Elland Road

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Lore & Background

The site at the foot of Beeston Hill was originally owned by Bentley's Brewery and called the Old Peacock Ground, named after a pub facing the land. This origin gave rise to the nickname 'the Peacocks' for both Leeds City and United. An urban myth suggests the ground was cursed by gypsies forced off the land during construction; in 1971, manager Don Revie reportedly hired fortune teller Gypsy Rose Lee from Blackpool to lift this alleged curse after a run of poor form. The first occupants were Holbeck Rugby Club, who bought the ground for £1,100. Before Leeds United arrived, Yorkshire Amateurs played there briefly, saving the site from being turned into a brickyard when City faced financial ruin. In 1920, Yorkshire Amateurs sold Elland Road to the newly formed Leeds United for just £250.

In Their Own Story

On 27 December 1932, a record league attendance of 56,796 crammed into the stadium to watch Leeds play Arsenal. This figure stood until 15 March 1967, when 57,892 spectators witnessed an FA Cup fifth-round replay against Sunderland. Before becoming an all-seater venue as stipulated by the Taylor Report, these crowds filled open terraces; today's modern record is 40,287 for a Premiership match against Newcastle United on 22 December 2001. The stadium has endured fire and reconstruction: in September 1956, a blaze gutted the West Stand, destroying offices and records, leading to a public appeal that raised £60,000 to build a new £180,000 stand. In April 1968, the Spion Kop terracing was replaced by the Gelderd End at a cost of £250,000, moving the pitch 30 feet north. Plans are currently underway to demolish the West Stand to increase capacity to 55,000.

Reader's Guide

Visitors arrive at a stadium that has hosted concerts by Queen, U2, Happy Mondays, and the Kaiser Chiefs. The ground features specific historical landmarks: the Jack Charlton (East) Stand was once known as the Lowfields Road stand, while the Don Revie (North) Stand retains its Kop moniker. Match days offer a glimpse into the site's rich history, from the 1938 Rugby Football League Championship Final where 54,112 fans saw Hunslet defeat Leeds, to the first televised live rugby league Challenge Cup final replay between Hull FC and Widnes on 19 May 1982. The stadium also saw its floodlights replaced in 1974 by the tallest in Europe at 260 feet (79 m). Originally, Holbeck erected a new stand for the 1898–99 season, and Leeds City built a 5,000-seater covered stand on the west side after their first league season. The lease signed on 13 October 1904 for Leeds City cost £75 per year.

Did You Know?

• An urban myth claims the ground was cursed by gypsies forced off the land, leading manager Don Revie to hire fortune teller Gypsy Rose Lee in 1971.
• The record attendance of 57,892 was set on 15 March 1967 during an FA Cup replay against Sunderland, before the stadium became all-seater.
• A fire on 18 September 1956 gutted the West Stand, destroying club records and necessitating a public appeal that raised £60,000 for rebuilding.
• Leeds United purchased Elland Road from Yorkshire Amateurs in 1920 for just £250.
• The stadium hosted the first televised live rugby league Challenge Cup final replay between Hull FC and Widnes on 19 May 1982.