The War of the Roses was fought in the 15th Century between the Yorkists (symbolised by a white rose) and the Lancastrians (symbolised by a red rose). The Lancastrians were victorious and the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire have been rivals ever since.
Yesterday the War of the Roses took place again, this time in the FA Cup, the world's oldest football tournament, but this time the white-clad Yorkists were victorious against their red-clad opponents.
Leeds United are a shadow of their former selves. They were giants of the English game in the Sixties and Seventies. They reached the 1975 European Cup Final against Bayern Munich and the 2001 European Cup Semi-Final against Valencia. They were crowned English champions in 1992. But they were relegated from England's top flight in 2004 and were since relegated again down to the third tier of English football.
Yesterday, in the FA Cup Third Round, they were up against English champions Manchester United - the first meeting between the two sides since 2003. The FA Cup, though, is famous for its giantkillings, and that's precisely what the Yorkshire side served up yesterday at their opponent's mighty fortress.
It is the first time that Manchester United have been knocked out so early in the FA Cup since they were defeated by minnows Bournemouth in 1984.
Leeds United's reward for this victory is to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Fourth Round.
Beckford stuns the Old Trafford crowd in the 19th minute
By Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
Monday 4th January 2010
The FA Cup, 3rd Round (At Old Trafford. Attendance: 74,526)
Manchester United 0-1 Leeds United
.....................................Beckford 19
Manchester Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Fabio, Evans, Anderson, Gibson, Berbatov, Rooney, Welbeck, Obertan
Subs: Owen (for Anderson, 69), Valencia (for Welbeck, 57), Giggs (for Obertan, 57)
Leeds United: Ankergren, Crowe, Kisnorbo, Naylor, Doyle, Kilkenny, Howson, Johnson, Hughes, Beckford, Becchio
Subs: Snodgrass (for Howson, 77), White (for Hughes, 90+2), Michalik (for Becchia, 88 )
Jermaine Beckford's winner gave League One leaders Leeds a famous FA Cup victory over their fierce rivals Manchester United in a thrilling tie at Old Trafford.
Forty-two league places separate the two clubs following the Yorkshire club's dramatic fall from grace during the last decade but Simon Grayson's side showed the rate of their recent revival with a memorable triumph.
Different stories: Leeds celebrate while Wayne Rooney realises defeat is on the cards Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Manchester United had never before lost in the third round of the Cup - or been knocked out of it by a lower-division side - during Sir Alex Ferguson's 23-year reign as manager, but they began 2010 on the wrong end of their biggest upset in this competition since they were dumped out by Bournemouth in 1984.
Simon Grayson congratulates goal scorer Jermaine Beckford
It was a fully-deserved win for Leeds too, who were full of endeavour coming forward before Beckford outpaced the Manchester United defence to score and, just as importantly, defended as if their lives depended on it afterwards.
Grayson's men came into the game unbeaten in 15 games and having lost only twice all season but they were still expected to be brushed aside by the Premier League champions, who themselves have found form since their defensive injury crisis abated.
True, Ferguson made seven changes to the side that thumped Wigan earlier in the week, but he kept Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney together up front and Manchester United should have had far too much fire-power for the visitors to handle.
Instead, roared on by 9,000 fanatical supporters, Leeds set about by first frustrating the hosts and then taking the game to them.
Manchester United had most of the early possession but Leeds were not panicking when they did get the ball, and stunned the home crowd when they took the lead after 19 minutes.
