Ghosts of Christmas past…

The last game before Christmas is traditionally a time for packing the loved ones off shopping for the last bits and pieces so we fans can flock to the football in relative peace and quiet. However, since the dawn of the new Millennium, this game has been somewhat of a graveyard for the Whites as one too many a player has had one eye on the game, the other on a big Christmas dinner. The bad run started with a 1-2 defeat at home to Villa in 2000 and a year later saw Newcastle shake Elland Road in the 2001, 4-3 victory. These defeats were followed by the 2002, 1- 1 home bore draw to today’s visitors Southampton. In 2003, our first visit to Manchester City’s Eastland’s saw another 1-1 game, before Millwall in 2004 completed a hatrick of 1-1 scorelines in 2004…

Matters took a turn for the worse with a 0-1 defeat at Molineux as Wolves took all three pre: Christmas points in 2005. That feat was matched a year later by Ipswich at Portman road in 2006, though the sequence was broken briefly in the 2007. A 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers at Elland Road, just before the wheels of Dennis Wise’s bandwagon were beginning to fall off, saw Howson on hand to score the winner. Howson was in the team a year later as McAllister’s woeful defence let him down yet again at MK Dons. The 1-3 defeat carried on the bad form of this time of year and of course, cost Macca his job. Given the worries of some that our league form of late was going through a bit of a wobble, an air of tension had surrounded the visit of an inform Southampton…

This tension was heightened after being mostly outplayed by Accrington Stanley for 40 minutes in midweek, even if we did progress into the Northern Area Final of the JPT. Grayson was left fuming, calling the display “Average” and lamenting that today’s visitors Southampton would “punish us” should the boys put in a repeat performance. Grayson had made nine changes to the starting line up for the mid week tie, but was now back to picking from a near full strength squad. So with Casper in goal, the back four lined up with Hughes, Naylor, Kisnorbo and Bromby. Midfield included the usual suspects as Snoddy (left), Howson (right) lined up with Doyle & Kilkenny in the middle. Beckford and Becchio led the line and we hoped that all the players had decent studs on today in order to stay sure footed on a snow covered pitch…

The pre: match hype was all about Beckford squaring up to Southampton’s key striker Lambert, but it was soon to be come apparent that only one of the strikers on show would write the headlines and for all the wrong reasons. The Saints lined up with a disappointing 4-5-1 formation and from the outset, their tactics were to stifle and hit on the break. It was a relief in some ways that they set their stall out like this, even if it made for grim viewing at times in the first half. The atmosphere in the ground was tense as both teams managed to pass well on the snow and it was the Whites with the opening salvos. Beckford looked to be upended when through inside the opening minutes, but referee Miller never flinched. Beckford then tried from distance, but the keeper saw it all the way and made an easy stop…

The first half hour was scrappy at times and the visitors were having a bit of joy down our right but, despite Lallana and Harding combing well, they didn’t fashion anything clear cut for Lambert and co in the box. Up the other end, Snoddy had a shot blocked and Becchio headed wide from a corner. Despite the Whites probing and pressing, Kilkenny doing the bulk of the work, we never really got behind the Saints defence, nor really got on top. The closest the Saints got to troubling Casper, was a drilled ball into the box, that Hughes came out of nowhere to get his head on and clear the danger. After that, Leeds stepped it up, Beckford had two bites at the cherry before finally looping a close range shot over and Becchio really should have hit the target with a header from 6 yards out…

Halftime was simply fucking freezing and it was hoped that the boys would come out of the blocks quickly and they did just that. More debate about Howson not being a natural fit on the right wing was still going on as a ball fell to him in the box and a stunning shot arrowed to the top left hand corner was brilliantly turned over by Bialkowski. It set the tone for the next few minutes as the noise levels in the ground were notched up. Moments later a great ball in from the left just needed a White touch, but no one supplied it. It felt like the game was going to take off, but Referee Miller had other ideas and niggly free kicks and talkings to disrupted the flow. Both Kisnorbo and Lambert booked for an altercation and Lambert, who thus far was in Paddy’s back pocket, clearly hadn’t heard that Kisnorbo was simply hard as fuck…

Still the Saints soaked up the pressure, Howson cut in from the left and bent a shot in that again, just needed a decisive touch from Beckford but it wasn’t to be and we were beginning to have that nagging feeling again. The Saints, up to press, had not really had a shot on goal, but were beginning to break at pace. Bromby was being targeted at right back, but fortunately, what got past him met a brick wall in the shape of the supreme Kisnorbo and Naylor. 74 minutes on the clock brought both the turning and also talking point. Master tactician Grayson had seen enough and took off Beckford and Howson, throwing on Johnson and Gradel. Beckford’s substitution was met with ironic cheers from parts of the crowd and the player was clearly not happy about being taken off…

It hadn’t been his day in front of goal, but it was not his worst performance of the season by a long way, so the reaction from some was unmerited. Beckford slowly trudged off and though he shook hands with both players coming on, he appeared to snub Grayson before stomping off down the tunnel to loud boo’s from the crowd. The crowd backed Grayson vocally and within a minute or so, his brave substitution bore fruit. Hughes spotted Snoddy in space on the left of the area and Snoddy cut inside before arrowing a stunning right foot shot over the keeper and into the top corner for 1-0 and pandemonium on the terraces. The lead was deserved on the balance of play and once again, Grayson was vindicated in another of his decisions…

The goal failed to sting the visitors into action and despite a couple of free kicks launched into the area, both dealt with by you know who from OZ, when the game got to 90 minutes, Southampton still had no shot on target all afternoon. That nearly changed as the referee lost his watch and 4 minutes injury time became 6 as the Whites got a touch of jitters. Gobern headed a corner wide before Lambert was allowed space in the box to get a shot in, but Lady Luck ensured it went across the face of goal and wide. As Grayson protested on the touchline and the White Army held its breath, Harding fizzed wide in the final seconds before the whistle finally went and allowed the Whites to celebrate being top of the League for Christmas 2009. Had the Saint’s taken a point from this game, it would simply have been daylight robbery…

So, 4 points clear with a game in hand as we approach Grayson’s first full year in charge and he appears to be faced with one of his biggest tests. What, if anything, will be done to Beckford for throwing his tantrum after the managers brave decision to haul the player off and how will both the crowd and Beckford respond to each other next time he plays. It is important however that the Beckford incident is not allowed to overshadow both today’s performance and significance of this result. It may not have been a classic match, but the way in which the Whites stuck to the task of breaking down a very well organised team warmed the heart on the coldest of days. Hopefully this is the start of a run of Pre: Christmas game wins and next up is Hartlepool on Boxing day. Have a great, safe & White Christmas everyone…

Leeds United AFC… “Fortune Favours the Brave”… Keep Fighting…

2000-2010…

It’s fair to say that the last 10 year’s have not been the easiest of times as we have watched our beloved club slide from the top end of the Premier League to Division Three. In the process we have suffered financial meltdown, two relegations, one administration and a range board room farces that would not have been out of place in some fictional novel. However, despite the distractions, on the pitch there has still been some real reason’s to get excited. Choosing a “Greatest Matches of the Decade” list is a subjective process and has many factors to take into account which can be argued long and hard. However for the purpose of some Christmas and New Year cheer, the below list is made up of various Leeds United AFC side’s winning game’s and giving the battle weary White army something to latch onto in what has been the darkest of time’s. So, let’s take a small trip down memory lane as the SS Leeds United AFC glides into 2010 full of hope & optimism for the years ahead…

Number 10: Tranmere Rovers 1 Leeds United AFC 2 – August 11th  2007

The first game in Division Three came on the back of the darkest summer in the club’s recent history after administration led to the now infamous -15 point deduction. The travelling White army had no clue what to expect, however turned out in great numbers on a barmy August afternoon. By halftime, we were fortunate to be just a goal behind as the team struggled to get the basics right. However, things took a turn for the better after defender Matt Heath powered home a header from a free kick. As time ticked down, a last minute Richardson cross was swung into the box and Kandol somehow managed to direct a header through the keepers legs and nick all three points sending the travelling White army mental…

Number 9:  Preston North End 0 Leeds United AFC 2 - May 8th 2006

After drawing the first Play off leg 1-1, Blackwell sprung a surprise for the game in that his team selection could not have looked more negative on paper had he tried. The game itself had a bit of everything, a broken leg for Preston’s Ormerod, a floodlight failure, a sending off for Cresswell and of course, two goals for the away side. First up was Hulse to slam in a header just before the hour and  minutes later, unlikely hero Richardson crashed home after good work by Hulse. Billy “Job Done” Davies had to endure 90 minutes of “Davies a cunt, his wife’s a slag” before getting “Job done and you fucked it up” rammed down his throat at the end of the game. To be in the away end that night was sheer joy and the celebration’s at the end between player’s and fan’s will live long in the memory…

Number 8:  Leeds United AFC 3 Deportivo La Coruna 0 - April 4th 2001

The Champions League quarter final was to be a walk in the park for the opposition if you believed their manager, but all his claims served to do was make O’Leary’s team talk that much easier. It was by far the most complete performance of the season and after Harte’s free kick went in off the bar, the Whites proceeded to slaughter the Spanish opposition. When Smith headed home number 2, the atmosphere in the ground was electric and the roof was raised after Ferdinand headed home his first goal for the club. In a jibe aimed at the Deportivo manager, the Revie responded with ‘Three-nil to the weakest team’, which went on to reverberate around Elland Road in one of the most special of Champion’s League nights…

