[5] Many people were injured in these encounters but violence between fans of the clubs has declined sharply since the 1970s for a number of reasons, mainly due to the general reduction in hooliganism.

As recently as January 2010, prior to the two clubs meeting in the FA Cup 3rd round, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described the matches as "fantastic, feisty occasions" with an "electric" atmosphere.

The entire country was going through an unprecedented phase of economic growth and Leeds' economy had grown rapidly thanks to the woollen industry.

Meanwhile, to the west in Manchester, the cotton industry began to flourish, with factories fuelled by the transportation of cheap coal down the Bridgewater Canal.

[12] The club was founded in 1878 as Newton Heath L&YR by employees of Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, with the company – as the name suggests – covering both historic counties.

The two sides clashed for the first time in the Second Division at Manchester United's Bank Street stadium on 15 January 1906 in front of 6,000 fans.

[14] These matches proved to be both the first and the last times that the two clubs met, as Manchester United were promoted to the First Division at the end of the 1905–06 season and Leeds City were eventually forcibly disbanded due to financial irregularities.

Manchester United claimed the first victory, and indeed the first away win, between the two sides, when they beat Leeds 1–0 at Elland Road a week later on 27 January.

Manchester United's side during this era featured the likes of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best, while under Revie Leeds had gained a reputation as a tough, uncompromising side, with the likes of Bobby's brother Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner, and Norman Hunter.

The tie at Hillsborough was a very rough game – the image of Jack Charlton and Denis Law punching each other and wrestling on the ground epitomised the spirit in which the game was played – and it ended 0–0, with the Yorkshire Post commenting "both sides behaved like a pack of dogs snapping and snarling at each other over a bone".

McQueen was targeted in particular with booing and jeering at Elland Road and objects were hurled at him before he scored a headed goal for Manchester United to silence the home fans.

[14] The Roses rivalry did not take place for nearly a decade because Leeds were relegated in 1982, while Manchester United remained competitive in the First Division and in the hunt for honours almost every season.

Leeds eventually returned under the stewardship of Howard Wilkinson in 1990 with a newly strengthened squad that had finished as Second Division champions.

Thanks to the likes of Gordon Strachan (who was bought from Manchester United), Lee Chapman, David Batty and Eric Cantona, Leeds won the league by four points.

[18] He would be the cornerstone of Manchester United's 1990s revival, leading them to the Premier League title on four occasions in just five seasons and he thus became one of the club's legends.

[25] On-pitch clashes continued to happen between the clubs, with notable incidents including the beginning of a personal grudge between Manchester United captain Roy Keane and Alfie Haaland in September 1997,[26] a clash between Ian Harte and Fabien Barthez in March 2001,[27][28] and a tussle between Robbie Keane and David Beckham in October 2001.

Despite being 43 places lower in the league than their rivals, Leeds United won the match 1–0, giving them their first win at Old Trafford for over 28 years.

The current gulf in resources of the two clubs was illustrated by Manchester United resting many regular first team players yet still comfortably beating a near full-strength Leeds side.

Their first Premier League meeting in nearly 17 years resulted in a 6–2 loss for Leeds at Old Trafford, followed by a 0–0 draw in the reverse fixture at Elland Road.