Leeds United A.F.C. and Manchester United F.C. rivalry
| Other names | Leeds United vs Manchester United, Pennines derby |
|---|---|
| Locale | Northern England |
| Teams |
Leeds United Manchester United |
| First meeting | 20 January 1923 Manchester United 0–0 Leeds United |
| Latest meeting | 20 September 2011 Leeds United 0–3 Manchester United (2011–12 Football League Cup) |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 109 |
| Most wins | Manchester United (47) |
| Most player appearances | Bobby Charlton (29) |
| Top scorer | Bobby Charlton (9) |
| All-time series | Leeds United: 27 Draws: 35 Manchester United: 47 |
| Largest victory | Manchester United 6–0 Leeds United 9 September 1959 (1959–60 Football League) |
The rivalry between Leeds United and Manchester United, sometimes nicknamed the Roses rivalry or the Pennines derby, is a footballing rivalry played between the Northern English clubs Leeds United and Manchester United. The rivalry originates from the strong enmity between the historic counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, which is popularly believed to have its origins in the Wars of the Roses of the 15th century. Although the cities of Leeds and Manchester lie over 40 miles (64 km) apart, the tradition is upheld and this strong feeling can still be seen between the two clubs. Independent research by the Football Fans Census has shown that, within English football, both Leeds and Manchester United are ranked within the top three clubs based on the number of clubs that consider them to be their rivals.
In the past, rivalry between the two clubs has gone beyond the action on the field at Old Trafford and Elland Road. Hostility became more intense over the years and during the 1970s, when British football hooliganism was at its height, fights between Leeds' Service Crew and Manchester United's Red Army, two of the most notorious hooligan firms in Britain, were commonplace and became known as some of the most violent clashes in British football. Many people were injured in these encounters but violence between fans of the clubs has declined sharply since the 1970s for a number of reasons, mainly due to the general reduction in hooliganism. As recent as January 2010, prior to the two clubs meeting in the FA Cup 3rd round, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described the matches as "fantastic, feisty occasions" with an "electric" atmosphere. The rivalry has also been labelled by The Daily Telegraph as "English football’s most intense – and inexplicable – rivalry".
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