Number 7:  Manchester City 2 Leeds United AFC 5 – January 9th 2000

A 4th round trip to Mancehster City (back then lower league opposition) was the prize for knocking out Port Vale in the FA Cup. O’Leary’s “Babies” had a fantastic end to 1999, but were just beginning to wobble. Successive defeats at Highbury and at home to Villa had some neutrals hoping for a cup upset. On the day the infamous “Posh spice is a slapper” chant was born, the Leeds players were unstoppable, although we didn’t have it all our own way. A goal down after 2 minutes, Bakke forced home a leveller soon after. Bishop scored a blinder for the home team to make it 1-2, but from there, it was all about Leeds. After constant pressure, Smith levelled and then Kewell (scum) put the Mighty Whites 3-2 up at halftime. The second half was all Leeds as Bowyer killed the game off with number Four and Kewell (scum) added the Fifth to stick the Blue Moon up the Citeh arses…

Number 6:  Carlisle United 0 Leeds United AFC 2 - May 15th 2008

A late Freedman goal in the Play off first leg gave the Whites something to cling on to in a 1-2 defeat and many of the White army had given up hope. However, those of us stood in the evening sunshine on that crumbling away terrace at Carlisle as well as the SKY tv audience watched a minor miracle as Howson scored in the first half to level the game and set up a thrilling second half. As the game entered the final stages, it looked like extra time would be needed to separate the teams. Then, in the last minute, a Freedman layoff was picked up by Howson outside the box and the young lad lashed a left foot shot past Westwood to send the lads to Wembley. The home support who had been singing “Wembley” songs all night, were now greeted with “2-1 and you fucked it up” as we celebrated the achievement with the boys before joining the scramble for Wembley tickets…

Number 5:  Leeds United AFC 1 AC Milan 0 - September 19th 2000

After being humbled 0-4 on a barmy night in Barcelona, next up for the boys in the “Group of Death” was a tough looking fixture against AC Milan. In the midst of poor form and with a host of injuries hampering the team, it took a super human effort and then some outrageous good fortune to notch the clubs first win in the Champions League proper. Power house performances from Matteo (making his club debut), Dacourt and Bowyer were the key as the rain lashed down at Elland Road. The AC Milan man of the match was by far Shevchenko and he missed a hatrick of chances in the second half. As time ticked on, it looked more likely that both sides would settle for a draw. That was until the very last minute, when Bowyer’s speculative effort slipped from Dida’s hand’s and as time appeared to stand still, the ball rolled into the net sparking mental scenes around Elland Road…

Number 4:  Southampton 3 Leeds United AFC 4 - November 19th 2005

As the White’s jostled for Play Off position’s, a trip to Southampton was always going to be tricky. Blackwell’s side were coming off the back of a 5 match winless run and frankly, you could tell. Southampton 0-3 up at halftime told only half a story as it could have been 6 or 7, such was the ineptness before our eyes. However, something was brewing on the South coast as many of the travelling White Army applauded the team off and spent halftime with a none stop “We all love Leeds”. The home fans must have thought we were barmy, but the noise from the away end did not stop and as Butler nicked a goal back, the noise went up a notch. Blake added a second and gave us hope as the Saints began to sit deep and defend their 1 goal lead. When the referee awarded a penalty with 6 minutes to go, Healy lashed it home and the away end party grew louder. “3-0 and you fucked it up” soon had more meaning as in the last seconds, Liam Miller popped up in the box to steer home Hulse’s cross for an amazing, breathtaking and frankly awe-inspiring 4-3 win…

Number 3:   Anderlecht 1 Leeds United AFC 4 - February  21st 2001

Anderlecht’s Constant Vanden Stock stadium was simply a fortress. It was home to a run of 20 consecutive home wins which included nine successes in Europe. That was the task facing the lads as we looked to progress into the last Eight of the Champions League. Being honest, we would have all taken a draw, but no one would have dared to have even dreamed the eventual outcome. The game was put to bed in the first 45 minutes and a more thrilling display you will seldom see. With Smith and Viduka on fire, it was 1-0 after 13 mins as Smith thumped home after a great ball in from the big man from Oz. 2-0 was soon to follow as Viduka headed home Matteo’s left wing cross and as we rubbed our eyes in disbelief, Smiths nonchalant finish made it 3-0. “We want four” sang the travelling White army, but we had to wait. Koller’s header pulled one back, but the 3 goal cushion was restored when Harte dispatched from the spot for 4-1 and the most thrilling of Champion’s League away nights…

Number 2: Leeds United AFC 4 Liverpool 3 - November 4th 2000

On a sunny November lunchtime at Elland Road,  O’leary’s side quickly found ourselves 0-2 behind thanks to sloppy defending and were looking down and out against a Liverpool side who were solid, yet unspectacular. However Smith’s tenacity and a superb finish from Viduka had given the boys a lifeline just before halftime. What transpired after the break was simply breathtaking and the second half belonged to Viduka as he gave a master class in finishing. However, after scoring the leveller with a great header from Kelly‘s fantastic right wing cross, the boys fell asleep at the back as Liverpool went ahead again. This is where Viduka came into his own, firstly he took Dacourt’s pass into his stride, twisted, turned and bamboozled the Scouse defence before firing home for 3-3 and his hatrick. Then he topped that after getting the rub of the green with an offside decision,  Viduka picked up a blocked Dacourt shot and coolly lobbed the keeper from an angle for his forth and pandemonium on the terraces. Viduka 4 Liverpool 3…

Number 1:  Arsenal 2 Leeds United AFC 3 - May 4th 2003

Away at the multi talented and title chasing Arsenal, Peter Reid’s side were not given a prayer. Kewell (Scum) set the tone of the game and rocketed a long range effort past Seaman for 1-0 and the perfect start on 5 minutes. The lead didn’t last long as Robinson touched a Parlour shot onto the post and Henry headed in the rebound. Harte’s free kick nudged the boys in front again with the aid of a slight deflection off Cole’s head. Then sloppy defending gave Bergkamp an easy tap in for 2-2 as we began to pray. With only minutes to play and after an exhausting 90 minutes the boy’s looked like nicking only a point on the way to staying up. Then, in a footballing gift from the gods, it happened. 87 minutes on the clock, Matteo breaks up yet another Arsenal attack and bursts forward. A couple of strides into the Arsenal half he knocked a ball over the top which finds Viduka out on the right. He looks offside, but the game is waved on and it feels like someone has hit the slow motion button. 5 seconds later, Viduka has burst forward and on the edge of the area, used a bit of shifty skill to get the ball onto his left foot and curled a beauty past Seaman for the winner and 3 priceless points leaving the Cockney‘s tearful and silent…

Leeds United AFC… “Ten of the Best”… Keep Fighting…

Frustration…

And so it came to pass, with a flurry of 4 goals in 10 minutes breaking the spirited Kettering hearts, the FA cup 3rd round tie with the Red enemy was in the bag. The tie now looms large on the horizon and as members of the White army approached their bank manager for a loan to pay for the highly priced tickets, Grayson insisted that his side must keep their feet on the ground. The first port of call on the 5 game run up to the tie was Brentford and the first trip to Griffin park for over 50 years. We had played at Griffin Park 13 times and they have the better record. Our last visit was in 1953/1954, Brentford beating us 2-1. John Charles ended that season with an amazing 42 goals to his name…

Tucked away in the midst of a jumble of terraced houses, the historical Old School ground must be the only one in the country to have a pub on all four of its corners. Though we have not played Brentford for half a century, “We all hate Leeds Scum” could be heard coming out of the first pub we passed and you imagined that Chas and Dave were in there on the old Joanna, whipping up the hostile atmosphere. This was most probably caused by the fact that no one ever says “Ex Brentford star” when referring to former Leeds battler and Sky pundit Chris Kamara. Lets face it, that would be enough to piss anyone off but it was kept at verbals over violence…

The away end housed around 2,000, with terracing at the bottom and seating above whilst the small ground itself benefited from real floodlights, even if they appeared to be on loan from Subbuteo. Grayson had a little tinker with the team and after thus far failing to fire anyone’s imagination, Vokes was rested. With Snodgrass also suspended, Gradel made a rare start with the only other change seeing Lubo dropped to the bench for the return of the impeccable Kisnorbo. We had been warned by a couple of Brentford fans in the local café, that the home team are normally very attack minded and they came flying out of the blocks…

It’s fair to say that for 5 minutes, we couldn’t get out of our own bloody half. Casper not endearing himself to the away fans behind him after flapping at one of a few early corners. It was however a familiar face that had the first real chance of the game and after head tennis between Becchio and Doyle was knocked on to Beckford, he latched onto it in a flash and sent a superb right foot pile driver across goal, to which keeper Szczesny got a hand to palm it onto the bar and away to safety. If the bar was our saviour against Huddersfield, it was to be our nemesis today. With the Beckford chance missed, we hoped that the boys could at least begin to relax and get the ball down…

It was not to be as Brentford continued working their bollocks off and not giving any Leeds player time to breath on the ball. After that miss and for the next 30 mins, a Howson half chance apart, the only thing to report was going on to our right. High up in the Brentford stand what looked like some corporate Leeds fans were doing their best to go home in a Cockney ambulance, One in particular on his feet, waving his Leeds scarf and giving it large to the Brentford boys pen below. They responded swiftly and around 15 of them ran down underneath the stand, re:appearing seconds later on the top tier where the Leeds fan was…

