Opinion | As Manchester United prepare to face Leeds United in Perth historic rivalries still run deep

“Avoid Elizabeth Quay, full of Leeds,” came the message on Monday afternoon in Perth, Western Australia. The sender, a Mancunian expat Manchester United fan, was midway through a week enjoying his team’s first visit to Perth since 1975, the year Leeds reached the European Cup final and Manchester United were in the second division.

It’s highly unlikely that there will be trouble around Wednesday’s 55,000 sell-out friendly between these old foes, but the rivalry and enmity is deep. Leeds reached the Championship play-offs in May but haven’t played top-flight football since 2004 and have spent most of the time since then in the second division. A huge club, they’re badly missed in the top flight.

Only 40 miles from Manchester, the rivalry could be vicious in the ’60s, ’70s and ’90s and a bit of the noughties.

Ill feeling prevailed when United’s skilful young Irish winger Johnny Giles fell out with manager Matt Busby and moved to Elland Road in 1963. In 1965 the Red Devils reached their fourth consecutive FA Cup semi-final where they met Leeds. Both clubs were battling for success in the league and cup – literally. In front of 65,000 at Hillsborough, Jack Charlton and Denis Law wrestled like two schoolboys as other players swapped punches. The game finished 0–0, with the referee, both managers and players all criticised for their conduct.

The replay was in Nottingham four days later when it all kicked off again as the players went for each other. Rival fans followed, with one running on the pitch and knocking the referee to the ground, and there were disturbances on the terraces with stories of fans being thrown into the River Trent confirmed by police. Leeds won the tie 1–0 with a last-minute Billy Bremner goal set up by, yes, Giles.