Loved this, I forgot about the fake crowd noise during Covid, that was just weird !! My son is a Spurs fan, obsessively so and he supports the local team Barnet. I’ve watched Spurs at their amazing stadium a few times, football is a great atmosphere but I find it all very stressful . Louise cracks me up!
Dude, banger of a post here. Could’ve read more of the same 2-3x as long. I got into PL football ~10 years ago and vividly remember when Leeds got that call up in 2020 and didn’t appreciate the history of the club until my Fantasy PL buddies were telling me to get ready for Beilsa. That season I couldn’t get enough of Leeds. Raphina, Patty B and Stuart Dallas, who somehow got incorrectly categorized as a defender- they were so fun to watch. Took me a bit before my one of my best footy mates told me, they’re the only other club I’ll let you pull for. I didn’t entirely get it. When I asked why them and not Wolves or Bournemouth and he simply said, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and I had to figure out the rest. I finally got it after reading about and watching some old Leeds-Manchester United matches. Looking forward to next season already. YNWA.
Ah, thanks, man. Really glad to hear you enjoyed it! Yeh, during the Bielsa era, we became a lot of people’s second team as we were so entertaining to watch. Felt very fortunate!
Haha - the Stuart Dallas (defender) on Fantasy Football was a great little hack for a while until EVERYONE bought him!
Congrats on winning the title this season - fully deserved.
Cheers, Chris! Appreciate that and great to hear from a fellow Leeds fan on here. What an amazing season we've had - the parade in town yesterday was fantastic!
I overcame any qualms and gave this a read and I'm very glad I did. Another treat, and I hope your non-footie fans appreciate what a fine piece it is. Congrats on promotion (I say, begrudgingly 😂). Tough year for my teams - Ipswich, obviously, but I also have a soft spot for Cambridge (relegated) and my sister lives in Dorking so I'm compelled to root for them (lost in the playoffs).
I have 2 Leeds memories - the first was watching them beat Man United in the 2010 FA Cup (I believe that's the Beckford goal you referred to). My girlfriend at the time was a Leeds supporter (she was from Harrogate) and we were in Texas for a wedding, so we watched at around 8am at an Irish pub. Later that spring, I visited her and went to see Leeds v Oldham (2-0), and I thoroughly my Bovril and pie.
Ah, thanks, man - I appreciate that. Great to hear you enjoyed it. There's a huge US influence with Leeds now Red Bull (and Will Ferrell, Larry Nance Jnr etc) are involved, so hopefully we will get a few more fans across the pond!
Don't want to make you too jealous but my friends cousin used to go out with Alan Smith and we hung out at a bbq once during the height of his Leeds career
Now that is a claim to fame! My brother once saw Alan Smith at the Northern Snooker Centre and I was incredibly jealous - these were the days he was a local hero before THAT transfer! Ha.
Newcastle fan here (I come in peace). Same age as you, my first game also oddly Chelsea at home in 94/95, although for us a magnificent 4-2 win with two goals from Andy Cole.
Beautiful writing and really hit home - family man now, wife and daughter, but always with an unbreakable bond to my club. Which I think some people understand but others probably don’t - and will never - really “get”.
Your passion shines through in the article. Loved it. And good to have Leeds back.
Thanks for reading, Yousef! Great to hear you enjoyed it.
I definitely have a soft spot for Newcastle - great fans and a similar idea to Leeds being one club cities. I've never been to St James' Park so hopefully next season I will get the opportunity.
Even though I'm not a footie fan, I read all the way to the end because the way you write about it is really funny!
I didn't "get" the appeal for a long time. My dad, grandad, and uncle were always going off to watch it, though. I was born on a Saturday morning and by the afternoon my dad had gone off to watch his team lose to... Leeds!
While my grandad should've been enjoying his retirement, he became Colchester United's club accountant. Not a week passed without "me" sponsoring a piece of player's kit, with my name appearing in the match programme. I had no idea until a friend at school excitedly assumed I was a fan.
I have a friend who is a big Hudds fan and she took me to a match - Hudds v Birmingham City. It was only by going to a match that I finally understood why people are so devoted to the game. When Hudds scored, I was surrounded by thousands of strangers losing their shit with joy and it was so emotional, I cried! Some random bloke next to me tapped me on the shoulder, just so he had someone he could yell "YEAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!" at while doing an air punch!
My dad then got emotional when I told him I'd seen Hudds - "your grandad would be so proud that they were your first match, they're a classic side!" I felt as if I'd been allowed into an inner circle and when the footie results appear on the news when I'm at my dad's, he now goes into great detail about the day's results. I nod and pretend that I understand the implications of the Saints' and the Tractor Boys' goal-scoring abilities that day.
