My First Game with Helen Moore

As an 11 year old, my team was Leeds United, simply for the reason that my sister- 4 years older - supported Bradford City and LUFC were a couple of divisions above!

My dad wasn’t into football, so I never went to a game – I just avidly cut out all the news on LUFC and made up my scrapbooks, wore my LUFC scarf with pride and watched Billy run around on our little black and white TV

The first match I attended at Elland Road was circa 1979/80 with an ex-boyfriend. I couldn’t believe I was there. The atmosphere for me, was electric, like nothing I’d experienced before – not the same as watching black and white TV – it was all larger than life, full of colour and noise. I was just sorry most of my heroes were no longer on the pitch – but I will never forget that fluttery feeling inside of me, that I was actually there, everything I thought it would be and more.

As the years went by, raising a family, working hard I didn’t come back to Elland Road until 2010 – we were in a position at long last to buy season tickets – and a great time to take our grandson age 10. Goals

I felt as though I’d come home. A few less crowd but nevertheless, loud, robust, loyal, passionate – and I was part of it, this LUFC family at long last – and I’ve never looked back since.

Off pitch drama with Ken Bates, GFH and MC have all added to the stresses and tribulations of being an LUFC supporter – being part of social media has involved debates, falling outs, alliances formed and disbanded, laughter and tears and yet here we are, 2016/17 and it looks as though we may have come through it all to finally take our place in the top tier.

I don’t get into technicalities of football, I listen to hubby, grandson, pundits, friends and other supporters, to their opinions of who should have been where, whose fault it was for losing etc. etc. I don’t profess to know or even hazard a guess. What I do know is if I’ve gone to a game and been mesmerised, excited, if I’ve come away buzzing because I’ve seen and felt that the team on the pitch, MY team have played their socks off, that I feel fantastic, on top of the world (think Derby game). Equally, if they’ve not played their best, if we’ve taken a beating – I sulk with the best of them.

Looking at the remainder of the season, I see nothing to fear. We appear to play better against better opposition - it‘s bound to be tough, e.g. Preston will come to LUFC hoping to salvage pride after their 4-1 defeat, but I believe in GM, and I believe, for the first time in a LONG time, that this team is a TEAM and all that entails – all for 1 and 1 for all, MOT.

We'd like to thank Helen for taking the time to get back to us. We are so proud and honoured to have such wonderful stories like this sent to us.

If if you have a story to tell, get in touch @weallloveleedsu or post your email address in the comments section below.

By Helen Moore