By Mark RasdallI am a lifelong Leeds United supporter and I am feeling good this morning - really good. LUFC was my first love and I love the club as much now as in 1967 when I first met them as a seven-year-old. My journey through life is illustrated by our numerous 'ups and downs' together: winning the League Cup in Primary School and facing down the Arsenal fans; winning the League just before O' Levels started and again just days after our first son was born; proposing to my wife during the second Play-Off game against Charlton, celebrating getting to the Coca-Cola final resulting in the birth of our daughter...
The downs are numerous but merely the dates should suffice: 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1982, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007 (and many more) and definitely the first few months of 2014 where we seem to have been on the brink of financial and football disaster once again... Not since Howard Wilkinson's time when he put a proper ten-year plan in place have we really seen a true and sustainable strategic connection between football club and football team. If convicted rapists have been deemed fit and proper to run clubs in the Football League, then none have raped our club more than GFH allegedly taking out the TV and Season Ticket money and bleeding the club dry until now. Any human being who thinks that Luke Varney is a better prospect than Ashley Barnes must have been on Prozac rather than Prozone. As I write this, there is a hot rumour that David Haigh has left the club and I hope that the Together Leeds consortium might still consider taking some or part of the 25% still held by GFH. I believe involving them in the governance of our club would be a good thing, now that the financial requirement of them is reduced. They are also open to true fan involvement in the running of the club and a far better communication channel would be a great start. And so to Massimo Cellino. I was reading the written judgement last night of his appeal against the Football League decision to disqualify him (with 'The Football League's corrupt' still ringing in my ears from the Wigan game) and Rob Atkinson also talks about this in his excellent blog post. Like Rob, I am quite appalled at the lengths to which the Football League seemed to be trying to ban someone who has run a football club for 22 years and can provide the finances necessary to save and re-build the League's biggest brand. As Tim Kerr QC says in point 50 on page 14 "all concerned in this process, including the League, would be expected in general terms to support the attempts of the club, with its illustrious history, to overcome its current financial difficulties, with or without Mr Cellino as a director." I think he was surprised that the League were so disinterested in looking after 'one of their own' that they did not take the specialist legal advice open to them at the outset - presuming PR and public opinion to validate their stance - and then tried to discredit the Italian legal expert they had been relying on when his evidence seemed to undermine rather than support their case. It all smacks of grubby men in grubby rooms with self-interest at heart in the case of the other club chairmen asked to rule on their greatest rival club and an incredibly destructive mentality from those expected to explore all feasible ways of supporting their members rather than seeking to annihilate them... We've seen it all before on many occasions of course, from dodgy FA Cup decisions against Chelsea in the 1960's, then being forced to play a ridiculous number of games in too short a period in 1970 which was guaranteed to destroy our chances and of course the apparently selfish and nasty campaign led by Brian Mawhinney seven years ago. None of this includes those notorious and blatant acts of corruption on a European scale in 1973 and 1975 and lack of real concern by the authorities after Galatasaray. If you're seriously looking for acts of dishonesty in Europe then there they are. Perhaps Chris and Kevin and their families will draw some crumbs of comfort that yesterday of all days should be a day when the tide may finally have turned for Leeds United... There is some worry about whether the Football League will still try to make a comeback and try to annul this deal in the summer but surely even they can see beyond their silver cutlery and crystal glasses that legislation on a European and spectacularly expensive scale may not be advisable - and certainly too risky for a body with a responsibility for many football clubs and supposed 'duty of care.' And so to the team. I think we all know the strengths and weaknesses of both players and manager. I have always hoped it might come right for Brian and part of me still does but I do worry about some of his tactical changes and player selections and am concerned that he might just not be big enough for our club and fans. Watching Uwe Rosler kicking off on the touchline yesterday and Brian wandering around with his notepad didn't and doesn't fill me with confidence. I am quiet, like Brian, and do things quietly but I wonder if we need more gravitas and maybe even a fear factor from players who have to face an angry rather than just disappointed or mystified manager? I have had a difficult March with first my Mum suffering a stroke and then my Dad dying. The stress has not been helped by lack of communication about what has really been going on at our beloved club. Bill Shankly may have been wrong about football being more important than life and death but it is on the darkest of days that football offers us hope of sunnier times ahead. Go Leeds United; Strength to Leeds United; Forza Leeds United. It makes such a difference to all of our lives and the clue is in our name; the togetherness of Leeds United fans is something the Football League could learn so much from.
