11 DECEMBER 1920
NEWLY FORMED LEEDS UNITED SECURED THEIR FIRST DOUBLE IN CLUB HISTORY WITH A 3–0 WIN OVER NOTTS COUNTY AT ELLAND ROAD, FOLLOWING A 2–1 VICTORY AT MEADOW LANE.
ROBERT THOMPSON SCORED THE FIRST HAT-TRICK IN LEEDS UNITED HISTORY.
The date 11 December 1920 holds a special place in the earliest pages of Leeds United’s story — a moment when a brand-new club, still shaping its identity and fighting for recognition, achieved something that signalled real promise for the future. Leeds United had only recently risen from the ashes of Leeds City, and every game in those early months felt like a test of credibility, resilience, and ambition. But on this cold winter afternoon, they produced a performance that echoed louder than the scoreline itself.
The 3–0 win over Notts County at Elland Road was more than just a routine league result; it was a statement. Having beaten County 2–1 just a week earlier at Meadow Lane, the newly formed Leeds side completed their first-ever double — a milestone that showed they were not simply participating in the Football League, but beginning to genuinely compete. For a young club, consistency was a luxury, and putting together back-to-back victories against the same opponent showed a level of organisation and confidence that few expected so soon.
The hero of the day, Robert Thompson, wrote his name into Leeds United folklore with a performance that would forever be remembered. His hat-trick — the first ever recorded by a Leeds player — wasn’t just a personal triumph but a symbolic moment for the entire club. Every new team needs its pioneers, its first icons, its early legends whose contributions create the foundation others build on. Thompson delivered exactly that. His goals weren’t simply numbers on a score sheet; they represented the spark of belief Leeds needed in those formative years.
Imagining the scene at Elland Road that day brings the story to life: a modest but passionate crowd wrapped in winter coats, the pitch rough and heavy from the December conditions, and a team eager to prove its worth. Football in 1920 was played with grit, directness, and raw determination — all qualities Leeds United would soon become famous for. And on this day, those qualities were unmistakable. Every tackle, every clearance, every forward run carried the energy of a club trying to carve out its place in English football.
This milestone also hinted at what Leeds United would become: a club known for its toughness, its identity, and its unwavering commitment to fighting for every inch. The double over Notts County was small compared to the glories that would come decades later, but in 1920, it meant everything. It was proof that the club was alive, progressing, and capable of creating history of its own.
Looking back now, over a century later, the significance only grows. That December afternoon marked one of the first chapters in a story that would become rich, intense, and unforgettable. And standing proudly at the centre of that chapter is Robert Thompson — the man who delivered Leeds United’s first-ever hat-trick, and whose name is forever etched into the club’s earliest achievements.
