 Sunday 28/6 The win over Fulham was Marcelo Bielsa’s 50th win since taking over at Leeds and he has done it in 94 games, the quickest any manager has done it in the history of the club. David Watkins reviews the 3-0 win over over one of our rivals for a top two place. Thank you David. I bet a couple of decent malts went down on Saturday night and great you can keep in touch with your mates you usually travel to games with. Appreciate the kind words too my friend. How different can social media be, last week some players were villains. This weekend they became heroes as Leeds put Fulham’s promotion hopes to the sword, or so it seems and pushes themselves a little closer to the Premiership. Who said “Football can be a funny old game!”  Gjanni on the ‘crowdies’ The Athletic’s Phil Hay tweeted that Ben White is expected to be offered a new and improved contract when he returns to his parent club Brighton. The centre back has impressed whilst being on loan at Leeds and in the two games he played against Fulham’s Mitrovic he never gave the striker a look in. Aleksandar Mitrovic is being investigated by The FA after smashing his elbow into Ben White’s jaw inside two minutes yesterday. Fulham’s striker threw his right arm into the Leeds United defender’s face after the latter had cleared the ball long from deep in Saturday’s opening exchanges. Monday 29/6 The thoughts of a Fulham fan. Not very happy methinks! Thanks to Fulhamish. The last word on the Fulham game. Pretty happy fans on the YEP ‘jury’ give their views on the impressive win. Thanks to the YEP 
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 Sunday 21/6 Cardiff City vs Leeds United  Team: Meslier, Ayling, White, Cooper(c), Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Costa, Roberts, Harrison, Bamford. The Game New normal for Leeds United but an all too familiar story at Cardiff City - Graham Smyth's Verdict | Yorkshire Evening Post Thanks to the YEP. Leeds MOTM: Stuart Dallas Post Match Neil Harris: "It tells us straight away that we're focused and have a hunger and a desire to be successful this season. The players deserve great credit for the way they conducted themselves personally and professionally during the lockdown period. "I wanted the boys to make a statement in the first game back that we're serious about getting into the top six, and to pay tribute to Peter Whittingham. And there were two goals there that were fitting to that man. "I didn't know him personally but played against him many times. He came across like a class act, and I thought he could have played in any team in the world he was that good a player. He is loved here and rightly so, and the tribute before the game and with the shirt was fitting." Marcelo Bielsa: "We should have won. We've created enough chances to score goals and they needed our mistake to score. But we should have been more clinical to finish the attacks. "The mistakes are part of the game and we can't imagine one player that can't make a mistake. When we have a mistake we have to resolve it between the whole team. In this game they shot twice and scored twice." Monday 22/6 David Watkins reviews the 2-0 defeat at Cardiff City. He wasn’t impressed. Thank you David. Hopefully things will improve in front of 15,000 Leeds ‘selfies’ at Elland Road on Saturday against Fulham. As expected many ‘keyboard warriors’ laid into the Leeds number nine Patrick Bamford and a number of other players that weren’t at their best on Sunday. My advice comes from the leader of the country in the 1939-45 World War Winston Churchill.  It’s only the first game back FFS! ‘Little Ian’ Poveda who made his debut as a substitute for Helder Costa in the second half on Sunday and it was a “bitter-sweet” moment for the youngster. He was very happy at getting his first chance in a first team game to impress the watching Bielsa but disappointed with the result. He said this after his substitute appearance: “Obviously the result wasn’t the best but I’m really grateful for the opportunity the manager gave me. Regarding my performance I feel like I have a lot more to offer.  Ian Poveda in action... at last!
