Perhaps in Leeds hadn't sold a certain Monsieur Cantona to Man Utd late on in 1992, they could well have gone on to dominate football in England for a good few years; they certainly looked well capable of it after winning the league in 1991-92. Cantona was as big a factor in Leeds' success that season as he was in all Man Utd's title winning sides during the following five years or so.
Actually Cantona contributed very little to the title winning season. He topped the odd game off with a flourish, but that squad was a bunch of hard working players with a splash of insipration - Strachan, Speed, McAllister, Batty, our midfield from heaven.
Wilkinson had a work ethic that in all honestly was never likely to gel with Cantona's 'free spirit'. The relationship would only ever be a short one. I think Ferguson took a punt and it worked brilliantly. It could equally have fallen flat on its face. Fine margins and all that.
We were cursed because we won the last 'proper' league championship which bought next to no money in. The next season our board didn't adapt, but Ferguson had been slowly building a team and a club, and they came to fruition at the time the money came into the game. If we'd had the SKY money who knows, but hey, we DID win the league in a manner that can't now be done.
At the celebrations on the Headrow in Leeds I said to my wife - drink this in, it may never happen again. It hasn't and is unlikely to in the foreseeable future. I also pointed out that many supporters of other 'big' clubs had NEVER experienced this. Newcastle, for example. They still haven't.
Farnley/Pudsey Leeds
40m asl