The one and only: Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford beat Wes Brown and Tomaz Kuszczak to score the only goal of the game against Manchester United
Best of enemies: Tempers flared in a full-blooded contest more than once with Jonny Howson and Wes Brown clashing
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
The FA (Football Association) Cup is English football's premier knockout cup competition. The FA Cup is a straight knockout tournament, with no group stage, with each pairing being drawn completely at random. If a match is drawn, it is replayed. If the replay is drwn, the winner is decided on a penalty shootout. The teams from English football's top two divisions - the Premiership and Championship - do not enter the tournament until the Third Round. The FA Cup was first held in the 1871-72 season, making it the oldest football tournament in the world. One of the reasons why the FA Cup is much loved is because of its history of giant killing, where s so-called "minnows" knocks out one of the big teams. Lowly Sutton United beat mighty (in those days anyway) Coventry City in season 1988-899; Ronnie Radford helped tiny Hereford United beat Newcastle United in the 1971-72 tournament; and Bournemouth, managed by Harry Redknapp, now manager of Spurs, were victorious against Manchester United in 1983-84.
Beckford escaped Wes Brown to latch onto Johnny Howson's superb lofted pass and, although his first touch was poor, he recovered to coolly slide the ball past Tomas Kuszczak and into the bottom corner of the net.
It was the kind of finish which showed why Beckford is one of the most sought-after strikers outside the top-flight and might mean Newcastle have to spend a little more than they hoped if they are to prise him away from Elland Road in the transfer window.
It almost got even better for Leeds two minutes later when the impressive Howson broke forward down the right and sent over an inviting cross that Luciano Becchio headed wide.
Solo effort: Wayne Rooney was the only United player to excel but even he could not find a route to goal
Only then did Manchester United come forward with intent and they came agonisingly close to levelling when Berbatov released Rooney down the right. The England striker made for goal and clipped his shot over keeper Casper Ankergren but Jason Crowe got back superbly to hack the ball off the line.
Rooney and Danny Welbeck both tried their luck with curling shots from the edge of the box that were both just off target and Jonny Evans headed wide after Ankergren flapped at a corner but otherwise the home side were unable to break down Leeds' determined defence.
Berbatov and Rooney trudge off after the defeat
The game continued in the same vein after the break, with Manchester United pressing but struggling to create clear-cut chances and Ankergren proving a reliable last line of defence when the home side did get a sight of goal.
He saved brilliantly from Welbeck but otherwise they failed to really threaten an equaliser until the final half-hour.
The first winners of the FA Cup were Wanderers (based in Battersea, London) who beat the British Army's Royal Engineers at The Oval cricket ground in March 1872 (Wembley wasn't yet built). The first FA Cup goal was scored by Clapham Rovers player Jarvis Kenrick in a 3-0 win over Upton Park in 1871. Wanderers won the competition four times in total but they ceased to exist in 1887. Clapham Rovers, whose shirt colours were cerise on the left half and french-grey on the right half, became defunct in 1892. The Royal Engineers appeared in four of the first eight FA Cup Finals, winning it in 1875.
By then, Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs were off the bench - soon to be joined by Michael Owen - and at last Manchester United looked dangerous, only to be thwarted by some dreadful finishing.
Owen miscued with the goal gaping after Valencia teed him up and Rooney was also wildly off target when the ball fell to him in the box.
Leeds were not just defending either, and could have extended their lead before the end when Beckford fired wide after running through and substitute Robert Snodgrass smashed a rasping free-kick against the bar.
Saving grace: United did mount late pressure but Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren was equal to Rooney's shot and Michael Owen's follow up
There was still time for a couple of desperate goal-mouth scrambles as Manchester United poured forward but in the end one goal was enough to send Leeds through to round four - their first victory at Old Trafford since 1981 - and show why Grayson is rated one the most promising young managers in the game.
"Obviously I am very proud of my team and what they've done today.
"We worked very hard and I feel we deserved this win.
"I told the lads before the game to go out and make themselves proud whether they won or not and they've done that.
"We knew we could hurt them today and this signalled how well we've been playing all season.
"This win is for the fans, who have stuck by us in every game. Once again, they were great and they deserve this."
