Jack Charlton: Encyclopedia II - Jack Charlton - Back to Elland Road

Jack Charlton - Back to Elland Road

In 1967 Charlton had a mixed time. Leeds missed out on domestic honours again and Charlton picked up an injury while playing for England in an infamous 3-2 defeat to Scotland at Wembley, during which he scored. However, he ended the season as the Footballer Of The Year and his future after football as an after-dinner speaker was mapped out by his long speech at the awards ceremony, which earned him a standing ovation.

Charlton finally won some domestic honours with Leeds in 1968 with a League Cup victory over Arsenal. This wasn't uncontroversial - Arsenal players claimed with fury that Charlton had committed a foul in their penalty area prior to the ball reaching full back Terry Cooper, who blasted in the only goal. They then won the Fairs Cup and Charlton completed the year by playing a 447th League game, breaking the club's previous record.

In 1969, Leeds finally got their hands on the League championship, with Charlton proving a rock at the back as they only lost twice all season. A year later and the luck would desert them again as Leeds went for the unprecedented "treble" of League title, FA Cup and European Cup - and missed out on all three.

Everton pipped Leeds to the title and Celtic F.C. beat them in the semi final in Europe. The FA Cup final was especially painful for Leeds as they should have won the first game at Wembley, were pegged back by Chelsea, and lost the replay after having the lead wrestled away from them for a third time. Charlton headed the opener in the first game from an Eddie Gray corner (though his weak effort was helped by a bad bounce which took the ball under the feet of Chelsea defenders - the Wembley picth was sand-covered after hosting the Horse Of The Year show days earlier) but Chelsea equalised before half-time. Mick Jones struck what seemed a certain winner for Leeds with six minutes left, only for Charlton to be caught out of position by a quickly-taken free kick shortly afterwards, with Ian Hutchinson heading the equaliser.

The replay, at Old Trafford, was a battle not for the faint-hearted. Though some classy football was played, the game is better remembered for some uncompromising tackles and challenges. At one point, Charlton managed to poleaxe Chelsea's Peter Osgood (shortly to become his team-mate for England) after a late challenge, while other players also gave as good as they got. Jones scored to put Leeds ahead again, but Osgood equalised for Chelsea late in the second half and in extra time, after a pressured Charlton had unwittingly back-headed a Hutchinson long throw across his own area, David Webb scored Chelsea's winner. Charlton was so angry and upset he didn't bother collecting his runners-up medal afterwards.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Back to Elland Road", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki