My First Game with Heidi Haigh

Fantastic writer and all round joy to meet Heidi Haigh talks about her first game watching Lufc.

For my first game in 1967 I’ve had to do a bit of research to try and work out which it was. I’m not 100% sure but once my friend Sue finds the diaries she kept at the time, I will at least know which it was.

Looking at the fixture list for that season we played Sunderland at home on 19th August in a 1-1 draw, with Greenhoff the scorer in front of a 36,252 crowd. It is possible that this game was my first one as Sue’s birthday is on 26th August and I know that is was a daytime game. The only other home game at that time was Fulham on 2nd September which we won 2-0 with Belfitt scoring both goals in front of a 25,760 crowd.

The cup game wasn’t until September 13th which would have been on an evening so hopefully I’ve narrowed it down to one of the two!

As it was, Sue’s dad had agreed to take us to Elland Road for her 12th birthday treat. My recollections of the day are vague but I know that I travelled with Sue, her dad and another friend Fiona to the game.

We had all met whilst in the first year of Selby High School for Girls which changed to Selby Grammar School in 1967 having amalgamated with Drax Grammar School for Boys.

Having had a conversation in the classroom at school there were quite a few of us who supported Leeds at the time, as they were always being shown on Match of the Day.

We went and stood in Lowfields Road near the front of the stand and near the half way line. The only thing that stands out in my mind was at half time when our names were announced over the tannoy. “Sue, Heidi and Fiona were there for Sue’s birthday and had travelled to the game from Selby”.

They then played Lily the Pink by the Scaffold for us! Everyone around us was laughing at our excitement saying that we had come all the way from Selby to the game, when we screamed on hearing our names read out. That is something I have never forgotten as it made our first game memorable and special.

I was already a Leeds United Supporter before this game and can remember watching Leeds lose to Liverpool in the 1965 FA Cup Final on TV plus my sister Karin had already gone to some of the games.

Actually going to Elland Road though to see Leeds play in person and standing on the terraces, is what indoctrinated me into being a loyal supporter, now in my 51st year!

Sue and I are still friends to this day and are both home and away season ticket holders. We travel to away games with Fullerton Park Supporters Club branch and are forever loyal!

Heidi Haigh, author of Follow Me and Leeds United, Once a Leeds fan, always a Leeds fan and co-author of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Leeds United.

By Heidi Haigh