David Batty joined Leeds Utd in August 1987 from the youth team. He played his first game against Swindon in November 1987. In the season 1989/90 he won the Division Two Championship. Then in the season 1991/92 he won the Division One Championship with Leeds. He made his international debut for England in May 1991 against the USSR. In October 1993 Leeds sold Batty to Blackburn (much to Batty’s disappointment), but towards the end of that season (1993/94) he broke a bone in his foot and was out about a year. He missed most of Blackburn’s championship year (1994/95), but he did manage to play 5 or 6 games.
In March 1996 he asked to move, and moved to Newcastle. He had a great time there, but moved to Leeds in December 1998 for £4.4m, his second debut was against Coventry (in Dec), and the fans LOVED it! David Batty is probably the most important player in the Leeds Utd team. Born in Beeston, Leeds, he is Leeds through and through. I was so glad David O’Leary’s first signing was Batts, he’s bought him back (to where he belongs), Leeds should never have sold him in the first place. He controls the midfield. His presence is big, his passing and work-rate are great and he is good at holding the ball up. He is not afraid to get stuck in and he loves crunch tackles. Leeds missed him so badly when he was out injured for a year. Since Batts has remarkably returned from injury, much earlier than expected and to the delight of the fans, Leeds’ 2000/2001 season changed for the better. He has formed an excellent partnership with Olivier Dacourt in the centre of midfield. If he has an injury free season, next season, we have a good chance of challenging for the title. The younger midfielders, like Bakke, can learn a lot from Batty.