Elland Road 23rd of March 1974
As told by one of the Burnley team.
Burnley had come up against Leeds United on the 10th of November of the 1973/74 season at Turf Moor. Leeds were in the middle of a record breaking run of no defeats. A tough match for Burnley against a 'robust'and physical side. Lots of exchanges both verbal and physical during the nil-nil draw. None more verbal than Burnley's diminutive midfielder Doug Collins, firing an almost continuous invective at the opposition throughout the match. So infuriating were Collins' tauntings, that at the final whistle he had to be escorted off the pitch between two of Burnley's biggest, Jim Thomson and Colin Waldron, only to be met at the top of the tunnel by the Leeds manager Don Revie, who faced Collins and screamed that on the return match at Elland Road "Both your legs will be broken".
Fast forward to Saturday the 23rd of March, Elland Road Leeds. Kick-off 3:00 pm. Prior to kick-off, as was usual, the two opposing managers attended the match referee for briefings and team information. At the end of the interview, the referee said "Thanks gentlemen. Have you anything to add?" "Yes Ref," said Jimmy Adamson, Burnley's manager "When we last met earlier in the season, the Leeds manager (Revie) threatened one of my players with having his legs broken during today's match." Incandescent is the only word to describe Revie.
Later reports of the match used words such as 'brutal', 'savage', 'ferocious'. Burnley ran out 4-1 victors with 2 goals from Paul Fletcher (the second one a breathtaking overhead kick), 1 from Doug Collins, and one from Geoff Nulty. Clarke providing Leeds only goal. A great victory, but at the cost of some serious injuries suffered by Burnley players. Arguably, Frank Casper's career end by a vicious off pitch kick to his knee by Norman Hunter.
Only one Burnley player escaped any kind of injury that day.
Guess?
Yes. Dougie Collins.
Dirty Leeds at their finest..😇
