Leeds United Football Club has been a fabric of the English game for over a century. Although the Yorkshire club has enjoyed many trials and tribulations, they have always seemed to have had a player capable of putting the ball into the back of the net.
These players have played a vital role for Leeds throughout their history. Here are Leeds United’s top-ten all-time goalscorers:
Peter Lorimer (238 goals in 703 appearances)
The Scottish attacking midfielder joined the Whites in May of 1962 and set about etching his name in the history of Leeds United. Lorimer spent 19 years of his career with the Yorkshire club divided into two spells, from 1962 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1985.
His scoring record amounted to a goal every three games, which is a respectable record for a player in his position.
Lorimer enjoyed immense success with Leeds, helping his team to win the First Division title in seasons 1968/69 and 1973/74, too. Lorimer was also part of the United team that won the FA Cup in 1972, among taking part in numerous finals with the Yorkshire club.
The Dundee-born star is a true Leeds United legend. He lived in the city until his death in March 2021.
John Charles (157 goals in 327 appearances)
The former Welsh international is now almost a mythical figure in football. Known as ‘the gentle giant’, Charles moved to the Yorkshire club from hometown outfit Swansea City in 1949.
However, it was not until 1952, after he served his national service, that Charles played as a centre-forward rather than a central defender.
The move turned out to be an inspired one as he finished as the club’s top goalscorer in the Second Division in the season 1953/54, scoring 42 goals in 39 league appearances. The season was his most prolific in a white shirt.
Charles’ 29 goals in season 1955/56 helped Leeds to win promotion back to the First Division. In his only season in the English First Division, the forward scored 38 goals in 40 appearances before a switch to Juventus.
Charles returned to Leeds in season 1962/63, scoring three goals in 11 appearances in the Second Division. However, he will always be best remembered for his first spell at the club.
Allan Clarke (151 goals in 366 appearances)
Nicknamed ‘Sniffer, ’ Clarke joined the club in 1969 from Leicester City for a fee of £165,000. The former England international spent a decade with the Yorkshire club.
Clarke’s 13 goals in the 1973/74 First Division season were enough to help the Whites lift the English top-flight title. The forward got into double figures in eight of his ten seasons with the Yorkshire club.
Clarke was also part of the team that finished as an FA Cup runner-up in 1970 and 1973, as well as winning the trophy in 1972. He also picked up a runners-up medal in the 1975 European Cup.
Tom Jennings (117 goals in 174 appearances)
Jennings joined Leeds from Raith Rovers in March 1925 and played for the Whites until 1931. The Scottish forward was prolific in a white shirt, having a better than a goal every other game for the Yorkshire club. Jennings joined Chester in 1931, having unfortunately not picked up any silverware during his Leeds career.
Billy Bremner (115 goals in 587 appearances)
The Scot is another Leeds United legend. The skilful midfielder was part of the golden years for the Yorkshire club, appearing for Leeds for 18 seasons from 1959 until 1977.
During his time with Leeds, Bremner won the English First Division title on two occasions in 1969 and 1974, the FA Cup in 1972 and also the League Cup in 1968. He was also in the team that finished as runners-up in the 1975 European Cup after a 2-0 defeat against German giants Bayern Munich.
Bremner made such a big impact at Leeds that the club erected a statue of the Scot in 1999.
Johnny Giles (114 goals in 383 appearances)
The Irish midfielder represented Leeds for 12 from 1963 and 1975. Like Bremner and Lorimer, Giles was part of Don Revie’s team, regarded as one of the best English football teams ever seen.
Giles’ strike rate of 114 goals in 383 appearances was a good ratio for a player who operated in the centre of the pitch.
Mick Jones (111 goals in 312 appearances)
The forward joined Leeds from Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United in 1968 for £100,000. Jones was another player to take part in the Whites’ glory years, representing United until 1974.
Jones scored 14 goals in 40 appearances in season 1968/69 when the Whites claimed the First Division title. He bettered his goal tally the season after with 15 goals. The forward once again scored 14 goals in their title-winning First Division season in 1973/74.
Charlie Keetley (110 goals in 169 appearances)
The forward joined Leeds from Alvaston and Boulton in 1927 and represented the club until 1934. Keetley scored 18 goals in 16 appearances in his first season with the Whites.
The Derby-born star finished as Leeds’ top goalscorer in seasons 1928–29, 1930–31 and 1931–32. The diminutive forward left for local rivals Bradford City in 1934.
Jack Charlton (96 goals in 762 appearances)
The legendary defender scored a respectable 96 goals in 762 appearances in an incredible 21-year period at Leeds. Charlton was a one-club player, winning the First Division title in season 1968/69 and the Second Division in season 1963/64.
Charlton also won the FA Cup in 1972 and the League Cup in 1968, as well as the Charity Shield in 1969. His biggest achievement in the game was being part of the England World Cup-winning squad in 1966.
Russell Wainscoat (93 goals scored in 226 appearances)
The forward joined Leeds from Middlesbrough in March 1925 and went on to score 93 goals in six and a half years. He scored a hat trick on his league debut against Barnsley and scored two hat tricks in his Leeds career.
He left the Whites in 1931 for Hull City and helped the Tigers to the Division 3 North title.
Wainscoat made his one and only international appearance for England in a 1-0 defeat against Scotland in Glasgow in 1929.