When we choose stories that we think you are going to want to read we think about what is useful, what is exciting and what will inflame the passions. And in Yorkshire, the most bizarre business story of the past ten years has to be the rise and demise of Leeds United.
When Yorkshire Business Insider was launched in 1998 Peter Ridsdale was about to live the dream. Now the team is hoping to scrape through the playoffs to get out of football’s third tier.
Of course, memories of Leeds United’s glory years are in the forefront of people’s minds right now with the screening of The Damned United, the adaptation of David Peace’s stunning novel about the Brian Clough era at Elland Road.
They are memories that have been stoked and poked by the Yorkshire-born author, who has been royally slagged off for his efforts. But Peace has also written “faction” about the Miners’ Strike (GB84) and the Ripper Enquiry (Red Riding Quartet), and emerged unscathed. For his efforts on Leeds United he has become the Salman Rushdie of sport.
So, for our readers it seemed appropriate to put David Conn on the case. The Yorkshire-based sports journalist is one of the best investigative writers in the game. His award-winning columns in The Guardian and his two books, The Beautiful Game and The Football Business, are landmarks in their field. Here he has provided you with a superb account of what went on at Leeds and what may yet come to pass.
I hope you enjoy the read. There’s a strong feeling of pride and passion running through the magazine this month. Our round table on banking got quite heated, Martin Allison from Leeds Met has the zeal to link the best of education and business and Andrew Thirkill has fire in his belly for his new venture.
And finally, in our Business Tourism Awards this year the roof was raised at the Royal Armouries when the Team of the Year was announced: Leeds United Football Club. Plenty of pride there. And passion.
Michael Taylor, acting editor
Also in: April 2009
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Get personal
Andrew Thirkill is actively building up new companies in Yorkshire. His secret? Relationships, he tells Julie Hayes.
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The trouble with Leeds
The film The Damned United has thrust Leeds United back into the media spotlight. David Conn looks into the controversial attempt by Ken Bates to bring the club back from its latest stint in the footballing wilderness.