21 Comments
Eugene Lee
6/4/2014 01:29:44 am
Hi Mark,
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6/4/2014 04:41:52 am
sorry to hear of your recent family problems, we can all be so philosophical at these times, but only you can know your own feelings and grief. re your very good summing up of all the goings on at elland road. I am in my 88th year, and have been a supporter of leeds united for at least 80yrs. and agree with all you have written. is it possible that with the money that should be coming in from senor cellini that maybe a new john charles or billy bremner may appear we can only dream and. possibly the shadow of ken bates is wiped away
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tim Campbell
6/4/2014 01:34:09 am
Sorry to hear about your personal family loss my friend and pray that your mum and yourself are coping well. As for our beloved club it is so hard not to believe that there has been a real vendetta waged against us. One main reason I can give is the same one I gave when we were in league one simply that all the other clubs would miss the extra revenue they receive by our large travelling support. I was overjoyed at cellinos 'victory' over the weekend and his promise of purchasing elland road and Thorpe arch next week will show the fans just how serious his intentions are. The summer transfer window should also be interesting with a blend of good overseas talent and home grown talent being brought in. The real question is who of the current squad we would retain?
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Shabaz
6/4/2014 01:45:01 am
Sorry about your sad loss, my deepest condolences. Good article there will be blood on the carpet. As a solicitor the football league in my opinion will not revisit this decision football has no morals. Lets get a proper football team not the one I have paid good money to see home and away.
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Leftsider
6/4/2014 02:04:46 am
Brilliant article Mark, so sorry to hear of your loss. You got it exactly right, the club provides light and hope when we need it most. Let's hope that we never have to celebrate not getting thrashed by Wigan ever again. Onwards & upwards. And lets remind all of the people who have kicked us while we were down that we remember them.
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gill
6/4/2014 02:31:20 am
I know only too well what you mean when you say football can be a ray of sunshine in personal despair. I have been a Leeds fan, as was my husband, for over 40 years. My husband died a few weeks ago, in the midst of the Cellino takeover controversy, and (despite him being very poorly) we still poured over the pros and cons of the possible deal to rescue LUFC. On Boxing Day he was able to get out of bed and watch Leeds on TV - and for a couple of hours we put aside our personal heartache. I know he would be hopeful that the new owner(s) bring back better days. As a talented footballer and sportsman himself, I like to think he's maybe have a kick around with some of his heroes - Billy and the Don - and watching matters unfold.
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6/4/2014 07:54:04 am
Thanks gill and so sorry to hear of your loss. I talk to my Dad as I am sure you do to your late husband. My Dad didn't like football very much but he would have envied the togetherness of Leeds United fans and I hope we and Cellino can help you through this sad time. Mot
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It has not a very good time for you lately, my condolences and wish your mum well. I t puts things in perspective when you have lost loved ones. I just hope that you get some relief from the news about Massimo cellino victory over the FL . I have to admit that it feels like I can breathe again.looking . Forward to the next few days,hoping that there will be a few changes,it feels like we have been stagnating for the past 10 years. Let's hope that it is onwards and upwards.
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geoff locker
6/4/2014 02:58:13 am
Hi Mark.
