I Predict a Riot: When Brighton & Michael Robinson nearly relegated Leeds
One of the most famous songs from Leeds supporting band the Kaiser Chiefs was I Predict a Riot. Were they at Elland Road on Saturday 15th May 1982 when Brighton striker Michael Robinson nearly caused one by revelling in almost sending Leeds to relegation out of the top division?
Leeds had to win that day to stand any chance of survival going into their final match of the 1981-82 campaign away at West Brom.
A low crowd of 19,831 was an indicator that a lot of Peacocks fans had given up on the cause, but you could still feel the tension amongst those who were there. It was like a powder keg; one spark and the place would go off.
Leeds had a fearsome reputation for hooliganism throughout the 1980s, so antagonising them over their demise would best be deemed unwise. And it would certainly lead to a riot. Step forward then Mr Michael Robinson.
If you had to write a guide of not what to do in a must-win game for Leeds in front of their famously violent following, it would be don’t score and then make a going down gesture at the crowd.
Someone clearly had not read that particular guidebook. Robinson gave Brighton a first half lead and marked it with a thumbs down sign at the Leeds South Stand, as you do.
Robinson was a man who was delighted whenever he scored a goal. The joy he showed when putting the ball in the back of the net made a EuroMillions Lottery winner look as downhearted as Victor Meldrew.
It was one of the reasons that he was a popular player amongst the Albion faithful. Except of course when his excitement and enjoyment had the potential to spark carnage and violence of the sort rarely seen outside of a warzone.
The locals were incensed by the going down hand signal and spent much of the next hour making cut-throat gestures and trying to clamber into the away pen, leaving the one hundred or so Albion fans who had made the journey in genuine fear for their lives.
Not exactly helping matters were the police. In such situations, you want a force in control and displaying the confidence that they can protect you in the face of 15,000 Yorkshire folk who are losing their minds.
The fact that the police seemed more worried about the safety of the Brighton supporters than the Seagulls following themselves were was not exactly comforting.
Brighton’s travelling support was so small at Elland Road that day partly because of the inevitable problems that would occur if Leeds were relegated.
The other reason for the low attendance was because the Albion too had been on a dreadful run of their own to end the campaign.
Two wins, two draws and 11 defeats going into the trip to Yorkshire had seen Mike Bailey’s side tumble from eighth spot and potential European football in mid-March to their eventual finishing position of 13th.
A third win looked on the cards right up until the final few minutes at Leeds. As the second half wore on, you could sense the feeling of condemnation amongst the home crowd.
Less than 10 years after being the dominant force in English football, Leeds were heading for the second tier. And it was going to be a small club from the south coast who sent them there.
Tony Grealish did his best to give Leeds a fighting chance of survival when presenting the hosts with a glorious chance to equalise.
Perhaps the man who would go onto lead Brighton out in the 1983 FA Cup Final a year later felt worried for the fate of Albion fans afterwards, and that is what caused him to produce a header under no pressure towards his own goal which flew over Steve Foster and left Terry Connor in one-on-one?
The future Albion striker could only skew the effort wide of Graham Moseley’s goal, however. The spectre of relegation continued to hang over Elland Road as the game ticked into injury time.
And then from nowhere, Leeds equalised. Gary Hamson strode into midfield from left back, collected the ball and hit an unstoppable drive past Moseley from 30 yards. Leeds 1-1 Brighton.
The hosts now had a couple of minutes of additional time to find a winner. The Albion gave the ball away straight from the restart, to Hamson of all people.
Hamson came forward again, feeding Eddie Gray who was able to make his way to the edge of the Brighton box. A low cross into the area found Kevin Hird, he stepped past a flying challenge from Gary Williams and stuck the ball between the legs of Moseley.
The noise as the ball hit the back of the net was unbelievable. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” – once an anthem common across football rather than being a Liverpool exclusive – rang out as the game kicked off again.
When the final whistle blew, home fans spilled onto the pitch in joy. Leeds winning had made them completely forget about Brighton and Robinson, allowing Albion fans to slink out of Elland Road completely unnoticed.
That was the end of the Seagulls 1981-82 season. Leeds meanwhile had one more game to go and despite their celebrations after beating Brighton, they still had to avoid defeat at West Brom three days later to secure survival and send the Baggies down instead.
Leeds fans have always been an arrogant bunch and seemed to assume that the point they needed at the Hawthorns was a formality. Instead, West Brom ended up winning 2-0 and the Peacocks were relegated alongside Wolves and Middlesbrough.
The visiting supporters took their demotion well, embarking on a riot so violent that it demolished part of the away stand. That could have been the fate awaiting Brighton fans had the Albion been the ones to condemn Leeds to Division Two.
Michael Robinson, what were you thinking?