“I’m excited to keep improving and keep showing what I can do. My performance is not something I’m proud of, but I’m learning from it and I know what I can bring to the team. I’ll just keep working hard and pushing on.” Burnley fans showed their undoubted class by flying a small plane over the Emptihad Stadium with a banner attached to it saying ‘WHITE LIVES MATTER BURNLEY’ during their game with Manchester City. Tuesday 23/6 Jonathan Woodgate is sacked by Middlesborough. His replacement is Neil(Colin Wanker)Warnock. “One more time” he tells his wife Sharon.  Well I tuned in at half past two to watch the first ‘live’ game I’ve seen since March. For memories sake I can’t remember the last live game I watched on TV. I do remember the last one I saw in person was the West Yorkshire derby between Leeds and Huddersfield Town at Elland Road. That trip to ‘church’ I went with my friend Shane Chambers and met my son and his Huddersfield Town supporting mate Luke Waite, they had done the LeedsFanzone in the gantry but little did we know that would be the last time we’d do it for a considerable time.  In Beckets Bank’s pub with Luke after the 2-0 win over Town back in March. Back to the matter at hand. Seeing the substitutes and managerial staff wearing face masks was the first unreal sight of what was to become a really strange experience. The captains came together to speak to the referee, no handshakes of course just a nod of the head from the threesome and off they went, the first game of football was ongoing. It’s surreal to be honest, every kicked ball could be heard, the twack a boot against the ball echoing around the near empty stadium. Players took the first 15 minutes trying their best to involve a little physical contact but were not flying into tackles they probably would have before football was stopped. Ex-Leeds midfielder ‘Alfie’ Haaland’s son made it 10 goals in under 10 goals to open the scoring for Dortmund and doing so the game got a little of the physical back into it. Both teams without doubt have players of quality but it just missed the encouragement of the fans to make it a spectacle instead of feeling like a pre season training game.  First goal for Erling Haaland
The game ended 4-0 to Borussia Dortmund. To the watching, desperate football fan it was football .. just. The game just isn’t the same without partisan support, the songs, the boos, everything that you remember that made you fall in love with the game in the first place. We wait for the governing bodies to decide if the Premiership and Championship follow the same path as the Bundesliga have started and whether they can keep this dreadful virus away from it’s footballers. There without doubt a hell of a lot of people desperate from some kind of ‘live’ sport but I have real reservations if this is the way forward for the game. I do realise though that it may be the only way to go until it’s safe for fans to be allowed back in grounds to support their team. It’s football ... but not as we know it. MOT By Keith Ingham  In a new series that will focus of fans, friends of the club and players, we ask 10 questions to some of the most Leeds people you’ll ever meet. Our latest interview is with none other than Ian Baird. The current assistant at Havant & Waterlooville and former Leeds United forward spent two sepearate spells at LS11 and made over 150 appearances, scoring 50 goals.  Firstly, who or what got you interested in football? I think it was just me. The 1st pair of boots were Patrick Keegan as Southampton were sponsored by them. Did you have a favourite Leeds player or any other team who you modelled your game on? My favourite was Joe Jordan I thought he was outstanding. Proudest ever moment during your time at Leeds? My proudest moment as a leeds player was running out every other Saturday at elland road. Billy bremner said it's not a game playing for leeds it's an occasion!  A player you thought “not him again” when it came to play him or a ground you never did well at? Probably Paul Maxine Miller at Charlton and spurs. One player or manager, above them all who you hung on their every word? Joe Jordan, billy bremner and Eddie gray because I grew up watching them and then to be in there actual company and to see them coaching and training with us was unbelievable. Also I've got to mention norman hunter who would come in training with us and then would mark me in training was unbelievable. Favourite memory of your time at Leeds United? Favourite thing about Lufc is everything but especially how the fans treated me when I was there and to think 30yrs on that generation still remember it's very very humbling.  Best team to play at Leeds?
All of don revies side Newcastle United game 89/90(you scored!) or do you have a favourite other game that you watch on a regular basis? No not really. Its always good to see old games on Twitter though I didn't realise so many were on tv Wilkinson team of your era or Bielsa’s team 2018 onwards? I'm biased but I would have to say wilkos 89/90 side, footballs different now ie fitness etc but Wilkinson was ahead of his time and he recruited at the time top top players. Ketchup or Brown sauce? Brown We’d like to thank Ian for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him the best of look as he continues his coaching career. By Keith Ingham  John Helm’s history with Leeds United is synonymous with some of the clubs greatest moments. An embodiment of journalism that follows a club, Helm laid the groundwork for people like Adam Pope and Phil Hay. Today he speaks about his memories of the club he followed for over 60 years.  There is little doubt in my mind that whatever success I might have achieved in my career is due in no small measure to the coincidental rise of Leeds United to being one of the most powerful football clubs in Europe. It is no secret that MY club is Bradford (Park Avenue) and has been since 1953, but they never played in a European Cup Final - sadly - and probably never will! Having witnessed at first hand Leeds's major triumphs in the Football League Championship, FA Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs cup, I have been privileged to be linked with the club. My first trip to Elland Road was with the specific purpose of seeing John Charles who I had been told was something special. He didn't disappoint. King John scored two goals that day against Portsmouth and I swear one of them was a header from 30 yards and the ball was still going up when it rocketed past Norman Uprichard the Pompey 'keeper into the roof of the net..  I never saw Pele in the flesh but I have seen a lot of Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi and I still believe John was the greatest player I have ever seen. During my days at the Yorkshire Evening Post I was sent to Anfield to see Leeds win their first Division One title, and did so standing with the Liverpool fans on the Kop. When Billy Bremner followed Don Revie's instruction to take the players to that end of the stadium, the reception Liverpool fans gave Leeds made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Perhaps I became most synonymous with Leeds United during my time at BBC Radio Leeds. I was at Elland Road three or four times a week interviewing players who became friends for life. I can honestly say there are no nicer people in life than Eddie Gray and Norman Hunter - nor madder than Paul Reaney! I was at Wembley for the good and the bad - Arsenal and Sunderland. I was in Thessaloniki when the referee robbed Leeds of a European title, and in Paris when another referee made sure Leeds never claimed the greatest European prize of all. Certainly the AC Milan match should have been replayed. On the plus side there have been many memorable nights at Elland Road - Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus - who would have believed then that a few years later the visitors would include Yeovil, Gillingham and Tranmere? That's what happens with football clubs though and there has never been a dull moment throughout all the different ownerships and managers. I am often reminded of my commentary line when Gordon Strachan virtually guaranteed promotion to the First Division with a cracker against Leicester City: "Have you ever seen a better goal ? Have you ever seen one better timed ?" It was a spontaneous reaction - but a defining moment of a 60-year relationship with the club. I hope there are many more to come. By John Helm We’d like to thank John for his time and wonderful words both spoken with commentary and written in the article. A snippet of John’s work is here when Gordon Strachan finished in an unmissable moment against Leicester City. Thank you for some wonderful moments John.
