Leeds United A.F.C.
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Full name : Leeds United Association Football Club
Nickname(s) : The Whites, United, The Peacocks
Founded : 1919
Ground : Elland Road
(Capacity 40,242)
Chairman : Ken Bates
Manager : Gary McAllister
League : League One

Leeds United
--------------------------------------------------------------------    Leeds United Association Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Leeds United or informally Leeds, are an English professional football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club's home is the Elland Road stadium in Beeston, where they have played since their foundation in 1919. The club has competed at the top level of English football for the majority of its existence, following the disbanding of its predecessor Leeds City. However, Leeds are competing in League One for the 2007–08 season. This is the first time the club has dropped below the top two tiers of domestic football in England.
   Under the management of Don Revie during the 1960s and 1970s, Leeds won a number of domestic and European trophies. After Revie's departure to manage the England team, Leeds were relegated to the Second Division in 1982, not returning to the top flight until 1990, when they were managed by Howard Wilkinson. Leeds were league champions two seasons later, in 1992.
   The club's most common nicknames are "Leeds", "United" or "The Whites". Another nickname is "The Peacocks", though this is virtually obsolete. This term stems from the former name of the Elland Road, The Old Peacock Ground, which was in turn named after The Old Peacock pub opposite Elland Road's South Stand.
   Although the club name bears the "AFC" suffix, the current badge displays "LUFC". However, previous badges have included the official suffix in its entirety.

Stadium and supporters
--------------------------------------------------------------------    Elland Road was sold by the club in October 2004 with a 25-year sale-lease back deal being agreed. A commercial buy-back clause was also included for when the club’s finances improve. According to a recent Board of Directors statement, Leeds United should have become debt free in the 2006/07 season. However, the club went into administration at the end of the 2006-07 season.
   Initially the ground was the home of the Holbeck Rugby Club who played in the northern rugby union, the forerunner of the rugby football league. One of Leeds' first nicknames, 'The Peacocks', comes from the original name of Elland Road - 'The Old Peacock ground'. It was named by the original owners of the ground, Bentley's Brewery, after their pub 'The Old Peacock' which still faces the site.
   When Leeds United were formed, the council allowed the new club to rent the stadium until they could afford to buy it themselves. With the exception of periods from the 1960s until 1983, and from 1997 to 2004, the council has owned the stadium. It is however owned by a leasing company at present. The stadium is currently the 10th largest football stadium in England.
   The most recent stand at Elland Road is the East or Family Stand, a cantilever structure completed during the 1992-93 season, and which can hold 17,000 seated spectators. It is two tiered stand which continues around the corners, and is the largest part of the stadium. The Don Revie Stand was opened at the start of the 1994-95 season, and can hold just under 7,000 seated spectators. The roof of the West Stand holds a television commentary gantry and walkway for TV personnel.
   Alex Ferguson has said that Elland Road has one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European Football. Leeds are 10th in the all time average attendance figures for the Football League & Premier League, and have the third most rivalries in the English League. Peter Reid commented after being relieved of his managerial duties at Elland Road that "In 30 years I've never seen support like I did at the Arsenal game [at Elland Road] a couple of weeks ago. The fans at Leeds are fantastic." Reid was also joined by two other previous managers on the eve of Leeds' first appearance in the third tier. Reid said that "the support is fantastic" and "incredible", Blackwell said "fans will follow them everywhere" and O'Leary commented "There is an immense fan base and they are still with the club".