Out of the wilderness - Leeds celebrate after the long road back

170720 Leeds United Hurt 16 years
Leeds' long-suffering fans now have something to celebrate Credit: PA

Leeds United's long suffering fans can now start the long celebrations after finally rejoining football's elite.

It was 2004 when the club fell through the Premier League's trapdoor.

This was just three years after competing against Europe's best in the Champions League, before a period of over spending and under achieving caught up with Leeds United.

Dominic Matteo, the captain of that relegated side, says the pain stays with him to this day.

Leeds United nearly made a quick return to the Premier League in 2006's play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

But it ended in disappointment and humiliation with a 3-0 defeat to Watford.

One of the players from that final - Shaun Derry - says Leeds are one of the top six clubs in England and he was scarred by that match and the way the fans were let down.

Leeds' fall from grace has been a steep and deep one.

The club plunged into league one in 2007, and finished fifth, their lowest ever league position.

Two failed play-off campaigns followed before Leeds fans finally had something to cheer about - promotion back to the championship in 2010.

Simon Grayson was the manager and he says it was important that such a big club with its big fan base had that success and would be back on a bigger stage.

But it was to be 10 more years of battling away in the Championship before Leeds would finally break free and make their long-awaited return to the Premier League.


FACT FILE - Leeds United's 16 years of hurt

  • 2004 Relegation from Premier League.

  • 2006 Play-off final defeat: 3-0 v Watford at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

  • 2007 Relegation from Championship.

  • 2008 Play-off final defeat: 1-0 v Doncaster Rovers at Wembley.

  • 2009 Play-off semi-final defeat: 2-1 on aggregate V Millwall

  • 2010 Promotion from League One.

  • 2019 Play-off semi-final defeat: 4-3 on aggregate V Derby County.

  • 2020 Promotion back to the Premier League.


Calendar's Chris Dawkes has been looking back at those sixteen years in the wilderness.