But for the intervention of some startled stewards, they would have got all the way along the stand to the corporate section. With one eye on that and the other on watching the way Hughes was getting murdered by Left winger Bostock, there was a real feeling of unease appearing around the away end. It was only the presence of Kisnorbo that ensured there was no all out panic. Bromby was also rising to the challenge presented to him, but had the both full backs done the same, its fair to say they would have had a easier afternoon. Not for the first time this season, Howson on the right wing ensured no width and with Doyle not really in the game, Brentford’s midfield were getting on top…

Only Kilkenny was providing any encouragement, though with no outlets to spray the ball to the wings, the chance to carve out any real chances was limited. Gradel was supposed to be out on the left, but continually came inside searching for the ball. Brentford were also finding the route to goal blocked, so striker McDonald tried to dive his way to a penalty, Kisnorbo was not happy and told the cheating little cunt. At halftime, we knew we could play a damn sight better, but many questioned if Brentford could keep up such phenomenal work rate. Now playing towards the away end, the boys started the second half much better and began to find a bit more time and space on the ball…

Beckford’s weak header was the first opportunity and soon after, the striker spurned a superb chance after being released by Kilkenny. Through on goal with the keeper to beat, Beckfords finish was quite simply woeful and began to add weight to those fans  calling him the Andy Cole of League One – i.e. needs 5 chances to score 1. With that miss, the home side grew taller and fought harder. Gradel was now getting more into the game, but at the same time getting involved with the Brentford right back. It was going to be the feature of the next 20 minutes as every time the lad tried to get past him or got on the ball, the right back was snapping at Max’s heels…

More than once, the ref had to speak to them both, but it was Gradal who was coming out on top. The game then began to turn on 2 moments, firstly another great ball sent Beckford through, only for him to be upended by the last defender. The referee waved play on, a very stupid decision indeed. Secondly, Gradel’s  left wing run ended with a peach of a ball to Becchio. The Argentine flicked the ball up with his right foot, before swinging his left boot at it, sending a looping effort onto the bar and over. Where the fuck was Lady Luck now! The home team grew even more in confidence and the nasty undercurrent involving Gradel was spreading to other parts of the pitch…

By the time Grayson threw on Kandol and Ephraim for Becchio and the unlucky Gradel, Brentford had begun to drag the game down into a frustrating pitch battle. They did at least begin to get some attacking play in, whilst the Leeds boys resorted to long ball and the head of Kandol. The last real chance for the away team came around 8 minutes from time as Kandol chased a loose ball on the left, whipping in a great ball, only for Beckford to miss his kick and the danger move up the other end of the field. Grayson tried to finally add some width on the right by replacing Howson with Crowe, but it was too little too late on that score…

With 4 minutes injury time was played out up the other end, as Brentford looked to nick the points with a flurry of free kicks and corners, but it was Kisnorbo who saved the day with a breathtaking block to deflect a certain winner wide from Wood’s strike. A frustrating draw at full time but another of those games we would probably have lost last season. It was, in the cold light of day, a point gained and certainly the least the hosts deserved. After being largely out played by Huddersfield, struggling to edge past Kettering and now being forced to settle for a draw here, many are beginning to wonder if this is the beginning of a blip…

If so, it couldn’t be worse timed given the upcoming fixtures and it’s fair to say that recent performances have looked laboured. Grayson’s instance on playing the midfield trio of Doyle, Howson and Kilkenny is being questioned, when we surely have a big enough squad to make sure the side has natural width and balance. Still, if this is the only thing we fans have to debate, then Grayson should not be losing sleep at the thought of all those wanna be managers in the crowd. The lead at the top has eroded to 2 points, with a game in hand, but panic is not necessary just yet. 8 points still separated us from the Play Off zone and the time to worry will be if that gap shortens dramatically…

Next up at Elland Road are Accrington Stanley in the JPT. After the struggle to beat Kettering, those of us digging out the old Milk ad joke of, “Accrington Stanley, Who are they? Exactly” may be best to wait until the full time whistle…

Leeds United AFC… “In Grayson We Trust”…Keep Fighting…

Dark Days, Black Knights…

Over recent weeks, it has been hard not to look at “crisis club” Portsmouth and not draw a few parallels to historic events at Elland Road. The White army can no doubt sympathise and to a certain extent understand the frustration that the Pompy fan base must be currently feeling. What with player’s not getting paid, debt’s mounting and looking like relegation fodder despite, what is on paper, a half decent team. That said, as it stands, thing’s have not got as bad as the Leeds debacle and even after all this time, many feel it’s impossible to look back at certain goings on at Elland Road without feeling bitter or betrayed…

The season 2003/2004 is one such example in which new levels of trauma and despair were found and as we are all too acutely aware, it ended in the total meltdown of the club off the pitch and relegation from the Premiership on it. The season as a whole was one which led to many of the White army being forced to look at football in a different light and take crash courses in the finance of football along side being footballing statto’s. The mood at the outset was sombre as Kewell (scum) had already fucked the club by running rings round then Chairman John McKenzie with his ransom holding move to Liverpool…

This was before the results in pre-season began set alarm bells ringing and these were coupled with widespread rumour’s of player/manager bust up’s. Peter Reid, who was given the manager’s job full time after the previous seasons dramatic recovery was going head to head with Viduka and this was doing nothing to lift the gloom. On paper, this was not a poor side at all, but the early season results began to erode confidence. After Reid brought in a host of loanees such as Sakho, Olembe and Camara, hopes were raised after a spirited draw at home to Newcastle, but the wheels were quick to fall off…

A run of dismal results peaked with an away win at Boro, but the fans were brought crashing down a few days later with a 0-4 drubbing at Leicester that coincided with another loanee’s debut. That particular player has now gone down in folklore as possibly one of the worst player to wear the White shirt and its unlikely that many glasses will ever be raised in the direction of a certain Roque Junior. By the time Reid was sacked after a 1-6 drubbing, ironically at modern day “Crisis Club” Portsmouth, the team were devoid of all confidence and looked punch drunk as they lurched from one disaster to another…

Off the field John McKenzie was doing the same and the SS Leeds United AFC was a ship with no rudder and one big fuck off Iceberg ahead. It wasn’t long before McKenzie was asked to stand down by the PLC and the club turned to ex: Chelsea man Trevor Birch to attempt to stave off the inevitable. Eddie Gray was asked to take temporary charge on the pitch and both set about what looked an impossible task of resorting some clam and stability. Gray was given the green light to take charge, despite not having the full qualifications required and just as Reid had done, he took charge of a Leeds side and promptly won away at Charlton…

Young striker James Milner grabbed the goal in a 1-0 win and as Leeds set off on a 5 game unbeaten run, Birch set off in the hope of finding a White knight as rumours of a Sheikh intensified. The PLC had till the New Year to find an investor or a buyer and hopes were high that Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa was that man. Birch revealed in early December that there were two potential buyers at the moment, but talks were at an early stage. The talk of deadlines and savours however were beginning to have a distracting influence on the players despite the great run of 5 games…

The club embarked on a disastrous 7 game run of defeats on the trot between December 28th 2003 and February 7th 2004. It was during this time that relations between the long suffering faithful and the players reached an all time low.  It felt like every Monday was to be the final day of the club as we the fans awaited Stock exchange announcements and After days of intense speculation that pushed most of the White army headlong into depression, Birch managed to win a two week extension after a “standstill” agreement was reached on paying back the debts…

With the Sheikh proving to be fake, up stepped Allan Leighton, who had previously worked with Ridsdale on the PLC during the “Living the dream” era with an offer. It was the only one on the table and bought Birch some much needed time as he approached the players to sound out the possibility of deferring a 3rd of their wages. With the PFA heavily involved, the players initially agreed in principle to help out, but only as a last resort. The players insisted that all other avenues must be explored, including player sales, before agreeing to help the club find the money it desperately needed…

It was a swift boot in the guts to most of the White army, who felt that the performances on the pitch were contributing in no small way to the problems off it. After all, if the highly paid players who were still benefiting from fat cat Champions League contracts were winning games and looking like staying up, then time would be bought for the PLC to try and avert what seemed the inevitable. Much loved players who had come through the ranks such as Kelly, Harte, Smith and Batty were now seen to be turning their back on the club and they were being vilified by a shocked fan base…

The players were in turn stunned by the reaction and put out a statement claiming that they were behind Birch and no decision had been reached as yet, but it was too little too late. Batty took the brunt as the PFA representative and he was forced to plead his case in the press and on fan websites, but for him and the other players, the damage had been done. Whilst everyone could accept that they had not put the club into this mess, they were becoming public enemies for not at least appearing to help the club out of it, even though the Leeds board were accused of “Moral Blackmail” by PFA boss Taylor…

Just as things took a turn for the better with both Reid and O‘Leary agreed to defer payments that the club owed them, with the players still not agreeing to defer, 75 members of club non playing staff were made redundant. Ordinary staff across all departments such as commercial, secretarial, marketing, travel were laid off whilst some players were pulling circa 65k a week, was getting too much to take. The debt figure was rising, one day it was £82 million, the next, £105 million and no one outside the PLC had a clue what was going on, or why. Even the much maligned Dr Bill Gerard was running out of explanations…

It got to a point where supporters just wanted to bury their heads in the sand, praying the mess would go away. It didn’t, it just got worse as every passing day a new revelation was creeping out of the wood work. One day it was unauthorised commission payments to agents, the next it was cut price ground sale rumours. In the final week of January, with the club glued to the bottom of the league and no valid offer on the table after Leighton’s had been dismissed, up stepped the Krasner consortium with a bid. It was at first shrouded in mystery, but on the face of it, Yorkshire businessmen were looking to take over the club…

