Date: Saturday, 25^th September 1965.

Venue: Elland Road, Leeds.

Competition: First Division.

Score: Leeds United 3 Blackburn Rovers 0

Scorers: Leeds United: Lorimer (2) Cooper. Blackburn Rovers: Nil.

Attendance: 31,098.

Teams:

Leeds United: Sprake; Reaney, Madeley; Bremner, Charlton, Hunter; Giles, Lorimer, Peacock, Collins, Cooper.

Blackburn Rovers: Else; Newton, Wilson; Clayton, England, Sharples; Ferguson, McEvoy, Jones, Douglas, Harrison.

Referee: Mr P.G. Brandwood (Walsall).

Back in late September 1965, United were looking forward to breaking new territory with their first games in Europe as they contemplated the Inter-Cities Fairs ties with the Italian giants Torino, who were due at Elland Road the following Wednesday. United could hardly have wished for a better pre-Europe boost than the emphatic victory they achieved at the expense of Blackburn Rovers. Manager Don Revie was able to select from almost full-strength while Blackburn had their distinguished casualty, Bryan Douglas, an England regular, back in action for the first time following a pre-season knee injury.

Alan Peacock and Johnny Giles combined well to set up United’s first goal for young striker Peter Lorimer, who hammered the ball home from close range. Two minutes later Terry Cooper cracked home a precise left foot drive just under the bar from twenty yards as United’s early authority drew further tangible reward. The game was virtually over as a spectacle in the twentieth minute when United went three up. Lorimer’s good sense of position found him in the clear in front of goal when Billy Bremner lofted the ball over the Rover’s defence and Lorimer’s close range shooting did the rest.

Douglas’ lack of match practice was noticeable but though Rovers, who had not picked up a single point on their travels, never gave up the fight they were a well-beaten side long before the end. One would have thought that a 3-0 victory was satisfying enough but the United players had to put up with a slow handclap which briefly broke out in a small section of the crowd during the second half. Manager Don Revie was shocked by the outburst and commented, “It greatly upset my players, especially the young ones among them. I never heard anything so unfair about what must be the hardest trying set of players in the league. These are the men and boys who in the last three and a half years have given Elland Road something to shout about at last. They are second in the First Division, on goal average only, and this was their reward”.

Players:

Peter Lorimer scored twice for Leeds

Blackburn Stars:

England Right Back: Keith Newton Left Back: Billy Wilson England International Right Half: Ronnie Clayton

Welsh International Centre-Half: Mike Free scoring Striker Andy McEvoy moves in on Spurs keeper Bill Brown

England

Mercurial England International Right

Wing/Midfield schemer: Bryan Douglas