 Today will probably go down as one of the saddest days in our club’s history. We’ve lost Billy and Don previously, now because of this hideous virus Norman(Bites your legs)Hunter passed away today. The news came mid morning as I, for something to do I laid out shirts on my bed to take a photograph of them. Opening the box they are kept in I saw the shirt Norman signed a few years ago. It had pride of place, a little yellow from storage but his signature still stood out.  Norman kindly signing my shirt On hearing the news I’ll openly admit the tears fell for one of our own. I’d met the great fella more than a few times and occasionally had a word about how the team were playing and how he thought they’ed do that afternoon or evening. Each time I met him he stuck out his hand, shook it with warmth and asked how I was.  A lion on the field but a gentleman off it Norman was a legend, his prowess in the heart of the defence in one of the best teams in the 70’s shone out. He stood with Jack Charlton as mighty pillars determined by any means as to keep the opposition from scoring. Dirty never, but had the ability to slightly ‘bend the rules’ to his advantage when it was needed. I saw him from 1973/74 season when I started going to Leeds, throughout the heartbreaking European Cup campaign and until he left the club. He may have moved away from Elland Road but his heart remained within the stadium. His retirement meant he could give his views of his beloved club via the media and the great man never disappointed with his honest comments.  Norman versus Terry Venables in the iconic yellow away strip of that era The enigmatic centre back had a career that spanned 18 years and for the most part of it was spent in Yorkshire with spells at Leeds United, Barnsley and a stint at Bristol City.  Hunter made over 726 appearances for Leeds United in what continues to be the most successful period of the clubs history winning the first division twice and the second division once along with both an FA Cup and League Cup.
Winning club player on the year for the in 1971, Hunter also went on to win the PFA Player of the Year in 1974. A list of Norman Hunters honours are below; 882 League appearances, 25 goals World Cup Winner Football League First Division: ‘69 and ‘74 Football League Second Division: ‘64 FA Cup Winner: ‘72 League Cup Winner: ‘68 Charity Shield Winner: ‘69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Winner: ‘68 and ‘71 PFA Player of the Year: ‘74 PFA Team of the Year: ‘74 Football League Legends: ‘98 Leeds United Player of the Year: ‘71 My tribute is short but is sincere. I say this loud and proud I was so grateful for every moment I was blessed to spend with such a wonderful man and a great footballer. God Bless you Norman. Sleep well my friend and rest easy. MOT By Keith Ingham  In a new series that will focus of fans, friends of the club and players, we ask 10 questions to some of the most Leeds people you’ll ever meet. Our latest interview is with none other than Mr Andy Hughes! Synonymous with Leeds’ League some days and the promotion season. Making 119 appearances for the Whites and becoming a cult hero in the process.  Firstly, who or what got you interested in football? My dad Did you have a favourite Leeds player or any other team who you modelled your game on? Maradona 86 World Cup amazing and Paul lake Man City Proudest ever moment during your time at Leeds as a player and proudest as a time as a coach elsewhere? signing for Leeds -15 captaining then to 0 points and the whole journey  A player you thought “not him again” when it came to play him or did you kick pieces of them whatever? No player just never won at Preston away! One player or manager, above them all who you hung on their every word? all my managers top joe Royle Big Sam Pardew Coppel Wisey Grayson Chris powell and David Wagner who I coached for, all top top class in different ways Best player you’ve played against or witnessed from the bench as a coach? scholes! A player who joined Leeds during your time and you thought this is the one that take the team to another level? Luciano Becchio Beckford or Becchio. Who did you rate, not for the goals they scored but how they played the game and helped the team?  both top players and complemented each other