Off the line: Leeds United's Jason Crowe clears Rooney's attempt off the line
Theatre of dreams: Leeds' Michael Doyle enjoyed the moment at Old Trafford
Theatre of nightmares: Sir Alex Ferguson, on the other hand, did not
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
Yesterday the War of the Roses took place again, this time in the FA Cup, the world's oldest football tournament, but this time the white-clad Yorkists were victorious against their red-clad opponents.
Leeds United are a shadow of their former selves. They were giants of the English game in the Sixties and Seventies. They reached the 1975 European Cup Final against Bayern Munich and the 2001 European Cup Semi-Final against Valencia. They were crowned English champions in 1992. But they were relegated from England's top flight in 2004 and were since relegated again down to the third tier of English football.
Yesterday, in the FA Cup Third Round, they were up against English champions Manchester United - the first meeting between the two sides since 2003. The FA Cup, though, is famous for its giantkillings, and that's precisely what the Yorkshire side served up yesterday at their opponent's mighty fortress.
It is the first time that Manchester United have been knocked out so early in the FA Cup since they were defeated by minnows Bournemouth in 1984.
Leeds United's reward for this victory is to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Fourth Round.
Beckford stuns the Old Trafford crowd in the 19th minute
By Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
Monday 4th January 2010
The FA Cup, 3rd Round (At Old Trafford. Attendance: 74,526)
Manchester United 0-1 Leeds United
.....................................Beckford 19
Manchester Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Fabio, Evans, Anderson, Gibson, Berbatov, Rooney, Welbeck, Obertan
Subs: Owen (for Anderson, 69), Valencia (for Welbeck, 57), Giggs (for Obertan, 57)
Leeds United: Ankergren, Crowe, Kisnorbo, Naylor, Doyle, Kilkenny, Howson, Johnson, Hughes, Beckford, Becchio
Subs: Snodgrass (for Howson, 77), White (for Hughes, 90+2), Michalik (for Becchia, 88 )
Jermaine Beckford's winner gave League One leaders Leeds a famous FA Cup victory over their fierce rivals Manchester United in a thrilling tie at Old Trafford.
Forty-two league places separate the two clubs following the Yorkshire club's dramatic fall from grace during the last decade but Simon Grayson's side showed the rate of their recent revival with a memorable triumph.
Different stories: Leeds celebrate while Wayne Rooney realises defeat is on the cards Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Manchester United had never before lost in the third round of the Cup - or been knocked out of it by a lower-division side - during Sir Alex Ferguson's 23-year reign as manager, but they began 2010 on the wrong end of their biggest upset in this competition since they were dumped out by Bournemouth in 1984.
Simon Grayson congratulates goal scorer Jermaine Beckford
It was a fully-deserved win for Leeds too, who were full of endeavour coming forward before Beckford outpaced the Manchester United defence to score and, just as importantly, defended as if their lives depended on it afterwards.
Grayson's men came into the game unbeaten in 15 games and having lost only twice all season but they were still expected to be brushed aside by the Premier League champions, who themselves have found form since their defensive injury crisis abated.
True, Ferguson made seven changes to the side that thumped Wigan earlier in the week, but he kept Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney together up front and Manchester United should have had far too much fire-power for the visitors to handle.
Instead, roared on by 9,000 fanatical supporters, Leeds set about by first frustrating the hosts and then taking the game to them.
Manchester United had most of the early possession but Leeds were not panicking when they did get the ball, and stunned the home crowd when they took the lead after 19 minutes.
The one and only: Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford beat Wes Brown and Tomaz Kuszczak to score the only goal of the game against Manchester United
Best of enemies: Tempers flared in a full-blooded contest more than once with Jonny Howson and Wes Brown clashing
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
The FA (Football Association) Cup is English football's premier knockout cup competition. The FA Cup is a straight knockout tournament, with no group stage, with each pairing being drawn completely at random. If a match is drawn, it is replayed. If the replay is drwn, the winner is decided on a penalty shootout. The teams from English football's top two divisions - the Premiership and Championship - do not enter the tournament until the Third Round. The FA Cup was first held in the 1871-72 season, making it the oldest football tournament in the world. One of the reasons why the FA Cup is much loved is because of its history of giant killing, where s so-called "minnows" knocks out one of the big teams. Lowly Sutton United beat mighty (in those days anyway) Coventry City in season 1988-899; Ronnie Radford helped tiny Hereford United beat Newcastle United in the 1971-72 tournament; and Bournemouth, managed by Harry Redknapp, now manager of Spurs, were victorious against Manchester United in 1983-84.
