Champions Again! History of the English First Division Trophy

Champions Again! The History of the English First Division Trophy and Leeds United’s Triumphs

Before the glitz and global fanfare of the Premier League, English football’s top prize was the Football League First Division Trophy – the silverware every club aspired to lift. Introduced in 1890, the First Division Trophy symbolised the pinnacle of English football success. Though rebranded with the birth of the Premier League in 1992, the trophy’s legacy lives on, especially for clubs like Leeds United – who etched their name in history as champions multiple times.

Image source - Leeds United Official
 
Leeds United’s connection to the First Division Trophy is steeped in grit, ambition and a determination that defines Yorkshire football. Their first taste of championship glory came under the legendary Don Revie in the 1968–69 season. Revie’s side, known for their tactical brilliance and defensive discipline, won the title with a then-record 67 points, losing just two matches. It was a landmark moment for a club that had long lived in the shadows of the northern giants like Manchester United and Liverpool.

That golden era continued into the early 70s. Leeds clinched their second First Division title in the 1973–74 season, again under Revie. This time, the squad had matured into a formidable machine, with stars like Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles, Norman Hunter and Peter Lorimer dominating the field. The team went 29 games unbeaten at the start of the season – a record that stood for decades.

After Revie departed to manage England, Leeds’ top-flight dominance faded. The 80s brought relegation and rebuilding. But under Howard Wilkinson, the club roared back to life. The 1991–92 season – the last before the Premier League era began – saw Leeds crowned First Division champions once more. With a mix of homegrown talent and clever signings, Wilkinson’s side overcame fierce competition from Manchester United to lift the trophy. Gordon Strachan captained the side, with Gary McAllister, Gary Speed and Eric Cantona playing key roles. That 1992 title win marked the end of an era – the last team ever to win the Football League First Division before the Premier League’s formation.

Fast forward to today, and in a surprising twist of football fate, Leeds United are once again the current holders of the English First Division Trophy – now awarded to winners of the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football. In the 2024–25 season, Daniel Farke led a resurgent Leeds side to Championship glory, restoring pride and excitement to Elland Road after recent ups and downs.


Image source - Google Arts & Culture
 
The trophy itself is a piece of footballing heritage. Made of solid silver and standing at over two feet tall, it was commissioned by the Football League at a cost of £3,000 back in 1890 – a small fortune at the time. The design features the figure of a footballer atop a Victorian-style cup, mounted on a black base. It weighs around 15 kilograms, with over 10 kilograms of that in sterling silver – a gleaming reward for the season’s best. Replicas are awarded to modern winners, but the original remains an iconic artefact in the National Football Museum.

Image source - Leeds United Official
 

So proud to see Ethan Ampadu and the lads parading the trophy through the streets of Leeds today. The last time I saw this trophy in its glory we were all singing "Ooh - A - Cantona". Good luck to Leeds United for the 25–26 Premier League Season – Marching On Together, back where we belong.

Sources & thanks to: Leeds United Official Archive, BBC Sport, Yorkshire Post football archives, The Guardian’s history of English football, and the National Football Museum.

Enjoyed the blog? Have an interesting Leeds United tale or legend of your own? please leave some feedback in the comments. Wait - there's more! Follow for future blogs on a wide range of local interest topics.

All views my own unless specifically quoted, or clearly promoted on behalf of an organisation, group or individual. To avoid stepping on copyright toes I generate and edit my own images, credit given where others work is used.

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