The Old Peacock — Proud to be the Headquarters of WILKO 92
One of the most historic pubs in Leeds, The Old Peacock on Elland Road is set to play a central role in honouring one of the city’s greatest football figures. The legendary public house, just a goal kick from Elland Road, has been named the official headquarters of WILKO92 — the supporter-led campaign to raise the funds for a statue of Howard Wilkinson, the last English manager to win the top-flight title and the man who guided Leeds United to glory in 1992.
Jamie Lawson, Owner of Ossett Brewery and The Old Peacock said: 'The Old Peacock has always been more than just a pub — it's part of the fabric of Leeds United’s history and the community that surrounds Elland Road. We’re proud to make it the headquarters of Wilko92 and to raise a glass to Howard Wilkinson, a manager who brought unforgettable memories to this city. Just as generations of fans have gathered here before every match, we hope they’ll now gather to celebrate and support the campaign to honour one of Leeds United’s true greats and the team he led to glory, winning the league trophy in the 91/92 season.'
Founded in 1826, The Old Peacock has been stitched into the match day ritual of Leeds fans for generations. From its early days as a meeting place for miners and mill workers, to becoming the unofficial home of Leeds United supporters when the club was founded in 1919, the pub has long stood as a symbol of community, passion, and footballing tradition. On match days, its beer garden and bars remain a vibrant hub for Whites fans, echoing decades of chants, celebrations and commiserations.
Now, the historic venue will channel that spirit into WILKO92 — a project dedicated to ensuring Wilkinson’s achievements are permanently recognised alongside fellow Leeds legends such as Don Revie and Billy Bremner.
WILKO92 Limited Director Dave Tomlinson said: ‘There’s no more fitting home for this campaign than The Old Peacock. It has always been at the heart of Leeds United’s story — and now it will be at the heart of preserving Howard Wilkinson’s legacy.’
On matchdays, The Old Peacock heaves — its bars brim with fans, its screens show live sport, and its garden buzzes with pre-kick-off debate. It is more than a convenient pub opposite Elland Road — it is a monument to the rituals of fandom, part of the city’s fabric.
Like the ravens at the Tower of London, its presence feels essential. Should The Old Peacock ever vanish, Leeds United itself would somehow feel less complete. For nearly two hundred years it has stood on Elland Road, a companion through triumph and turmoil alike, and for generations of Leeds fans it remains more than a place to drink — it is part of who they are.
That legacy made it the perfect birthplace for the WILKO92 campaign. A summer evening in the pub saw fans, ex-players Gary McAllister, Tony Dorigo, and Noel Whelan and Wilkinson himself gather to launch the fundraising drive.
Wilkinson himself downplayed the fuss, calling football ‘a job I never worked a day in my life’, but the passion in the room showed how deeply his legacy runs through the club — and how fitting it is that The Old Peacock should host the campaign.
Behind the bar, the pub’s character is shaped by people as much as history. Owner Jamie Lawson, a lifelong fan whose father worked at Tetley’s before founding Ossett Brewery, took over in 2013 almost by accident after a beer-fuelled handshake. The Peacock was then a run-down ‘spit and sawdust’ venue, but Lawson transformed it with décor, memorabilia and careful investment.
Staff like Dawn Oates, who has worked there for nearly four decades, embody its spirit. A season-ticket holder, she pulls pints until 2:45pm before sprinting across to Elland Road — a non-negotiable condition when Lawson took over. ‘She’s a character who’s served everyone from players to chairmen,’ he says proudly.
For Lawson, the business is inseparable from football: ‘The pub is very much the unofficial Leeds United pub. Quite frankly, our business plan centres around being geared up for a high-volume turnover on matchdays.’ A Saturday 3pm kick-off in sunshine is the dream; a Leeds win guarantees fans return in droves.
Nearly 200 years on, The Old Peacock is still standing guard on Elland Road — a companion through triumph and turmoil alike. For Leeds fans, it remains far more than a place to drink: it is part of who they are.