Tales from the crypt: 'The Leeds City scandal'

Once the financial allegations were out in the open, the FA and Football League ordered a joint inquiry to look into the matter. The Commission, including a dozen members of the Football Association and the Football League, as well as members of the international selection committee, summoned the club and asked them to present the club books before the inquiry. Leeds City stunned everyone by replying that they would not disclose the club books. The inquiry patiently gave the club a further 10 days to produce their finances.

Even after the extended deadline, when the club refused to produce their accounts for the the last two seasons, the League had no choice but to expel them. Although there was no concrete evidence as such to back the allegations, Leeds City’s silence, which was interpreted as a move to shield the players in question, was considered as admission of guilt. An FA order formally closed the club.

Although the League regretted the decision, recognising that Leeds were a new club with bright prospects, they regarded the charges of breaking the wartime regulations by paying players more than the permitted rates as extremely serious. A statement by the then League chairman John Mckenna stated “The authorities of the game intend to keep it absolutely clean. We will have no nonsense. The football stable must be cleaned and further breakages of the law regarding payments will be dealt with in such a severe manner that I now give warning that clubs and players must not expect the slightest leniency.”

Players of the disgraced club were auctioned in a bizarre sale, a week after the club were expelled. It was a humiliating experience for the players as they were sold off along with the club’s nets, goal-posts, boots, kit and physiotherapy equipment. The entire squad fetched less than £10,150. The Football League had said the players won’t be made to join a club if they did not wish to, but but with the players anxious to get back into action, went on to play for the respective club they were brought by.

And thus the identity of Leeds City FC, tarnished by allegations of financial irregularities, was banished from the annals of English football. Currently, a men’s senior team plays in the West Yorkshire League with the name Leeds City. Also a female team, Leeds City Vixens, uses the same name. However, neither of these two are considered to be a continuation of the old club.

After the demise of the Leeds City FC in 1919, the rugby rich city of Leeds was left with no football representative. And so, another team was formed quickly and fast tracked into the Football League in 1921. The club was christened ‘Leeds United’.