Leeds United champions of England: On This Day in football, April 26, 1992, Howard Wilkinson's side confirmed First Division

When shorts were short, when footballs were a heavy the air and when mud replaced grass shortly after November on most football pitches, Howard Wilkinson’s men brought the title back to Elland Road.

18 years after their last First Division title, Leeds had become champions of England again in just their second season back in the top flight.

They’d spent eight long seasons down in the Second Division, although that is now merely a mini-slump considering what came to pass following the Peter Ridsdale years.

Perhaps this year, more than ever, is a year to mark this occasion, given that Leeds sit on the verge of making a return to the big time after 16 seasons in the wilderness.

Time will tell whether they do actually achieve promotion to the Premier League, and although it’s at time a lazy moniker to throw out, they really are a team of the size, stature and supporter base that should be operating in the big leagues.

The terrible mismanagement and ineptitude that has thrown them into disarray in the following years is nicely mirrored by the way they did clinch that last league title.

April 26, 1992, a Sunday lunchtime kick-off against Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United at Bramall Lane was a tasty encounter that ended 3-2, but it was far from a classic in terms of quality.

Blades skipper Brian Gayle’s comical own goal gave Leeds three huge points, then it was all eyes on Anfield as Manchester United faced Liverpool.

It could hardly have ended worse for United fans, losing the title to cross-Pennine rivals Leeds by suffering a 2-0 defeat against their arch enemies from along the M62.

That meant Gordon Strachan was able to lift the trophy after their final day win over Norwich saw them finish four points ahead of Man Utd in the final standings.

Lee Chapman’s 16 league goals had fired them to the title, with Gary McAllister, David Batty, Gary Speed all starring alongside new signings Tony Dorigo (£1.3m) and Rod Wallace (£1.6m).

They were also joined in February by a Frenchman from Nimes called Eric Cantona – who only scored three goals but made a big impact at the start of what was to be an eventful time in England.

It’s a great season for Leeds fans to look back on, but there’s also just a hint of the ‘what ifs’ about it, as the club couldn’t build on that success immediately.

A second round defeat to Rangers saw them fail to reach the first ever Champions League group stages, while they came perilously close to being relegated from the first season of the Premier League.

They so nearly conquered England, and Europe, in the next decade before the huge fall from grace that saw them lurch from one disaster to another, through managers and owners one after one.

Now, though, under mercurial manager Marcelo Bielsa, their time could finally be coming again – all things being equal they’ll be back in the Premier League.

And who knows how far they can go this time?

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