Leeds United came into being in 1919 following the demise of the old Leeds City Football Club and joined the Midland League, playing their first game in that competition in November 1919.

It was on May 31, 1920 that Leeds United were elected to the Football League, polling 31 votes to step into the Second Division along with Cardiff City, who had polled 23 votes.

United's first ever fixture in the Second Division was against Port Vale, who, ironically, were the club who had taken over Leeds City's fixtures after their expulsion. United lost that opening fixture 2-0 and that was the start of a difficult league baptism for them.

Arthur Fairclough, a successful manager with Barnsley, had been appointed manager in succession to Dick Ray, who led the club in the Midland League, and they finished the 1920-21 season in 14th place in the Second Division.

But Fairclough needed only four seasons to take United into the First Division, and they went up as Champion with 54 points - three more than Bury who were runners-up. But it was a struggle in the top flight and after three seasons there, United were relegated.

United experienced an up and down existence in the 1920s and 30s. They went back into Division One 1928-29 but lasted only three seasons before making the drop but after just one season they were back in the top flight in 1932-33 and stayed there until the outbreak of war in 1939.

After the war, following one season in Division One, United had a nine-season run in Division Two, during which time the great John Charles made his debut, before being promoted in 1956-57. They were back down again in 1960-61.

Success in cup competitions also eluded United and it was not until Don Revie took over in 1961 that real success came their way. He built a team around Billy Bremner and Jack Charlton that was feared both at home and abroad in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

He guided his side to two top-flight championships, the Second Division title, an FA Cup triumph in the competition's Centenary year, a League Cup Final win, a Charity Shield victory and a couple of European trophy successes before leaving in 1974 to manage England.

In the early 1980s, however, United's 17-year stay in the top division came to an end. They were relegated to Division Two and languished there for eight years, old boys Eddie Gray and Billy Bremner both taking up the reins at the club, before Howard Wilkinson brought United back to the top flight in 1990 as Second Division champions.

He also guided them to the First Division Championship in 1992 and to the League Cup final four years later, which Aston Villa won. The following season he was succeeded by George Graham and two years later Graham left for Tottenham and United appointed David O'Leary to succeed him.

The Irishman did a remarkable job in a relatively short period as the 19th manager since United's formation. It was during his tenure that exciting young players from the Academy were given a real chance to shine, Jonathan Woodgate, Harry Kewell, Stephen McPhail, Ian Harte and Alan Smith all coming through to make an impact.

During O'Leary's tenure as manager United made their mark again in the UEFA Cup and also qualified for the Champions League, holding their own with such European giants as Barcelona, AC Milan, Lazio, Anderlecht and Deportivo La Coruna to reach the semi-finals where they lost out to Valencia.

Leeds spent big in the transfer market but O'Leary's reign came to an abrupt end in 2002 when he was succeed by Terry Venables. United were hitting financial problems on a large scale at that time and Venables didn't last long before United turned to Peter Reid on a temporary basis.

Although he earned a full contract after saving United's Premier League status, Eddie Gray replaced him on a temporary basis, but after less than a season in charge, he gave way for Kevin Blackwell to become manager in 2003.

Blackwell guided United through some stormy waters but United made a poor start to the 2006-2007 season he was sacked and replaced by Dennis Wise in October 2006. Wise took over the reins, but was unable to halt a first ever slide into the third tier of the English game.

The new manager re-shuffled his pack in January 2007 and while March and early April gave hope of a great escape relegation was confirmed on April 28 when Ipswich Town's Alan Lee scored a late leveller to deny United the win needed to keep hopes alive until the final day.

Within six days, the club slipped into administration and relegation was confirmed by the mandatory 10-point deduction imposed on clubs who enter administration.

A summer of torment began at Elland Road. After gaining creditor approval to bring the club out of administration the new owners (Leeds United 2007 Ltd) - led by chairman Ken Bates - were almost thwarted when the Inland Revenue objected to the CVA.  

The club's administrators KMPG put the club for sale for a second time, and once again, Leeds United 2007 were successful in buying the club.

However, without an approved CVA - the Inland Revnue's objection nullified the CVA - the Football League insisted upon on 15-point sanction before returning the "Golden Share" (Membership of the League). That proposal was supported by the majority of Football League chairmen, who voted in favour of a points sanction on the  basis that the club emerged from administration without a valid CVA, despite the fact a valid CVA was unachieveable.

And so it was that the club began the 2007/08 season 15 points adrift at the foot of League One. In a remarkable campaign, Dennis Wise's men won their opening seven games and went on to hit top spot, albeit briefly, on Boxing Day.

In January 2008 Wise left the club - favouring a role at Newcastle United - and former club captain Gary McAllister returned to take over the reins. McAllister slowly got the season back on track and after beating Carlisle United in the Play-Off semi-finals, he became the first former captain to lead the manager out at Wembley in a competitive game when United took on Doncaster Rovers in the Play-Off final.

That game ended in disappointment with United losing 1-0 and missing out on what would have been the most remarkable promotion in the game.

With a first pre-season behind him as United manager, his charges quickly rose to second in the table. September saw the team record six straight victories, and with no sign of a Play-Off 'hangover', United were among the pace-setters in the division.

But Leeds failed to live up to that early season form and McAllister paid the price for a run a of five successive defeats - including a 1-0 FA Cup second round reverse at non-league Histon - when he parted company with the club in December.

McAllister was replaced by former Blackpool manager Simon Grayson.