When wily Howard Wilkinson’s Leeds United masterplan came to fruition

It was a plan pretty much executed to perfection, involving shrewd recruitment, meticulous planning and the odd piece of cunning.

An element of the latter came to the fore on that red-hot Bank Holiday weekend thirty years ago in Bournemouth when Leeds secured promotion from the second tier.

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While anarchy reined off the pitch with sections of United’s travelling hordes earning national notoriety amid riotous scenes, Leeds kept their heads on it, aided by some smart mind games from Wilkinson.

It all centred around striker Carl Shutt.

Unbeknown to him, he was pencilled in for a leading role with Bobby Davison struggling with a knee problem.

In a bid to conceal the gravity of Davison’s injury in the build-up – and to keep the pressure off Shutt – Wilkinson, captain Gordon Strachan, Chris Kamara and Davison himself were party to a charade whereby the latter would start the game, but then depart early on.

Lo and behold, Shutt found himself entering the fray after just six minutes in the baking-hot sun and ran himself into the ground for the cause alongside strike partner Lee Chapman, whose 49th-minute header ultimately ensured the old Division Two title for United and a return to top-flight.

It remains one of the abiding memories of that tumultuous weekend for commentator John Helm, who covered the game for Yorkshire TV.

Helm said: “I remember going to see Howard at the hotel on the night before and there was a player struggling and he always held Carl Shutt back. With Carl, he never told him he was playing until about an hour before the kick-off as he got so nervous.

“It was such a hot weekend and there was all the trouble... I remember doing a piece with a police inspector on the pitch beforehand about it and they could not believe how many Leeds fans had turned up.

“He was saying they really wished the game was played on a different day than on a Bank Holiday.

“The commentary and pictures were beamed back to Elland Road. Glynn Snodin was with me on the gantry as he was injured and couldn’t play and the other thing I remember is that ‘Chappy’ scored and Chris Kamara always takes the credit for it. He said it was definitely his assist that made the difference!”

The tension ahead of the game was palpable and it was a classic case of three-into-two won’t-go with Leeds, Sheffield United and Newcastle battling it out for two automatic promotion places with the unlucky loser consigned to the play-offs.

Leeds and the Blades – level on points but behind on goal difference – were in the box seat, although a slip-up could let in the Jim Smith’s Magpies, just two points behind the Tyke duo and breathing down their necks while needing a victory in their derby against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park and a favour from elsewhere.

Adding to the subplot was the fact that Boro and Bournemouth were in a two-way fight to avoid the final relegation spot, with the Teessiders needing a win, allied to a bit of help from Leeds to survive.

It was a case of all’s well that ends well for Yorkshire, with Leeds, the Blades and Boro all triumphant, with ex-Whites striker Ian Baird hitting a brace for the Tesssiders in their 4-1 win over Newcastle.

For Leeds, doing their own job was all that mattered.

Helm recalled: “I remember going in the dressing room afterwards and they were all drinking the champagne and everything.

“Gordon (Strachan) always said that was a more meaningful victory in Leeds United’s history than winning the (Division One) title as it was the one that got them back in the top echelons”.

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