Remember This? Leeds win the FA Cup The Times Monday 8/5/72 Leeds hide away with their doubts

By Geoffrey Green Football Correspondent

Leeds United today stand within an arm's length of becoming the third side in the 20th century to achieve the double. It may yet prove a long arm because of the existing tensions.

But having beaten Arsenal, the holders, 1-0 for the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday—a score that did not reflect their second half supremacy—what they need tonight is a draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux also to lift the league championship.

That precious point would give the title to Leeds and with it a deserved place in history at the side of Preston North End (1889), Aston Villa (1897), Tottenham Hotspur (1961) and Arsenal (1971). For long it had been considered that this twin feat in a single season sas impossible under the pressures of the modern game. But here it is in sight again for the third time in 11 years. There must be a message there somewhere.

If Leeds do reach their goal tonight, it will be a unique and great achievement as they would have lifted both trophies within the space of 48 hours. Yet the effort will be at a heavy price.

Having already lost their England full back Cooper a few weeks ago with a broken leg, new Leeds must face this final crucial game at Wolverhampton also without Jones, their courageous, determined centre-forward, who sickeningly dislocated his left elbow in the last minute at Wembley as he somersaulted over Barnett's dive at his feet.

In addition, there are lingering doubts about the full fitness of Clarke—Saturday's match winner -Giles, their midfield pocket Napoleon, and Gray, all of whom have been under intensive treatment since Leeds slipped away from Wembley for a quiet weekend in the Midlands in preparation for their last steely test. The fates continue to twist their tails to the bitter end.

Two years ago Leeds attempted to push three boulders to the top of three separate mountains only to set them all finally tumble to the valleys below. This time they may achieve their target, though in the circumstances the odds could be against them. They should never have been required to play two such decisive games on top of each other.

The Leeds pinnacle still remains the European Cup, and beyond that even the beckoning title of World Club Champions. Although, for me, they still fall short of the exciting standards of the Real Madrid of the 1950s and early sixties, their cupboard over the past eight seasons has become well stocked. While thrice aiming for the double, they have won the league championship (1969), the Football League Cup (1968), the Fairs' Cup (1968 and 1971) and now, at last, the FA Cup, the oldest trophy of them all.

In those terms, it was perhaps right that a new name should go on the Cup in the centenary year of the competition. Not that it was a final really worthy of the historic occasion, decorated by the cavalcade and flags of all the past winners, led in order of precedence by the representatives of the early Wanderers and Royal Engineers disguised in knickerbockers, caps and mutton chop whiskers.

If this was history taking a sly backward look at itself, the men in serious contention were more realistic. Barnum and Bailey could not have staged it better. Here were Arsenal determined to protect one of their prizes of a year ago against the power of Leeds, a side equally determined to succeed where so often in the past they had fallen at the last hurdle. This was the battle where no prisoners were to be taken.

Only a mediocre artist is always at his best. And in such circumstances, Leeds could scarcely be at their best. They were not allowed to be, and only a dreamer could expect otherwise. Arsenal set out to break their rhythm and unhinge their teamwork. Leeds, expecting this, fenced and parried up to half-time, slowly blunting the teeth of the tiger.

There was no out and out viciousness on the field. But all the determined, hard going which spawned a negative opening half duly led to the booking of four men—McNab (in the first minute) and George, of Arsenal; Hunter and Bremner, of Leeds, a sad and unusual reflection on any Wembley Cup Final. Yet once Clarke gave Leeds their precious lead eight minutes after the interval, the tension evaporated and the 100,000 crowd got some creative football.

The winner was a fine goal. Begun by Hunter, deep in his own half, the move was carried on by Madeley by way of Lorimer, out to Jones, wide on the right flank. Jones, at the second attempt, by-passed McNab's sliding tackle, and there was Clarke, with clinical accuracy, to send home a fast header off his eyebrows as he dived forward. Barnett had no chance. That settled it. This was what the waving, dancing, chanting crowds on the packed east terraces had come all the way from Yorkshire to see and celebrate.

Arsenal had only one fleeting chance after that when George, mid-way through that half, thundered- a swift shot against Harvey's crossbar. At that moment Leeds must have felt the prize was theirs. They proceeded to play cat and mouse with their foe and could have scored at least twice more through Clarke and Gray, and Lorimer also once crashed a shot with such force against the base of an Arsenal upright that the ball rebounded almost out of sight for a throw in.

Two other particular memories remain—a 15-yard instant volley by Ball which Reariey blocked superbly on the Leeds' line, and a remark-able header by Clarke, voted the man of the match, when somehow or other he screwed back a volleyed centre from Lorimer against the crossbar.

Clarke, Lorimer and Jones, mobile in the firing line, Bremner and Giles, jockeying in midfield, with Hunter a powerhouse at the side of the long-legged Charlton at the back, collectively had too many angles, for Arsenal at the finish. Ball played his heart out for the losers, backed by McLintock and Simpson, but it was one against too many, with no real running by Radford and George to open up the frontal areas.

So, finally, a scarred, empty start had a moving ending, with Jones, his arm heavily strapped and helped by Hunter, hobbling up the steps to the royal box to shake hands, painfully, with the Queen long after the presentation of medals to the others. It was a hero's farewell as he was finally carried from sight on a stretcher.

Jones said yesterday: "I am sorry I had to keep the Queen waiting." Bates had collected Jones's medal but he was determined to be presented. His injured arm will be in a sling for a month but he will go to Molineux to watch tonight's game.