough | Away | 0–1 | — | 25,000 |
| 2 October 1976 | Manchester United | Home | 0–2 | — | 44,512 |
| 6 October 1976 | West Ham United | Away | 3–1 | Harris, Lorimer, E. Gray | 21,909 |
| 16 October 1976 | Norwich City | Away | 2–1 | E. Gray, F. Gray | 25,217 |
| 23 October 1976 | Liverpool | Home | 1–1 | McNiven | 44,696 |
| 30 October 1976 | Arsenal | Home | 2–1 | Cherry, Jordan | 33,566 |
| 6 November 1976 | Everton | Away | 2–0 | Jordan, McQueen | 32,618 |
| 10 November 1976 | Stoke City | Home | 1–1 | Lorimer | 29,199 |
| 20 November 1976 | Ipswich Town | Away | 1–1 | McQueen | 30,096 |
| 27 November 1976 | Leicester City | Home | 2–2 | Lorimer, McNiven | 29,713 |
| 11 December 1976 | Aston Villa | Home | 1–3 | McNiven | 31,232 |
| 27 December 1976 | Manchester City | Home | 0–2 | — | 48,708 |
| 29 December 1976 | Sunderland | Away | 1–0 | Jordan | 26,999 |
| 3 January 1977 | Arsenal | Away | 1–1 | Clarke | 44,090 |
| 22 January 1977 | West Bromwich Albion | Away | 2–1 | McQueen, E. Gray | 25,958 |
| 2 February 1977 | Birmingham City | Home | 1–0 | McQueen | 22,805 |
| 5 February 1977 | Coventry City | Home | 1–2 | Jordan | 26,058 |
| 12 February 1977 | Derby County | Away | 1–0 | Jordan | 28,350 |
| 19 February 1977 | Tottenham Hotspur | Home | 2–0 | Clarke, Jordan | 16,201 |
| 2 March 1977 | Newcastle United | Away | 0–3 | — | 31,995 |
| 5 March 1977 | Middlesbrough | Home | 2–1 | McQueen (2) | 32,152 |
| 8 March 1977 | Queens Park Rangers | Away | 0–0 | — | 20,386 |
| 12 March 1977 | Manchester United | Away | 0–1 | — | 60,612 |
| 23 March 1977 | Norwich City | Home | 3–2 | Jordan, Reaney, Hampton | 18,700 |
| 2 April 1977 | Liverpool | Away | 1–3 | McQueen | 48,791 |
| 8 April 1977 | Manchester City | Away | 1–2 | Jordan | 47,727 |
| 9 April 1977 | Sunderland | Home | 1–1 | Cherry | 32,966 |
| 12 April 1977 | Stoke City | Away | 1–2 | Jordan | 17,960 |
| 16 April 1977 | Ipswich Town | Home | 2–1 | McGhie, Clarke (pen) | 28,578 |
| 26 April 1977 | West Ham United | Home | 1–1 | Jordan | 16,891 |
| 30 April 1977 | Bristol City | Home | 2–0 | Thomas, E. Gray | 21,461 |
| 4 May 1977 | Everton | Home | 0–0 | — | 22,175 |
| 7 May 1977 | Aston Villa | Away | 1–2 | McNiven | 38,205 |
| 10 May 1977 | Bristol City | Away | 0–1 | — | 23,587 |
| 14 May 1977 | Queens Park Rangers | Home | 0–1 | — | 22,226 |
| 16 May 1977 | Leicester City | Away | 1–0 | F. Gray | 13,642 |
Source:[1]
FA Cup
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result[lower-alpha 1] | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third round | 8 January 1977 | Norwich City | Home | 5–2 | Clarke, Jordan, Reaney, Hampton, McQueen | 28,130 |
| Fourth round | 29 January 1977 | Birmingham City | Away | 2–1 | Clarke, Jordan | 38,000 |
| Fifth round | 26 February 1977 | Manchester City | Home | 1–0 | Cherry | 47,731 |
| Quarter-final | 19 March 1977 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Away | 1–0 | E. Gray | 50,000 |
| Semi-final | 23 April 1977 | Manchester United | Neutral | 1–2 | Clarke | 55,000 |
Source:[1]
League Cup
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result[lower-alpha 1] | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second round | 1 September 1976 | Stoke City | Away | 1–2 | Currie | 22,550 |
Source:[1]
- "Leeds United 1976-1977 Results - statto.com". Archived from the original on 31 December 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2012.