It was a boost to all and after the players finally agreed to defer 20% of their wages, we awaited further developments in the soap opera with baited breath. We didn’t have to wait long, after players such as Robinson and Mills, along with a host of loanees departed, news filtered through that David Batty would never play for the club again. Eddie Gray simply said it was due to the players age and fitness, others claimed it was Batty’s role in the wage deferral debacle that Gray disagreed with, but with the club losing games at a shocking rate, many could not see the logic of disposing of a player that could make a difference…

Still, after a resounding 4-1 defeat of Wolves appeared to stop the rot, hopes were building on one hell of a great escape, however the news of legend John Charles death had brought some much needed perspective. The next two games brought battling draws away at Old Trafford and at home to Liverpool and with talks ongoing with Krasner and co,  Birch was pulling out miracle after miracle to keep the club afloat. The creditors however, began to turn the screw and finally gave him 14 days to save the club. Meanwhile the Observer Sports Monthly’s “Money to Burn” article opened many of the White armies eyes for the first time as to the true extent of the PLC carnage…

Birch carried on regardless, working tirelessly to finalise the agreement with Krasner and by March, the deal was done. In a deal that was understood to be worth £22million, Krasner had somehow managed to rid the club of its major creditors and seemingly wipe out more than £80million worth of debt. The fans reacted with unease as it seemed such an easy fix, but the players celebrated with a 2-1 win over Man City and hopes began to rise once again of an escape from relegation. That task had been made harder with the ongoing problems with striker Viduka. Viduka had been absent for large parts of the year due to his fathers illness…

Viduka then got embroiled in a club v country war that saw a farcical  FIFA ban Viduka for 5 days for not turning up to a friendly international on the other side of the world due to injury. Though he did return to help the club in a vital part of the season, despite getting sent off in the last seconds against Leicester. The football supporters enemy called hope was still somewhere in our hearts, however after a 5-0 twatting at Arsenal and a painful home defeat to modern day “Crisis club” Portsmouth, we headed to Bolton needing a vital win. As the White Army sang our defiant hearts out, the farce played out in front of our eye’s simply summed up that era of Leeds United AFC…

Viduka scored a penalty, but then managed to get himself sent off before halftime with a blatant elbow attack on Bolton’s N’Gotty. The 10 men then fell apart and broken hearts left the Reebok with a 1-4 defeat and no way back. Relegation was confirmed and with it, a new can of  financial worms that would see the club fall even further into the abyss under Krasner & co. Just when the White army could not get any lower, a bucket load of salt was about to be poured into a gaping wound. After a 3-3 draw at home to Charlton confirmed relegation on paper, amazing scenes saw local hero Smith, carried shoulder high around the pitch…

Smith had come to embody everything the fans felt about how a player should wear the White shirt and “Mr Leeds United” lapped it up. Just a week later, as rumours of a possible move to Old Trafford grew, Smith gave a one fingered salute to the travelling White army who dared to suggest that if he signed for Scum, there was no coming back. It was a devastating blow to the fans and an apt end to the most traumatic of seasons. Smith completed his move to Old Trafford, leaving behind a complicated mixture of raw feelings that to this day have not healed and the truth surrounding his move shrouded in smoke, mirrors and agendas…

Krasner & co proved to be a sticking plaster when major surgery was required and we all know how the story goes from there.  If relegation is as bad as it gets for Portsmouth, the fans should think themselves lucky. With possibly just one tiny exception, the White army would not wish the experiences of 2003/2004 and beyond on any other club…

Leeds United AFC… “Crisis? What Crisis?”… Keep Fighting…

Yorkshire…

Panto season is upon us again and one of the greatest ever was played out around this time 90 years ago. Whilst it would appear unthinkable now, in 1919, the newly formed Leeds United AFC were offered the chance to merge with Huddersfield Town. The reason being that though Huddersfield had a half decent side, the town folk were not turning up to watch them (Oh no they wasn’t!) and as a result, it was felt that football in Huddersfield was simply not profitable (Awwww!).  Cast in the role of arch villan, The Town chairman, Mr Crowther (Booo, Hisss!) had been present at a meeting of the league as a committee elected Leeds United AFC into the Midland league in front of over 1,000 Leeds fans…

Its fair to say he was impressed with that level of supporters passion and instantly offered to close down Huddersfield (Hahaha!) and merge with the newly formed Leeds United AFC . The offer was accepted by all around, including that of the Mayor of Leeds (Oooohh!) and most of the Town player’s. The merged club would play at Elland Road and move from the Midland league into Town’s spot in the Second Division. A meeting was held to go through the proposals whilst at the same time a new board was chosen and approved, leaving only the rubber stamping of the League before the merger could go ahead. Word spread like wildfire of the proposed plan’s and prompted demonstration’s on the pitch by angry Town fans (Booo Hiss!) after a game against Nelson…

The Town board agreed to a public meeting and around 3,000 fans turned up and made their feelings known (“Oh no you don’t”!) and they got agreement from the board to postpone the merger until they were given chance to prove they wanted a football club in the Town. Over the coming weeks the fans rallied and bought shares in the club of £1 each but it was not enough. However the Town board gave them a deadline of  the 8th December 1919, to find a sum of £25,000. The money would be used to pay Mr Crowther (Booo, Hisss!) who would then take the money and run (Hurrah!), allowing the club to stay in Huddersfield. However if the money did not materialise, Huddersfield Town would be no more and merged with Leeds United AFC (Hahaha!)…

Over the coming weeks the Town’s folk pleaded for more time (Oh yes they did!) and thanks to money raised via fans and the towns paper, they got a stay of execution. In early 1920, Mr Crowther (Booo, Hisss!) was bought off with £17,500 plus 12,500 shares in the club and as Crowther (Booo, Hisss!) saunted off into the sunset (The Terriers are behind you!), with him went all plans of a merger with the White Army. That’s how close the merger got and had it not been for the people of Huddersfield, we may not have the overly one sided rivalry we have today. They have never been able to re:capture the glory days of the 1920’s and in today’s footballing climate they are not really likely to however they do manage to win the odd cup final here and there…

When I say cup final, I clearly mean games against the Whites, in which the Town always seem to raise their game to new height’s and to take priceless points. Town are of course not the only Yorkshire team to do this and our “Panto” like record in Yorkshire derbies is woeful to say the least. This is highlighted superbly with the clashes against the self styled “Yorkshire club” and our record with them over recent years is woeful and given the Town fans bragging rights. They arrived at Elland Road today with a great scoring record, but a dodgy defence. For the Whites part, 6 points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand told its own story, but when you chuck in the aforementioned record in Yorkshire derbies, this wasn’t going to be easy…

A full house normally points towards the boys in White freezing, but heart was taken from the Liverpool performance as we got underway. With Beckford restored to the line up,  Grayson reverted to 4-4-2 and within seconds of the start, we were in front. A shot from Doyle was parried by the keeper and Snoddy was on hand to crash home for 1-0 and delirium in the 36,000 strong crowd. As we know, early goal’s in football matches can send games one of two ways, either the scorers push on and end up twatting the opposition, or it makes for a strange game. The latter happened today and rather than pushing on, with the aid of a stop start nit picking ref, Huddersfield got a foothold in the game and after Rhodes struck a post, they slowly got on top…

After a Vokes header went just wide, the Terriers began running at the Whites, swamping the Leeds midfield and exposing Crowe at the back on a few occasions. The Terriers, like Oldham in midweek, had a couple of gilt edged chances but were guilty of not taking them. Crowe was lucky to avoid an early bath after a couple of rash challenges and after Casper flapped at a couple of crosses, a sense of anxiety amongst the home faithful began to grow. Still it wasn’t all doom and gloom to this point, Lubo had headed just wide from a corner, Vokes should have done better when put through by Howson and a superb overhead shot from Snoddy hit the bottom of the post and gone to safety. As the game crept to halftime, the Terriers missed a glorious chance…

As the Leeds defence went AWOL, Rhodes found himself one on one with Casper from 6 yards, but the striker bottled it and Casper smothered the chance. Brilliant halftime editing by the LUTV staff made it look like Town had been mullered. Worried looks on faces all around confirmed the real story that Town were more than a match for us on that first half showing and things didn’t improve after the break. Another defensive switch off allowed Novak space in the 6 yard box for a free header which sent the travelling fans wild. Painfully, on the balance of play, it was deserved and people were beginning to fear the worst. However, as well as Town had raised their game, the Whites still had chances…

Beckford had a great chance minutes after the goal, but great defensive play saw the opportunity slip away. Soon after, a great ball through from Kilkenny, allowed Beckford to race clear, but his first touch gave the keeper a chance when through on goal and frustration on the terraces was matched by Beckford’s reaction. Town were growing in confidence and the United back  line was having a torrid time, conceding corner after corner as the away side looked to nick a lead. Grayson had other ideas though and a double change briefly turned the game around. Vokes again made way for Becchio and the unlucky Kilkenny made way for that man Max. 3 minutes later and the Whites were back in front…

Casper saved well from Kay and then hoofed the ball upfield and Beckford bravely beat the keeper to the dropping ball and flicked it on to Max who, with the keeper out of goal, took the ball down and thumped it into the far left corner, beating two defenders on the line desperately trying to cover. Elland Road erupted and the little man ran to celebrate with the Revie. 23 minutes to go and we prayed this would prove to be the match winner, but our Pantoesq defence had other ideas. Town poured forward now and they were rewarded with corners or free kicks on top of  Rhodes missing what looked like a sitter. With 12 minutes left, Town levelled with another soft goal. A Roberts cross was swung in from the right and Rhodes was allowed to out jump his man nodding past a wrong footed Casper…