Beckford escaped Wes Brown to latch onto Johnny Howson's superb lofted pass and, although his first touch was poor, he recovered to coolly slide the ball past Tomas Kuszczak and into the bottom corner of the net.
It was the kind of finish which showed why Beckford is one of the most sought-after strikers outside the top-flight and might mean Newcastle have to spend a little more than they hoped if they are to prise him away from Elland Road in the transfer window.
It almost got even better for Leeds two minutes later when the impressive Howson broke forward down the right and sent over an inviting cross that Luciano Becchio headed wide.
Solo effort: Wayne Rooney was the only United player to excel but even he could not find a route to goal
Only then did Manchester United come forward with intent and they came agonisingly close to levelling when Berbatov released Rooney down the right. The England striker made for goal and clipped his shot over keeper Casper Ankergren but Jason Crowe got back superbly to hack the ball off the line.
Rooney and Danny Welbeck both tried their luck with curling shots from the edge of the box that were both just off target and Jonny Evans headed wide after Ankergren flapped at a corner but otherwise the home side were unable to break down Leeds' determined defence.
Berbatov and Rooney trudge off after the defeat
The game continued in the same vein after the break, with Manchester United pressing but struggling to create clear-cut chances and Ankergren proving a reliable last line of defence when the home side did get a sight of goal.
He saved brilliantly from Welbeck but otherwise they failed to really threaten an equaliser until the final half-hour.
The first winners of the FA Cup were Wanderers (based in Battersea, London) who beat the British Army's Royal Engineers at The Oval cricket ground in March 1872 (Wembley wasn't yet built). The first FA Cup goal was scored by Clapham Rovers player Jarvis Kenrick in a 3-0 win over Upton Park in 1871. Wanderers won the competition four times in total but they ceased to exist in 1887. Clapham Rovers, whose shirt colours were cerise on the left half and french-grey on the right half, became defunct in 1892. The Royal Engineers appeared in four of the first eight FA Cup Finals, winning it in 1875.
By then, Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs were off the bench - soon to be joined by Michael Owen - and at last Manchester United looked dangerous, only to be thwarted by some dreadful finishing.
Owen miscued with the goal gaping after Valencia teed him up and Rooney was also wildly off target when the ball fell to him in the box.
Leeds were not just defending either, and could have extended their lead before the end when Beckford fired wide after running through and substitute Robert Snodgrass smashed a rasping free-kick against the bar.
Saving grace: United did mount late pressure but Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren was equal to Rooney's shot and Michael Owen's follow up
There was still time for a couple of desperate goal-mouth scrambles as Manchester United poured forward but in the end one goal was enough to send Leeds through to round four - their first victory at Old Trafford since 1981 - and show why Grayson is rated one the most promising young managers in the game.
"Obviously I am very proud of my team and what they've done today.
"We worked very hard and I feel we deserved this win.
"I told the lads before the game to go out and make themselves proud whether they won or not and they've done that.
"We knew we could hurt them today and this signalled how well we've been playing all season.
"This win is for the fans, who have stuck by us in every game. Once again, they were great and they deserve this."
Off the line: Leeds United's Jason Crowe clears Rooney's attempt off the line
Theatre of dreams: Leeds' Michael Doyle enjoyed the moment at Old Trafford
Theatre of nightmares: Sir Alex Ferguson, on the other hand, did not
news.bbc.co.uk/sport