Unofficial Champions of England: Leeds United 0-1 Bolton Wanderers, 02/03/1996

Gudni Bergsson heads Bolton ahead

Leeds are the English Champions. Did you enjoy it? Good, because now its over.

Three days to be exact. Leeds United's first game in the Premier League for a month and they would have thought bottom side Bolton Wanderers at Elland Road was an easy way to ease back in.

Wrong. Scott Sellars free-kick was headed in by Gudni Bergsson after 16 minutes for the only goal of the game.

Bolton had three crucial points in their battle against relegation and now the Unofficial English Championship.

Unofficial Champions of England: Port Vale 1-2 Leeds United

Champions Port Vale where on a fine run of form. They had been Champions for six games and were on a run of 10 games unbeaten in all competitions, including the scalp of Premier League side Everton in the FA Cup.

The 5th round drew them against Leeds United. They had gotten a creditable 0-0 draw at Elland Road and hoped to finish the job at Vale Park.

Port Vale took the lead when Tony Naylor stuck a foot out to divert a low cross, catching the Leeds defence napping.

Leeds equalised when professional tubster and some time footballer Tomas Brolin crossed into the Vale box and always looked about 50 Gary McCallister headed the equaliser.
The winning goal came from a free-kick when McCallister delayed taking his free-kick but it was worth the wait, a sublime curling effort.

Leeds were Champions for the third time.

Unofficial Champions of England: Leeds United 0-1 Manchester City, 02/12/1995

Gerry Creaney celebrates

Leeds had no opportunity to enjoy their time as English Champions as they were soon back in action with the visit of Manchester City to Elland Road.

City were struggling near the bottom of the table but were hoping for a change in fortunes.

One goal was enough as substitute Gerry Creaney headed in from Steve Lomas' cross deep into the second half.

A second championship for City and a welcome boost in their battle against relegation.

Unofficial Champions of England: Leeds United 2-1 Blackburn Rovers, 29/11/1995

Brian Deane opens the scoring

Blackburn Rovers, Premier League and Unofficial Champions, rocked up at Elland Road for a League Cup tie on the back of a successful title defence against Arsenal.

Leeds took the lead on 21 minutes, Brian Deane capitalising on uncertainty in the Blackburn defence to put the ball beyond the reach of Rovers keeper Tim Flowers.
Tony Yeboah, who didn't score ordinary goals, hit a 25 yarder to double Leeds advantage.

Blackburn did get one back but cheekily, got Leeds to score it for them. The unfortunate Gary Kelly stooping low to head into his own goal.

Leeds were back on top as Unofficial Champions for a second time.

Unofficial Champions of England: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Leeds United, 09/09/1995

Teddy Sheringham heads the winning goal

Leeds United enjoyed a lengthy 10 match run as champions that included successful defences against Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, Aston Villa (twice) and a re-match with Liverpool.

Also coming back for a second bite at the cherry was Tottenham Hotspur. Their previous attempt to unseat Leeds had ended in a 1-1 draw, now they would go one better.

The first goal came near the half-hour mark when David Howells headed in from Darren Anderton's corner.

Leeds equalised shortly after half-time, when Tony Yeboah scored a very ordinary goal by his standards, heading in from Carlton Palmer's cross.
But it would be Tottenham's day when new signing Chris Armstrong crossed and Teddy Sheringham was at the back post to get the winning goal.

A hat-trick of titles for Spurs.

Unofficial Champions of England: Liverpool 0-1 Leeds United, 09/04/1995

Brian Deane celebrates his winning goal

Liverpool were on a roll, their previous two games had seen them win the Coca-Cola Cup and then become the new English Champions. But it all came crashing down at Anfield with the visit of Leeds United, their latest reign as champions lasting just four days.

Leeds are a side I possibly unfairly overlooked when deciding who the original Unofficial English Champions are, so three years on I can put that right.

It took just one goal to win it for Leeds, Brian Deane following up on Gary Speed's effort that hit the post.

Leeds United were, belatedly, the Unofficial Champions of England.