In the 2023–24 EFL Championship, the rivalry made a return, with Leeds winning 4–1 at Elland Road in October 2023 before a 1–1 draw at the John Smith's Stadium in March 2024.
There may be other reasons, including the setting alight of a chip van by Leeds fans during a game between the two sides at Odsal perceived by some as a mockery of the Bradford City stadium fire.
The last meeting between these two sides was at Valley Parade on 27 August 2014 in the Football League Cup, Leeds took a 1–0 lead in the 82nd minute, but Bradford won the game with goals from Billy Knott and James Hanson.
[1] Bradford City and Huddersfield Town have had roughly the same league status for the last couple of decades and so it could be argued that they are closest rivals out of the three West Yorkshire teams.
On 1 February 1997, Huddersfield Town defender Kevin Gray broke the leg of Bradford City striker Gordon Watson in two places with a horrific sliding tackle.
Watson was, at that time, the most expensive player in Bradford City's history having cost them £575,000, and was playing in only his third match for the club.
It took Gordon almost two years of recovery and five further operations before he was able to return to football, after which he made just a handful of appearances for City before leaving the club.
The most recent derby with Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium ended in a 2–1 victory for the home team in the first round of the Capital One Cup on 6 August 2013.
However Leeds' success during this latter period came at a huge cost with tens of millions of pounds spent gambling on sustained Champions League involvement.
However, under their new manager David Wagner, Huddersfield won promotion to the Premier League for the first time by defeating Reading in the 2017 Championship play-off final.
In the Northern Premier League, matches between Liversedge and Ossett United are regularly played on a Friday night, and attract crowds of more than 1000, which is very high for this level of football.
The teams who are, or have been, in the Super League are; Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers, Halifax, Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos, and Wakefield Trinity.
Other rugby league clubs in West Yorkshire are Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone Rovers, Hunslet and Keighley Cougars.
The most recent competitive meeting between the two sides was a Challenge Cup sixth round tie in May 2019, which Bradford won 24–22 to progress to the quarter finals.
The lack of competitive fixtures sees Rhinos supporters view other West Yorkshire teams as greater rivals.
Due to their proximity to East Lancashire, roses rivalries see Halifax Panthers and Huddersfield Giants also view Oldham Roughyeds and Rochdale Hornets as rivals.