Man Utd or Bristol Rovers were amazing games do you have a favourite out of both games or another game that you watch on a regular basis? Bristol rovers and first game tranmere away Grayson’s team of 2009/10 or Bielsa’s team 2018 onwards? that’s for the fans to decide different era’s Ketchup or Brown sauce? brown all day! We’d like to thank Andy for answering our questions and wish him the best of luck during his coaching career and will hopefully see him at LS11 in the near future! By Keith Ingham  In our continued series of interviewing Leeds United fans, players and heroes we continue with one special hero to several fans in the most recent decade; Simon Grayson. Ushering in the salvage of Leeds United from the third tier of English Football, Grayson a former youth prospect at Leeds became one of the clubs most favoured managers with promotion to the Championship on a picturesque final day of the 09/10 season. To start us off; who or what got you interested in football? My Dad, he played to a good level at non league and was heavily involved in school n county football teams with him being a teacher. Did you have a favourite Leeds player who you modelled your game on as you started your football career? Unfortunately not really as during the 80s Leeds weren’t a great team with no real outstanding players. I was just too young to see n appreciate the golden years of Revie, Bremner Gray etc. I did have a soft spot for Kenny Dalglish n Glenn Hoddle as a teenager , trying certain things they did. What was your proudest moment during your time at Leeds as a player and manager? I had many to choose from but making my debut as a 17 year old v Huddersfield on a Tuesday night in September is probably my proudest one.  A young Simon Grayson in the squad photo Like many kids my dream was to be a professional footballer and to achieve this for the club you supported was a night I will never forget. As a manager winning at Old Trafford, The win v B Rovers and nearly every game I was manager of Leeds were proud moments but probably walking down the tunnel on Boxing Day for my first game v Leicester City was a unreal surreal moment. I never once thought I would one day return to Leeds as manager n follow in the foot steps of the likes of Revie , Wilkinson n many others. A very proud day for me n my family A player you thought “not him again” when it came to play him or as a manager? As a player who played a few years in the premier league you would come across great players every week but when I played right back I would probably say playing against Ryan Giggs was always tough. He was just as quick running with the ball as he was without it. Shearer was always hard to play against as he wouldn’t give you any time when I played C Back and when in midfield take your pick from Keane Viera n Scholes. I can’t really think of a player I’ve managed where I’ve thought that One player or manager, above them all who you hung on their every word? I was really privileged as an apprentice to clean Billy Bremners coaching room , which ment clean all there kit up, wash the floors and clean his boots. I would deliberately take my time doing this as Billy would be in there talking to his staff about the present squad but more interesting he would be telling stories from his playing days, as u can imagine what stories they were. A player who joined Leeds you just couldn’t ‘gel with’ or you just thought he didn’t ‘get’ Leeds? I can’t say I can think of any but maybe some of the loan players found it really tough to understand what it ment to play for Leeds.  A very close knit squad that worked hard; Grayson had instilled a family within the Leeds squad Whether it was in league one or the Championship some players who had come on loan from the premier league probably thought it was going to be easy but I’m sure after a game or two they realised what it was like to play for Leeds n what it ment to the supporters. The expectations can be high but also the backing the players would get was unbelievable Beckford or Becchio. Who did you rate highest, not for the goals they scored but how they played the game and helped the team? I think they complimented eachother really well. Bechio with his strength, hold up play, aerial ability n work rate ment Jermaine who was the more of a goal scorer ment they were perfect for each other. Jermaine would make something happen out if nothing, he would try things that other lads wouldn’t even see. His pace also had defenders worried, as they knew he could beat most of them.  Definitely the man to get the best out of Beckford I took Jermaine with me to Huddersfield and Preston where he did really well for me so I would say Jermaine but they were a great partnership together
Man Utd or Bristol Rovers were amazing games do you have a favourite or another game that you watch on a regular basis? I haven’t seen the above games that often but when you see clips of them they certainly bring back good memories. Your team of 2009/10 or Bielsa’s team 2019/20 starting XI; who would win? Definitely mine We’d like to thank Simon for his answers and the work he did with our club. For many fans he will go down in Leeds history as one of our best managers and a respected member of the Leeds family. Simon now works with several organisations under the Simon Grayson Charity that often supports charities like Prostate Cancer UK, Parkinson’s UK And MS Society. By Keith Ingham |
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January 2019
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