The away fans went mad and everyone on the home terrace worried that the script was written for one of those games. The Leeds player’s were beginning to panic for possibly the first time this season, ball retention was becoming impossible. Every time a Leeds surge broke down, Town attacked with pace and began to look the more likely. With 4 minutes of injury time played, a free kick was awarded around 25 yards out. It was about this time that Lady Luck snogged Grayson with tongues in a bizarre incident which protected a precious point. Pilkington slammed the free kick goalwards, Casper appeared to touch it onto the bar, it came back with pace, hit Casper on the back of the head and somehow bounced to safety…

It was the last notable piece of play and the point’s were shared, though there is no doubt, Town fully and utterly deserved their draw and cup win like celebration’s at the end. Despite another Yorkshire derby where the Whites didn’t fully do themselves justice, it has to be said that in the bigger picture, that point may prove to be very precious indeed.  So we thank our lucky stars that the merger did not take place as we now focus on to the Kettering replay before heading to Brentford. 4 points clear with a game in hand as both Charlton and Norwich continue great runs of form, you suspect that a win is a must. Time now to take a moment and remember King Billy as we approach the anniversary of the great man’s passing…

Leeds United AFC… William John Bremner 9/12/1942 – 7/12/1997 RIP… Keep Fighting…

Don’t Stop Now…

There is something inherently negative about being a Leeds United AFC fan. It appears that no matter how well things are going, we just expect something to go wrong. It is fair to say that many have had this feeling for most of the season so far and we just find ourselves waiting for the perceived inevitable. Whilst many were assuming that our wonderful start to the season was more than likely going to be derailed by problems at board room level, it would appear that this may not actually be the case. After stumbling to a draw against Kettering, when we had enough chances to win 3 games, the footballing god’s decided to play a joke on the White army and throw up a possible trip to Scum in the next round, should we progress…

Like the Liverpool cup tie before it, the possibility of this fixture has ignited the imagination of many. For others who recall the run of form just after, it’s a badly timed and lets be honest, fearful proposition. Now you could say that it’s an over reaction from the pessimistic bastards in the corner and that argument holds water. That said, many of the White Army just can’t see what the attraction of a trip to the Theatre of Wet dream’s holds at this moment in time. It could be argued that if edge past Kettering, this is a no lose situation. After all on paper there appears to be no chance for a lowly third division club (Or “Cup Minnows” as the Scum fans have already mocked) against the might of Glaziers debt…

Is it really simply all about the one game though? Many of us love the games between the club’s and the renewal of rivalries on the park is something to get excited about, but question if now really is the time for distraction of this nature. Promotion is a must and the boy’s are doing a damn fine job of trying to achieve this aim, but given the clubs recent penchant for doing a “good half season”, could it be that a trip and possibly a drubbing would pave the way for a steep nose dive? Only time will answer that question as we hope that Grayson would be able to steer the SS Leeds United AFC over any troubled waters following the game. It does however allow the opportunity to reminisce about previous encounters between the sides and the memories of my first visit to Old Trafford will never leave me…

Back in the days when the atmosphere was a thing of wonder and fear as opposed to a silent library, the 31st August 1991 is like a vivid dream. It was the culmination of years of anticipation of wanting to see the Whites take on the Scum away.  Meeting up at Elland road to grab the coach, we sang song’s all the way there.  Getting off the coach outside the ground to be met by swarms of Scum giving us grief, we strode past the stewards and police before entering through the turnstiles and into the then terracing of the away end to greet our boys as they took to the park to warm up. Singing our hearts out thoughout the game as we stood in blistering sunshine whilst at the same time, picking up countless coins generously thrown our way from the overly rich Mancs…

The ground bristled with noise and hate from all side and it was really every thing you had hoped this fixture would be. Lee Chapman’s early goal gave the boys something to hold onto and we kept our fingers crossed we could hold out, only to be denied in the dying stages by Robson crashing home a leveller. Despite that late goal, the White army left defiant and proud and of course, the season would end up seeing Leeds United AFC crowned deserved Champions of England as the Scum had to settle for second best. In all subsequent visits, neither the game, performances or atmosphere has ever matched that day and it is unlikely it ever will. Still, the boys have to edge past Kettering before we really can start to focus on that…

Oldham and Deja-vu? Well, Upon parking up it was pissing down (check), fucking cold (check) and fucking miserable (check). Something’s were never destined for change, however Grayson’s team selection was about to do just that. Beckford was dropped to the bench as the manager decided to rest a few players and give some squad members a run out. So with Casper in goal. Crowe, Bromby, Michalik & Capaldi lined up at the back. Howson, Prutton, Kilkenny & Ephraim  sat in midfield, whilst Gradel supported Vokes up the front. At times it was 4-4-2, at others it was 4-5-1 and as the sleet came down, I swear there was also a touch of 4-3-3 as well, but frankly we were too cold to care too much…

The last game here was only a few weeks ago and it was possibly the most dire game of football ever seen. Tonight was marginally better, mainly because Oldham at least started like they give a shit and could possibly have had a couple of early goals thanks to gaping holes in the Whites defence. Bromby especially not convincing and this coupled with Casper’s refusal to command his area gave Furman the biggest chance. Most of the Whites play was coming from Kilkenny who was bossing a packed midfield and the lighting pace of Gradel was instantly unsettling most of the Oldham defence. I say most of as once again, Gregan was unflappable and old fat arse had set his sights on putting Vokes into his back pocket…

The opening 35 minutes were doing little to warm up the White Army, though Prutton, Crowe and Vokes all shot wide when could have done better.  Whenever Gradel got the ball the air of expectancy grew with every touch and on 37 minutes Gradel found himself way out left with defenders for company. In a flash the lad did a Cruyff like turn to find space before arrowing a cross across the box and it was “Warrior” Kilkenny who was first to react as he swept home with ease to open the scoring and ignite the travelling support. Both Gradel and Kilkenny tried their luck from distance as the sleet intensified and a lead at halftime was deserved, even if it was once again unspectacular…

Within seconds of the restart, Vokes was put through but the lad fired straight at the keepers legs. Prutton had a header deflected over and the lads pushed on trying to kill the game off. At the other end, the calmness of Lubo was being matched with great play from Capaldi and most Oldham forays forward were being snuffed out, however you just feared that the longer the game went on at 1-0, we may rue missed chances. It was Vokes who again missed a chance, firing over from 6 yards when he seemed certain to score and one wondered what the reaction would have been had Beckford missed the 3 chances that had come Vokes way. It was Oldham who nearly nicked a goal, Hefferenans shot hitting the outside of the post with Casper nowhere…

Grayson acted swiftly, on came Becchio for Vokes and  Snoddy for Eprham who was decent without inspiring on his debut. It changed the game completely and Snoddy almost nicked a second, but the keeper made the save. With Gradel now free to attack freely, the lad played a pearler of a ball through for Becchio to fire into the far corner for 2-0 and game over as the 4,100 away fans went mad. From then it was a case of running down the clock as Oldham really ran out of steam in the pissing rain. Beckford remained on the bench as Grella came on late in the game but it made little difference.  It was a much needed result on a night where players with one eye on a possible trip to Old Trafford could have slipped up…

Grayson deserves praise for his fearless use of the squad, but despite the victory, many wondered why he chose a League game to experiment and not at Kettering. It’s a valid question, but one that was answered by a professional performance and the result. Only Vokes performance in front of goal left some fans bemused and hard worker or not, he only served to make Beckford look like the Premier League player rather than visa versa. So we remain 6 points clear with a game in hand and next up are the lads from Huddersfield. Given recent games against Town, we owe them a beating and the players owe the fans a performance. Its to be hoped that both happen and this good run continues at the Terriers expense…

Leeds United AFC… “Keep your Eyes on the Prize”… Keep Fighting…

Cheat’s…

We all know the saying “Cheat’s never beat”, but it’s only as you get older that you realise they sometimes do and especially in football. We all know it goes on and this week Thierry Henry’s blatant handball against the Irish highlighted it again. This incident on the back of Liverpool’s Ngog recent dive to earn Liverpool a penalty prompted the debate about technology in football and the bandwagon to rid the game of cheating completely. However as a fan, this cheating mentality in football raises question’s to which straight answer’s are hard to find because, lets be honest, the answer how you feel depends largely on  if you are benefiting from these action’s…

Here are two instances that go someway to highlighting the dilemma. First up, its 1999 and Leeds are away at Derby knowing a win for the boys will take us to the top of the league. O’Leary’s side had been flying, but the game was dour as both sides struggled to make any real impression. With 4 minutes added for stoppages, Kewell (scum) had raced into the box and went down under a half hearted challenge from Carbonari. From the view behind the goal, it looked a dive and all the Derby player’s rightly appealed the decision. That didn’t stop smiles all round the White Army as up stepped Harte to smash home the spot kick and nick all 3 points…

It was a dive, despite O’Leary claiming that Kewell(scum) was an “Honest lad” and “If he says he clipped him, then I believe him”! Well, none of us who travelled back North that day believed him and frankly, none of us were overly bothered that we had just gone 2 points clear at the top of the Premiership on the back of a dodgy penalty. That 3 point’s proved vital in the end as the club finished 3rd and entered into the Champions League the next season. The boot was then on the other foot during that season and it wasn’t the nicest experience! In 2001 on a barmy night in the Bernabeu, the travelling White Army packed in to sing the boys on and when we took the lead, it simply went mental…

