Tom Lappin: Leeds and Derby offer a blast from the past

Published on Friday 6 August 2010 12:48

THE BBC screened The Damned United a couple of weeks ago. Commercial imperatives understandably demanded that the film adaptation mostly eschewed the psychological trauma of David Peace's novel in favour of some sentimental buddy-comedy moves, but where it excelled was in the period detail.

Football grounds lurked in seedy back-streets, managers and players had unruly sideburns, chairmen were bluff northern businessmen. Poignantly, the strongest clubs in English football were Derby County and Leeds United.

An early 70s Elland Road encounter between these rivals would be a highlight of the English domestic season, albeit not for the faint-hearted. They meet again today on the opening afternoon of the new season. The clubs are chasing the same ornate Championship trophy they craved back then, but it means rather less these days. Both are provincial exiles from the real action in the Premier League.

There are several contradictory notions about the Championship: that it is the hardest division to get out of; that the parachute payments give recent Premier League sides an advantage; that pretty football does not prosper. Last season Newcastle rose to the top with the remnants of their Premier League squad, shamed into action by Chris Hughton. West Bromwich Albion prospered under new boss Roberto Di Matteo, and Blackpool, with their open, attacking football, emerged from obscurity to win the play-off final.

Leeds and Derby's position though is compounded by their history. In the 1970s Leeds reached a European Cup final, Derby a semi-final The legacy of that era is an expectation that they should be mixing it at the top levels of English and European football, not merely getting by in the lower tier.

Newly-promoted Leeds United are still scarred by the financial damage of Peter Ridsdale's vainglorious ambition. Fiscal insecurity dominates every aspect of Leeds, which might explain why it remains so difficult to ascertain who actually owns the club. The good news is that Simon Grayson is still in charge of the team. He inspired the side to an imperious first two-thirds of last season, culminating in knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup. Like a miler sent over 12 furlongs though, they flagged dismally in the spring, just crawling over the promotion line. Grayson's is a squad that needs invigorating with fresh signings, substantial investment, ie those elements that simply arent practicable for Leeds. Instead they have taken on six free transfers.

More significant than the new arrivals will be the player they lost. Jermaine Beckford has accepted the chance to see if he is Premier League material with Everton. His putative replacement, Billy Paynter, signed from Swindon, is a lower-league journeyman who picked up an injury pre-season.

Paynter might turn out to be a revelation, but much will depend on Grayson. He reputedly turned down attractive offers to remain at Elland Road and has spoken of his ambition to be a Premier League manager with Leeds.

Derby have had longer to come to terms with decline, although it's inevitable that the longing for a return to the big-time will be fuelled by having a manager called Clough. Little Nigel, seen in the film reading comics in the back of Dad's car, is in charge now.

As a player Nigel was the antithesis of his father, a mild, even reticent figure. As a manager, he has revived some of the family passion. Clough was in trouble with the FA again for his behaviour in a match against Ipswich in April. That willingness to niggle is exemplified by the captain Robbie Savage, who at 36 is in the last year of his contract. Although the ebullient Welshman seems to be pursuing a media career, he would find it difficult to resist a last chance at the Premier League if Derby can make a promotion challenge.

Leeds have lost Beckford, but Derby have retained their lower league specialist in the ex-Leeds centre-forward Rob Hulse. If the Scotland international Kris Commons can stay fit, he is a dangerous sidekick for Hulse.

The fixture still has a certain vestigial glamour. The ghosts of Don Revie and Clough senior will be floating around Elland Road this afternoon, and some of the tackles, at least, might be worthy of these teams' illustrious antecedents.