Since they reached the Champion's League semi-final the great Yorkshire club experienced a disastrous seven years that has seen the club experience relegations (twice), lost play-off finals, administration and a revolving door of managers. In the ensuing time Leeds have become somewhat of a cautionary tale for teams in the Premier League. When Newcastle United were relegated last year, many fans felt they could "do a Leeds", now that Liverpool have had one poor season, according to Man Utd fans, they will "do a Leeds". The last few seasons have not exactly been brilliant to be a follower of Leeds.
Well today brings new optimism for one of the greatest clubs in English football. Today's attendance in Elland road was a staggering 38,234 people. That's 38,234 fans at a third-tier match, bigger than the full capacity of 11 stadiums in the Premier League! Not since Manchester City were in the old Division 2 has there been crowds of that magnitude in the lower leagues of English football.
Man City should be a source of inspiration for all Leeds fans. The blue side of Manchester was languishing out of the Premier League for nearly half a decade before re-establishing themselves in the top tier and becoming the big-spenders that we know them as today. So instead of being the doom and gloom merchants looking for a high profile side to "do a Leeds", let's instead hope that the once dominant force of English football returns to where they belong and "do a City."
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