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6/4/2014 07:59:23 am
So sorry to hear of your loss geoff but your mum will now have the best seat in the house to watch how things now unfold at Elland Road. I think he would divide opinion but I would bring in someone who has played and managed at the very highest level and who can be as hard as nails when required: Glenn Hoddle. Casting aside his personal opinions on non-football matters I think he would have the tactical awareness and experience we need... Take care and may your mum rest in peace
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mark finazzi
6/4/2014 03:37:45 am
Mark,your piece really moved me.Born in 1960,like you.Everyone around here was Wolves or Man.utd.I'll never forget seeing Revue's Knights In White Satin as an 8 year old.First time I ever fell in love.Lost both my parents recently.Comes with age.Guess we've been lucky in a way with Leeds.We saw the Revie,Wilkinson and O'Leary days.
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6/4/2014 08:03:16 am
Thanks Mark and so sorry to hear about your parents. Yes, there have been lots of downs haven't there ( I thought about the wolves game in 1972 but at least Allan Clarke secured glory for us at Wembley that year). Was thinking about both Colchester and Ray Tinkler in 1971. For all the bad days though there is always hope and we face that together. Thanks for reading and commenting
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john palmer
6/4/2014 03:52:15 am
great article what we have got that most other clubs havnt is we are one big family who care for our club as do former players
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Mi Fatlip
6/4/2014 04:12:23 am
Couldn't have put it better myself Mark excellent article.. What this all shown me is to the football league, fraud how ever spent it is and a legal system in an other country which deems Cellino still innocent until all his appeals are finished means nothing to them and is apparently worse than allowing a convicted rapist in charge of a football club, sickens me all these double standards
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brian Leeds utd to the bone
6/4/2014 04:23:48 am
I like you have been there from the 60s and truly hope we at last now we are marching on together let's give him a white army to be proud of f..k the F bast..d A and their perverted sense of their own rediculous importance. Leeds to the Bone
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Andy
6/4/2014 05:10:22 am
Good article, Keep smiling. We are Leeds
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andy lunn
6/4/2014 05:27:05 am
Great article mark . I have also supported leeds since a small boy and held a season ticket for 34 years. Leeds United has kept me going through the years both in bad personal times and good. The loyal fans of this club of which I would say most of us were there against Charlton last week when 17.000 turned out with the usual flicker of hope that we may see a win only for them hopes to be dashed yet again. We have taken more blows in the last ten years than any club will ever have to go through . Now thanks to Mr Cellino we can see a small flicker of light at the end of that tunnel. So lets all get together starting by filling the ground against Blackpool for the roller coaster ride back to the glory days. Let us remember them teams and their chairmen who have voted against us and also arrived at er and wiped the floor with us . Lets take this forwards and gain our revenge on the field with a mighty team built with and by a man who knows how we feel and how we tick and how much we have had to take . Who gets us and wants to make us great again with no agenda not wanting to fleece us . Not wanting our money 5 months before a new season starts . An owner who wants to take us back to the premiership , to make us a force once more , a real football man who ok is not whiter than white and maybe hot headed but that shows he cares . And at the end of the day that's us the fans , we ware our hearts on our sleeves , we love this club with a passion , we are hot headed but want the best for the best club and supporters in the land. Welcome Massimo , make us proud of you.. M.O.T
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6/4/2014 08:12:16 am
Thanks Andy and let's hope we are on one of the ups in the football cycle. I was at the Charlton game last week and thought we were decent int he first half but crumbled in the second; yesterday we surely deserved a draw but I look forward to the days when we roll over teams like Charlton again who showed no ambition and come away with at least a point from more competitive teams like Wigan (though I thought they were poor too yesterday and their fans must have overdosed on Night Nurse)
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6/4/2014 05:49:15 am
Truly sorry for your loss bud,my oid dear has terminal cancer and even though being a Leeds fan can be all consuming some things mean so much more! MOT ALWAYS!
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6/4/2014 08:13:23 am
Sorry to hear that Mark and our thoughts are with you. Mot
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White Down South
10/4/2014 12:47:32 am
A truly excellent article (maybe the best I have read on the site) which all us' children of the sixties' can relate to on so many levels.
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