Is there a more fitting player to embody this northern clash between Burnley FC and Leeds United? Perhaps, but the likes of Chris Wood, Charlie Taylor, Aaron Lennon, Paul Robinson, and Robbie Blake have all faded into the rearview mirror. In 2025, Connor Roberts stands as the most tangible link, having donned the Leeds shirt last season before rejoining Burnley at the end of his loan spell.
Connor Roberts: The One That Got Away?
Roberts’ stint at Leeds United barely scraped 20 appearances, yet he left an outsized impression on the Elland Road faithful. As a winter loan signing, the Welsh fullback delivered a few dazzling moments, including a dramatic equalizer against Leicester City. Fans embraced him not just for his contributions on the pitch but for bolstering the squad’s burgeoning Welsh contingent—a cheeky nod to his heritage.
Yet Leeds fell short of promotion, while Burnley slid into the Championship. With both clubs now rubbing shoulders in the same division, Burnley acted swiftly to reclaim Roberts, a player integral to their last EFL Championship promotion campaign. Though he rarely featured in Burnley’s Premier League escapades, his recent form suggests he’s raring to go—just ask Josh Laurent, who gleefully tucked in Roberts’ assist during Burnley’s 5-0 cattywampus demolition of Plymouth Argyle.
And now? Roberts is poised for a reunion with Leeds fans under the Turf Moor floodlights. He missed the reverse fixture at Elland Road—a 1-0 win for Burnley—but this time, expect him to hit the ground running.
Burnley’s 2004 Upset at Elland Road
Leeds vs. Burnley might seem like your typical northern derby, but rewind a few decades, and the fixture was anything but. Burnley languished in English football’s backwaters while Leeds climbed the pyramid. From April 1976 to November 2004, Burnley fans could only dream of visiting Elland Road.
When the drought finally ended, Leeds fans anticipated a straightforward win en route to their Premier League return. Gobemouches! Burnley had other ideas. Despite Jermaine Wright opening the scoring inside the first minute, Leeds somehow contrived to lose 2-1. This pre-Ken Bates calamity remains a sore spot for Whites fans. Burnley FC Fixtures don’t get much sweeter than this…for Burnley FC fans…
Grayson’s Grit: The 2010 Comeback at Turf Moor
By the 2010/11 season, Leeds United was riding a wave of optimism. Simon Grayson’s squad had the firepower: Luciano Becchio, Max Gradel, and Jonny Howson—players who were scandalously snubbed for the EFL Team of the Year.
When Leeds visited Turf Moor in November 2010, Burnley stormed to a 2-0 halftime lead with goals from Brian Easton and Jay Rodriguez. But Grayson’s halftime talk must have been pure dynamite because Leeds flipped the game on its head in the second half. Goals from Becchio, Gradel, and Howson sealed a gobsmacking 3-2 comeback win. That day, Grayson’s tactical nous left Burnley looking like a bunch of peekgooses.
The Closed-Door Masterclass: Leeds’ 4-0 Win in 2021
Marcelo Bielsa’s swashbuckling Leeds side tore through the 2020/21 Premier League season, finishing ninth—a stunning result for relegation favorites. Their performance at Turf Moor in May 2021 epitomized their fearless football.
Despite evenly matched stats—both teams registered 16 shots and similar possession—Leeds ran riot, romping to a 4-0 victory. Mateusz Klich got the ball rolling, Jack Harrison added a goal and two assists, and Rodrigo capped it off with a clinical brace. Sean Dyche’s Burnley simply couldn’t handle Leeds’ relentless tempo. Bielsa left Turf Moor with three points and Burnley with a cattywampus mess. The Leeds United standings were pleasant reading shortly after…
Jaidon Anthony: A Quiet Leeds Stint, A Loud Burnley Impact
Jaidon Anthony’s stint at Leeds felt a bit “aik’”—brief and not exactly impactful, despite making decent Leeds United transfer news upon his arrival…Most of his time was spent bobbing onto the pitch from the bench. Still, the London lad managed to make 31 appearances in the EFL Championship, a decent haul for a player who never truly felt like he fit the system. Now up north with Burnley, Anthony’s already brayed the back of the net three times this season, eclipsing his lonely single league goal for Leeds.
Anthony’s move to Lancashire is an interesting one. It’s a long way from the “plazzy” housing blocks and “choddy”-stuck pavements of London. Rumor has it, he’s AirBnB-ing his southern flat for more than Burnley’s paying him. But with his recent form, he might bob into a key role against his former side. Could he be a thorn in Leeds’ side, just as they start to find their rhythm?
Bamford’s Burnley Blip
Patrick Bamford’s Burnley career wasn’t even worth a “gill” of anyone’s attention. He rocked up in 2016-17, goint there from Chelsea on loan, only to clash with Sean Dyche over his style and attitude. Bamford struggled to get “aik’” time, making just six Premier League appearances before the whole ordeal ended. Burnley fans never warmed to him, but Leeds fans did—especially after he brayed the Clarets with goals in two big matches against them later in his career.
Sadly, there’ll be no teacakes and glory for Bamford this time around…he’s injured and will be for many Leeds United fixtures to come.
As Burnley and Leeds prepare to collide at Turf Moor, the subplots are plentiful. Connor Roberts’ return, Jaidon Anthony’s resurgence, and the echoes of memorable derbies past promise a fiery showdown. Let the battle commence.
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