Who would have even dared to dream that we could go to Madrid and take something from the game. However the wind was well and truly taken out of our sail’s when, just a few minutes later, Madrid levelled in the most controversial of circumstances. A cross from the left was guided past Martyn by the hand of Raul. It was the most blatant handball since Maradona’s “hand of god“, yet amazingly, it was allowed to stand. The White army fumed as the Madrid fans laughed, just as we had at Derby the previous season. Leeds of course went on to lose 2-3 and Raul was subsequently fined £8,000 and banned for 1 game by UEFA though this was amazingly dropped after appeal…

Both incident’s show that, whilst there must come a time where the players decide between themselves to show more respect for each other, the fans can’t have it both ways.  It was the topic of conversation on the way to Brighton as we embarked on the 500 mile round trip. In a fixture that often fails to fire the imagination, at least this year there was the installation of Poyet as manager that added some spice to the affair. With tickets like rocking horse shit, many of the White Army were forced to watch from the home end, including yours truly. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last that I have had to watch the White Army from afar…

This time they were so far away, I am not even sure they counted as being inside the ground. As an away fan in the home end, you are always fraught with danger and at anytime, one stupid action can lead to serious consequences. It’s a case of head down, keep your mouth shut and contain any excitement if and when the lads score. The task was a made a tad bit harder by managing to get a ticket in the only part of the home end that actually had fan’s with any passion and wanting to get involved. The majority of the ground were sat statuesque, whilst the last block of seats in the South Stand, to the right of the White Army, were at least pretending to be at a football match…

News filtered through on text that both Naylor and Johnson had been crocked in training, so Grayson had to shuffle the pack. In came Lubo to partner Kisnorbo at the back, with Howson moving to the right wing. With Brighton having a mini revival, it was going to be interesting how Poyet was going to set his stall out for this game, but it was soon to become apparent that we needn’t have worried. With the rain coming down, it was always going to make for an interesting game, but Brighton began well and tried to made a game of it as you would expect from a side looking to impress a new manager. Brighton began passing the ball around well but not really making chances until 13 minutes in…

A rocket of a shot whistled wide of Casper’s upright from the boot of Forster. Up to then our only chance was fired so high and wide by Beckford that NASA had to be contacted to find the ball.  As the half went on though, we started to control the game without overrunning the hosts. Keeping control of the ball well and looking to get Kilkenny on the ball at every opportunity and on 27 minutes, we were rewarded with a screamer. Kilkenny found Beckford in the box, he laid the ball back to Snodgrass who was running onto the ball around 20 yards out to the left of goal and in one sweet movement  he slammed the ball over the keeper and into the far corner…

10 seconds later, the White army in the distance realised it was a goal and went mental, whilst yours truly kept his gob shut. Moment’s later a great ball into the box found Beckford, but his shot hit the post when it seemed easier to score. From that moment, Brighton fought back into the game and had a great chance to level though Murray, but with that miss, you felt the home team would be punished and Beckford did just that on 43 minutes. A stunning ball through from Kilkenny was taken in Beckford’s stride and dispatched into the far right hand corner with ease.  2-0 should have been 3 seconds later as Vokes first real opportunity saw him pull a shot wide across goal when really a “Premier League” player should have scored…

Halftime saw more rain, the Leeds fans now looking like the Klu Klux Clan in white rain covers and moans from the home fan’s who had given up and were ready to accept a 6-0 drubbing. That, however didn’t happen as despite the Whites putting in excellent work rate. After getting his head to almost everything that came his way, Kisnorbo nearly added a 3rd from a corner but headed wide. It was a let off that gave Brighton hope as they looked to get a foothold in the game. A succession of corners were dealt with admirably by Lubo and Kisnorbo and after Snoddy had a half decent penalty shout waved away, you wondered if we would ever just kill this game off so we could go home and get out of the pissing rain…

At times, one also wondered if someone had killed off the Brighton fan’s as it was so eerily quiet, that you could hear the players chatting on the park. They did have a couple of times to get excited when awarded free kicks on the edge of the Leeds area, but each time they were squandered and we looked to break forward at every opportunity. With time running down, Grayson made changes and it was one of these that helped to ice the White cake. Prutton collected the ball on the right and hurtled towards goal in injury time. The ex: Jesus coolly looked up and played a great ball across the box and into the path of the onrushing Kilkenny who hammered home for a deserved goal and seal the win…

Overall it was a fantastic away performance and 3 more points in the bag. No requirement for lady luck today, just hard work and chances taken at the right times. A special mention also to referee Linington, who booked Lubo for persistent fouling, but on the whole allowed the game to flow and used common sense, if only we could say that every week. With the rain now taking the piss, it was time to leave the shit hole of the Withdean and start the trek back north. It was another of those days where, despite the win and performance you realise that you have spent the best part of 12 hours travelling for 90 minutes of football and you don’t even get to see the fucking sea…

Still, things could be worse and perspective was required upon hearing the news about Stephen McPhail  being diagnosed with cancer as we travelled back and our best wishes go out to the lad for a speedy recovery. So 6 points clear with a game in hand we stride onwards to what we hope will be promotion fully aware that similar thought’s were probably in the head’s of the Cartoon army as they raced 12 point’s clear at the top of the Premiership in 96, but fucked it up. Lets hope that Grayson can keep on delivering and keeping everyone focused…

Leeds United AFC… “At the end of the day, it’s all about results”… Keep Fighting…

Dreaming of Glory…

When the FA Cup first round tie was drawn, feelings were mixed. With memories of the debacle at Histon still haunting, it was a relief to avoid a non league banana skin, but then again, it was another trip to bloody Oldham. Only the fact that is a short hop across the M62 gave some crumb of comfort and for that I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies. Upon parking up it was pissing down (check), fucking cold (check) and fucking miserable (check). Yes, it could only be one place in the world that has the most dismal micro climate in Britain. Oldham Athletic, our one time nemesis, remains a shit hole and the most perennially depressing of places to visit. The kick off was pushed to tea time to accommodate the first ever FA cup game shown on TheFA.com. website. This followed on from showing a recent England under 21 game on the net as the FA continues to struggle to find a broadcaster to take over the rights previously held by Setanta…

All that can be hoped for on nights liked these is that the boys put up a good show and give the crowd something to feed off and escape with a win. Grayson had a few option’s team wise, but opted to tinker with the formation and play a 4/5/1 which could also have been viewed as a 4/3/3 at time’s. With Kandol’s 3 match ban kicking in and Vokes not able to play, Beckford was chosen as a loan striker. This was instead of a possible pairing with Enoch or Grella (both on the bench). With Snoddy and Johnson on the wings looking to support, the midfield trio was made up of Kilkenny, Howson and Doyle, the rest of the line up unchanged. It has to be said, the game was not exactly the best and with the exception of 2 early scares in which Casper thankfully came out on top, for 35 minutes nothing really happened. The game was controlled largely by Kilkenny and Howson as we tried to find an angle to get through the home defence, but it just wasn’t happening…

When it did fat arsed Gregan was picking up just about everything and Beckford was clearly not impressed with having to put in a lonesome shift whilst getting very little service. That said, Beckford had 3 defender’s for company whenever the ball got near his delicate little toes. So fast forward to 36 minutes in and just as we were about to fall into a deep freeze induced coma when Snoddy played a ball out to Howson on the left, about 20 yard’s out. Totally out of context to what had gone before, Howson took a touch then put his left foot through the ball and with the aid of a slight deflection, it whistled past Flahavan into the net off the underside of the bar for 1-0 to wake and warm the White Army for whom a small section of which rather disappointingly took their mind off the tedium presented before them with the Munich song and the odd racist chant. Perhaps this was an effect of the recent full moon as it was the first time this season to my ears and from a lot of unfamiliar faces…

We had hoped that this goal would provide a springboard, however it proved to be a false dawn and we were just thankful to be ahead at halftime. A full 15 minute rendition of “Champions of Europe” cheered spirits and kept people warm during the break as we dreamt of a Bristolesq second half. It was not to be however as the second half proved to be as grim, if not worse. People watching on the FA.com website may well have been dropping asleep as Leeds passed neatly, but failed to do anything incisive. Oldham did there best to try get a foothold into the game while the White Army took their shoe’s off to show they hate ManU. Oldham did come close with a Taylor snapshot being pushed past the post by Casper with around 70 minutes gone, but after that the game sunk back into to its mind numbing nothingness. To our right, due to Oldhams ground only really having three sides, the non footballing folk of Oldham did their best to help take our mind off matters…

Glorious firework displays were melting into the wet dark skies, but there were no fireworks on the pitch.  The football was getting no better, though that’s not to say there was no effort from either side, because there was. Sadly just very little quality and what there was of it was coming from both sets of defender’s. Kisnorbo and Naylor again excelling, but equally, Gregan and Hazel were too. As thoughts were turning to more exciting thing’s like getting home in time for X- Factor, the assistant put up 4 minutes of injury time. Grayson was keen to run the clock down with Grella on for Beckford and White on for Doyle, who second’s before had just picked up his 5th Yellow of the season and will now be banned for 1 game. It was in the very last minute of injury time that the White army were again rewarded with another goal out of context with what had preceded it…

An Oldham attack was broken down and Snoddy raced away. Snoddy fed the ball to White who powered down the right wing before crossing perfectly to Grella. The man from the USA took a touch before hooking the ball in off the keeper for a 2-0 victory. This wasn’t the best game in the world though many will care too much given the main aim was to be in the hat and Macca would have taken this last season for sure. After being drawn away to Kettering Town in the next round of the FA Cup, next up was the JPT tie at home to Grimsby. It was the last game before another two week break as Swindon had been postponed due to international call ups. It must have been with this in mind and the poor showing in the last round against Darlington that swayed Graysons team selection. It was a surprisingly strong side for the Sky camera’s and Grimsby must have feared the worst on the back of just being dumped out of the FA Cup first round by non- league Bath…

So with Casper in goal was protected by a back four of Lubo, Naylor, Hughes and White. Gradel was handed a start on the right, with Snoddy on the left whilst Kilkenny and Johnson took the central midfield spots. Beckford and Vokes started up front. In the last two season’s we have gone out of the JPT to lower league opposition in Bury and Rotherham and there was no desire from anyone to make it 3 in a row and the game began at a quick pace. The first 5 minutes saw the White’s attacking the South Stand that held the visiting fan’s and we pinned them back. Poor defending saw Vokes get a header just over after only seconds played. Gradel was keen to stamp his mark on what could be his last game for the club by running at the defence whenever he got the ball, though his crossing was largely ineffective and was forced to switch wing’s with Snoddy midway through the half…

It was then that we started to enjoy our better moments, however, Grimsby managed to get into the game after a nervy start. Had it not been for their clueless strike force repeatedly getting called offside, Naylor and co could well have paid dearly for keeping such a high line at the back. As with Saturdays game, it began to lose its way and it was on 40 minute’s that the crowd really had something to shout about. Gradel was fed the ball on the left, he twisted and turned before beating his man and firing across goal at pace. The ball took a wicked deflection off defender Lancashire and into the net for 1-0. Even Grayson could not deny that once again, fortune had favoured the Whites. It was then effectively game over 5 minutes later as brilliant interplay saw Kilkenny coolly picking up a one-two from Beckford, beating a man before striking a peach of a goal past the despairing dive of Colgan for a flattering 2-0 halftime lead…

It was harsh on Grimsby but there was little doubt that we would surrender the lead and the second half was only 10 minutes old when we made it three. Bradley Johnson had been pretty subdue in the middle of the park up until now, but he picked up the ball on the half way line and drove forward. Once on the edge of the box he fed inside to Beckford, who took half a touch before dispatching sublimely past the keepers diving left hand. A superb finish on a night where both he and Vokes had failed to ignite the crowd. That had been left to Gradel who had grown in confidence through the game and was proving to be a real threat. With 3 goals in the bag and 35 minutes to play, we hoped for another goal spree, but Grimsby found a swift foothold in the game 2 minute’s later. A corner was punched away by Casper and ex Leeds man Sweeney, around 20 yards out, struck an instinctive volley back towards goal and in off the underside of the bar…

It stung the Whites back into action and after that man Gradel again showed magic, his perfect cross was met at the back stick by Snoddy, but his header was pushed onto the post and away to safety. Grayson threw on Robinson and Prutton as the Whites searched for a 4th and after Gradel lashed wide of the goal when a pass across the box would have been better, Grimsby had one massive chance to get into the game. Aidy White made a dreadful error at the back and Wood was onto it like a flash. Fortunately, he took a touch too many and there was Casper off his line to save the day. It proved to be decisive and after that, the White’s ran down the clock and marched into the JPT Northern Area Semi final. Two more games successfully negotiated making it 4 wins on the trot since the defeat at Millwall. With good football at times to boot and plenty of goals perhaps, in hindsight, it was the kick up the arse we needed. Next up Brighton and the return of Poyet…

Leeds United AFC… “Out to toast each other from that Silver Cup”… Keep Fighting…

Location, Location, Location…

It is unlikely that there were too many, if any, glasses raised in celebration from the football community when the M1 motorway celebrated its 50th birthday recently. Yet for football fan’s up and down the country, this road is godsend that is taken for granted as we follow our team. It’s not the most glamorous and it’s certainly not the most exciting part of fan’s match day experience, but life without it seems incomprehensible. It’s often called the “Backbone of the country” and it’s become like a reliable old friend in the era where it feel’s like every away game is in some far flung place. One can only imagine the amount of time it used to take getting from say Leeds to Highbury in the day’s before it’s construction in 1959. Well, that’s not factually correct as the first part of the motorway was opened in November 1959 and it only measured 62 miles (London to the Midlands)…

It was 1967 before an extension made it as far as Sheffield and then 1972 before it reached central Leeds. Though it’s not just travelling by which the M1 has significance for Leeds United AFC. You may well remember a time, just after the link road between the M1 and the A1 was completed back in 2001, it figured highly in relocation plan’s. The club’s PLC board, spearheaded by then chairman Peter Ridsdale, decided at the time that the club was now growing at such a rate that plan’s were needed to either redevelop Elland Road or consider a new ground on the outskirts of Leeds. This would be situated just off the M1 and be a state of the art affair, “Just what the club and its fan’s deserved”. A statement released by the club in May 2001 said:

“Leeds Sporting Plc, the parent company of Leeds United Football Club, today announced that due to the ever-increasing demand for its match day facilities, it has commenced a feasibility study into either building a new stadium on a virgin site in Leeds or redeveloping the existing Elland Road site.”

After months of spin by the board in the press, everyone was caught up in the hype with even O’leary getting in on the act suggesting that:

“If we can move and build a brand new, modern stadium it will only make Leeds bigger and better”

By way of a letter to supporter’s written in a way only Ridsdale could, a vote was to be held amongst the White army. In the letter he pointed out that “Option A” of redeveloping Elland Road would cause substantial disruption and be more expensive than building a new stadium. More importantly that “Option B” – the new stadium – would cost nothing to shareholder’s and O’Leary’s transfer fund as it would be built solely on the proceeds of the sale of Elland Road (Estimated £20 million)  and “Stadium Naming Rights” before going on to say:

“As a supporter of Leeds United for the last forty years, I truly understand the emotion attached to Elland Road. I do, however believe that we owe it to our children and future generations to provide both a world class team and a world class stadium.”

Out of the 28,250 voting forms sent out, the club received back 18,577, of which a massive 16,276 (87.6%) were in favour of leaving Elland Road and starting again at a new ground.  As some dumbstruck fan’s asked for a recount, Peter pressed on: “I will now be packing my bags in search of a global sponsor” he said and the club prepared itself to move on, leaving behind the decades of history and a gypsies curse that encapsulated Elland Road. The naming right’s were crucial to the success of the whole project and with the club ruling out Tobacco, Alcohol or Sports supplier’s, option’s were proving pretty hard to come by. It’s not a new idea, over the year’s clubs up and down the country have of course travelled this same route. Arsenal have the Emirates Stadium, Wigan the JJB, Bolton have the Reebok, Leicester the Walkers and Stoke the Britannia to name just a few…

More recently the Cartoon army have been up in arm’s again with Mike Ashley, the only chairman of a club more unpopular than our own Ken Bates, announcing that Newcastle have confirmed that their stadium will be renamed by the mind boggling and somewhat amusing “sportsdirect.com@StJames’ParkStadium” until the end of the season. This was quickly followed by Chelsea announcing they will do the same and many wonder how long before Bates follow’s suit. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and history of course tell’s us that the then Leeds board failed to secure the deal they needed to fund the new stadium. One excuse for this was that we were all living in a different climate just after the attack on the world trade centres on 911. However there was also a hell of a bad smell hanging around the club due to the bad publicity surrounding the Woodgate/Bowyer court case…

If that wasn’t bad enough, there was also of course the fall out over O‘Leary‘s book. After all the hype and the fan fares, the board dropped plan’s for the new stadium in 2002 with little publicity and it was of course around this time that the wheel nut’s on the PLC bandwagon were beginning to loosen off. The new stadium was to have been ready for the 2004 – 2005 season but instead of a new ground opening, a new era was dawning as the club faced up to our first season after relegation from the Premier League. Shortly after, Krasner’s board had sold Elland Road to a chap in Manchester called Jacob Adler in a “leaseback deal” that got the club just £10 million, half that of what the PLC had aimed to get.  Krasner’s deal saw the club remain at Elland Road for the next 25 years, with the option to buy back…

In 2006 it then emerged that Adler had sold Elland Road to a company based in the British Virgin Islands called “Teak Commercial Limited“. When asked on the matter, Shaun Harvey said:

“The change in ownership has had no material effect on us. It makes no difference that the company who now own Elland Road is based in the British Virgin Islands. We still have the same lease as originally entered into, albeit with a different company. More importantly, the buy-back provision has also been transferred.”

At the time, many fan’s questioned “Who are Teak Commercial”? and what link’s do they have, if any, with Bates or Forward Sports. Some fan’s investigated, but found dead end’s along with conspiracy theories and rumour’s. The issue melted into the back ground somewhat until 2007 when plans were underway to find a location for the Leeds council’s “Leisure Quarter” including the much vaunted arena. However, counciler Andrew Carter had no luck tracking down the people behind Teak Commercial either and in a statement that man Shaun Harvey said:

“The club does not know who owns Teak commercial Ltd but our contact with them is still Jacob Adler so(we) have no reason to believe it is anyone but him.” Before going on to confirm that Bates had no connection with Teak Commercial…

Once again, the dust settled and the issue only came back to life when Bates took the club into administration shortly after. It was then that one of Bates long list of arch nemesis’s arrived back on the scene to try and buy the club out of Administration with a £10 million pound bid and a plan in hand to begin a development project which, Morris claimed, would see £400m invested in the Elland Road site (including two other pieces of land – one owned by Leeds City Council and the other by British Road Haulage) and would provide the White’s with a 50,000-capacity stadium. A source connected with Morris at the time told the YEP:

“SR Morris Group acquired an interest in Elland Road a few weeks ago.”

Morris was the person who brokered the deal with Adler in the first place but question’s were being asked as to why Teak Commercial would co-operate with Morris but seemingly not the club or council. As we know, Morris failed in his bid and was hit with scandal as the Daily Express revealed his true plan’s for the area via “Project Peacock” in which the aim was to acquire all three above sites for development, relocating Leeds United to a site nearby which would be supported by retail outlets and a 50,000-seat arena. Any interest that Morris had in Elland Road is now likely to have disappeared as in October 2009 he went bankrupt and was subsequently arrested along with his father Bryan as part of a fraud and money laundering investigation by West Yorkshire Police. To this day no one outside Simon Morris and Jacob Adler appear’s any the wiser as to who ultimately owns the ground…

All this is quite apt really given the current furore surrounding who ultimately own’s Leeds United AFC. We fast forward to the present day and despite still not owning it, plan’s are underway for redevelopment at Elland Road with the club investing half a million quid on Ken’s vision of hotel’s and shopping mall’s thus far. According to Bates, £80 million pound’s will be sunk into this project (you may recall we couldn‘t find £6 million for Thorp Arch). All this time on and many also wonder why the PLC felt it would be better to move than redevelop, yet Bates has the opposite view. Many fan’s simply wonder why on earth we are building hotel’s at Elland Road in the first place. As ever, Shaun Harvey has the answer’s and he claim’s:

“The development is designed to increase non-matchday income streams at Elland Road, which in turn will support and supplement the club’s efforts on the pitch. It will play a vital part in the regeneration of the area, and will also create opportunities for local people.”

So there we have it, not only will football be played at Elland Road for the next few year’s instead of some city outpost near the Birthday boy M1, but in a few years time, we will all be able to both sleep and shop at the ground too. All safe in the knowledge that the buy back option was taken and the club own the ground again because surely Bates wouldn’t place the club in debt to build something onto a stadium we don’t own. Meanwhile, those lucky Leeds United PLC fan’s in that parallel universe are very much at home in their new “Bank of Lehman” stadium along with a host of cup’s and Premier League title’s that O’Leary has won for them, whilst conquering Europe with the reserves. Whilst at the same time, Ridsdale has been given the key’s to the city and is running for the position of Mayor of Leeds, something he will do in his spare time. Where did it all go so very wrong…

Leeds United AFC… “Motorway’s, Madness and Leeds United”… Keep Fighting…

In The Paper Today…

The response by the player’s to the first league defeat of the season down at Millwall was to knock 4 goal’s past Bristol Rovers in a stunning away performance. This however went largely unnoticed in the national press as only a few column inches were aimed in Grayson’s boy’s direction. Whilst that was disappointing, it didn’t stop the club being written about in other area’s and mainly all linked to the Premier League. The promised land of the Premier League is of course a distant dream for many who crave the return to the top flight football and 6 year’s on from relegation it all sometimes feel’s like it is played on a different planet such have been the change’s since we left. As it stand’s, Match of the Day and keeping tabs on the score’s of the fantasy football team, are the nearest we get to feeling “part” of it…

This week however, you could have been forgiven for thinking that the club were still up there, such was the press coverage that has been bestowed on us by the media despite very little of it relating to the magnificent work that Grayson is doing with the team and strangely, no mention of Bates. First up was Paul Hart, our ex: player and youth coach during the “Living the Dream” era and who many tipped to take over as manager at one point. Hart is now charged with trying to keep Portsmouth in the top flight as they flirt with both relegation and Administration. Portsmouth are not the “New Leeds” he claimed as he defiantly answered the critic’s. The paper’s documented our fall from grace: Relegation from the Premier League to date. A nice reminder to all Leeds fan’s of the last few year’s – as if we will ever forget…

Next up was Stan Collymore who managed to come out with some sensationalist tripe about the how the top flight should be changed to make it a better league. This would be a league comprising of around 20 – 25 team’s, including Leeds United AFC, with no relegation out of, nor promotion in to it. This, Stan argued, would make it the best league in the world and by hand picking teams on “Who have been the biggest and most successful sides in modern history.” it would guarantee fantastic football. Team’s such as Bolton, Burnley, Stoke and Wigan would be cast aside and the like of Newcastle and Leeds shoe horned in. Of course, many were quick to point out the first obvious flaw in Stan’s plan. The inclusion of the Geordies, who have not won a pot since time began, would fail his initial criteria…

It is of course not something that would ever come to pass, but the very thought of denying club’s up and down the country the chance to make their own top flight history and to take away the dream of promotion for club’s and fan’s is one that many instantly dismissed. Lastly, we came to the story of Marlon King. King has been given18 months in prison for sexual assault and causing bodily harm. The headline writer’s seemed to miss the fact the lad had played for Leeds under Blackwell and there was no “Ex: Leeds Player to jail” headlines knocking around. You may have thought the club had got away with it, however the devil is in the detail and a few paper’s picked up on the alternate slant to the story after Wigan vowed that the player  would never play for them again…

This prompted reminder’s and little dig’s that Leeds United AFC never took such decisive action when every man and his dog were pounding the club to sack Jonathan Woodgate. Woody of course was convicted of affray and sentenced to 100 hour’s community service. It is claimed that King says he is disappointed at the decision and will appeal on the grounds of mistaken identity. That is a bit like when we all thought Blackwell had brought in a striker when King joined the club, yet played the lad on the wing during his short time at Leeds. With all this talk of Premier League it was a stark reminder that Sam Vokes decision to join the club may well be the nearest thing the White army get to seeing Premier League player’s wearing the White shirt for the next few year’s…

Vokes of course notched his first goal for the club in that magnificent win at Bristol and hope’s were again high that we could now build on that win and not suffer a Halloween horror show against Yeovil Town. Yeovil were unbeaten in 6 games prior to today’s game, playing attractive football were never going to be the push over that many dismissed them as. With Grayson sticking to the same side that took the point’s in midweek, once again he showed that if you earn the shirt, you keep it. Its fair to say that many were expecting the lads to slip straight into gear and carry on from the Bristol match, however it was never going to be that easy. Yeovil set out in a 4-5-1 formation and made the extra man in midfield count. Despite early pressure from the White’s, there was a distinct lack of zip about the play…

This contributed to Yeovil not being overawed and indeed at times during the opening half hour, they were the better side. Playing passing football and fashioning chance’s, Leeds could have been 1 down on a couple of occasion’s, notably with Casper making a superb save from Obika. Going forward, Vokes was making his presence felt, as was Snoddy, but with little back up from the midfield pairing, no real chances were fashioned until we won a free kick on the edge of the area after Snoddy was fouled on 38 mins. Johnson smashed the free kick over the wall, but it fell into the grateful arms of McCarthy. The game was drifting uninspiringly to half time when the Whites benefited from another rub of the green and it was to prove decisive and woke up a crowd who were about to settle for a snooze…

Johnson’s cross from the left took a deflection which took the ball towards the near post. Beckford reacted quickest,  swung a boot at it and though he missed, it did enough to confuse McCarthy with the ball ending up in the back of the net for a 1-0  halftime lead, admittedly against the run of play. Grayson had been quick to defend accusation’s aimed our way that his team had been lucky at time’s this season, but there was no denying that, once again this season, lady luck was rubbing our face in her ample bosom. Still, as we have said before, we will take it when it comes as we have had our fair share of the rotten stuff. The second half was a much different affair as the White’s came out firing and whatever Grayson had said to them had clearly worked…

Yeovil were now unable to get their flowing football going and unable to fashion any clear cut chance’s. At the other end, Beckford thought he had a second but was ruled offside by a nat’s hair and Vokes showed class to work a great opening, but fired wide. With an hour on the clock, what was looking like one of those “Keep what you have got” performance’s was suddenly transformed thank’s to an inspired double substitution from Grayson. On came Gradel and Kilkenny for Doyle and Hughes with Johnson ushered to left back and Snoddy to the left wing – What a transformation! Gradel was again instrumental as he whizzed around the pitch like a man possessed. Gradel set up Beckford whose strike was palmed away by McCarthy which was followed by Howson trying to bend one into the top corner…

The White’s had built up a head of steam and it was duly rewarded by that man Gradel. Bromby gave him the ball on the right of the penalty area, a shimmy later and he fired a stunner across the keeper and into the bottom hand corner for 2-0 and effectively game over. Moment’s later, Beckford thought he had scored a third, but it was again ruled offside, though the lad was not to be denied. On 78 minutes he pounced on an error from the Yeovil back line to fire past McCarthy for 3-0 and with word filtering through that Charlton were losing, things didn’t seem they could get better. They did though as Grayson took off Beckford for the rejuvenatedKandol, the lad followed up his midweek goal by getting his head onto the end of Snoddy’s cross for 4-0 and the first outing of his somersault at Elland Road for a long time…

As the final whistle went, there were some handbag’s in the centre circle. These were, to be honest, out of context in what was largely a match devoid of any aggravation and was quickly nipped in the bud. As news from other result’s confirmed the club were now 7 points (8 if you include goal difference) clear at the top of the league it topped of a great week for the White’s as Grayson’s tactical nouse once again shone through. The Premier League may be a distant dream, but if we can emulate Swansea and Leicester by getting out of League one in style, it will at least be one step closer getting there. That is a long way from reality though and as ever, we can enjoy the moment and then move on. Next up it’s cup competition’s with firstly the FA Cup tie at Oldham before Grimsby head to Elland Road in the JPT…

Leeds United AFC… “Total Media Whores”… Keep Fighting…