Thanks for reading, Helen. Haha, excellent! I just don't think there's anything else in life that's quite like being at a game when your team score. Can't beat it. Good to hear you're dad was impressed!
I'm very happy for you, Andy! Particularly loved the photo with the baby in the hospital. I arrived in Leeds from London to work in 1994, when you couldn't survive a social occasion unless you could name the team and have an opinion on the last match. I spent months learning my patter. Then Ridsdale took over, it all went to s#@!, and suddenly they only wanted to talk about cricket.
Loved this, I forgot about the fake crowd noise during Covid, that was just weird !! My son is a Spurs fan, obsessively so and he supports the local team Barnet. I’ve watched Spurs at their amazing stadium a few times, football is a great atmosphere but I find it all very stressful . Louise cracks me up!
Cheers, Francis! Appreciate you sticking with such a long post! (about 4x longer than anything else I've posted - ha.)
What a season Barnet have had - such a tough division to get out of too. Congratulations to your son - bet he was delighted!
Always pleased to hear of fellow Barnet fans. What a season we had!
Congrats on promotion!
Are you local ? Yeah my son was there ! He was very happy 😊
Dude, banger of a post here. Could’ve read more of the same 2-3x as long. I got into PL football ~10 years ago and vividly remember when Leeds got that call up in 2020 and didn’t appreciate the history of the club until my Fantasy PL buddies were telling me to get ready for Beilsa. That season I couldn’t get enough of Leeds. Raphina, Patty B and Stuart Dallas, who somehow got incorrectly categorized as a defender- they were so fun to watch. Took me a bit before my one of my best footy mates told me, they’re the only other club I’ll let you pull for. I didn’t entirely get it. When I asked why them and not Wolves or Bournemouth and he simply said, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and I had to figure out the rest. I finally got it after reading about and watching some old Leeds-Manchester United matches. Looking forward to next season already. YNWA.
Ah, thanks, man. Really glad to hear you enjoyed it! Yeh, during the Bielsa era, we became a lot of people’s second team as we were so entertaining to watch. Felt very fortunate!
Haha - the Stuart Dallas (defender) on Fantasy Football was a great little hack for a while until EVERYONE bought him!
Congrats on winning the title this season - fully deserved.
A Great read Andy and as a devout Leeds lad too, some fabulous ups and downs to remember along the way 😳 thanks! #ALAW
Cheers, Chris! Appreciate that and great to hear from a fellow Leeds fan on here. What an amazing season we've had - the parade in town yesterday was fantastic!
MOT.
I overcame any qualms and gave this a read and I'm very glad I did. Another treat, and I hope your non-footie fans appreciate what a fine piece it is. Congrats on promotion (I say, begrudgingly 😂). Tough year for my teams - Ipswich, obviously, but I also have a soft spot for Cambridge (relegated) and my sister lives in Dorking so I'm compelled to root for them (lost in the playoffs).
I have 2 Leeds memories - the first was watching them beat Man United in the 2010 FA Cup (I believe that's the Beckford goal you referred to). My girlfriend at the time was a Leeds supporter (she was from Harrogate) and we were in Texas for a wedding, so we watched at around 8am at an Irish pub. Later that spring, I visited her and went to see Leeds v Oldham (2-0), and I thoroughly my Bovril and pie.
Cheers, Daniel. Glad you could put any rivalries aside for a few minutes to enjoy the post!
Ah, man - that is a rough old year as a fan?! If Ipswich keep McKenna I think you should have a decent chance of bouncing straight back up.
Love this one, Andy! I'm a sucker for a good sports fanaticism retrospective and this is a great one.
Ah, thanks, man - I appreciate that. Great to hear you enjoyed it. There's a huge US influence with Leeds now Red Bull (and Will Ferrell, Larry Nance Jnr etc) are involved, so hopefully we will get a few more fans across the pond!
Very funny Andy, you really made me laugh and it's only 7 am! hahahahah
Thanks, Rosalind. Appreciate you taking the time to read this really, REALLY long post - great to hear you enjoyed it!
Don't want to make you too jealous but my friends cousin used to go out with Alan Smith and we hung out at a bbq once during the height of his Leeds career
Now that is a claim to fame! My brother once saw Alan Smith at the Northern Snooker Centre and I was incredibly jealous - these were the days he was a local hero before THAT transfer! Ha.
Thanks for reading, Kate!
Marching on Together 🎶💙🤍💛
Absolutely brilliant, every word. You should totally do more football stuff.
Cheers, mate - very kind. I really enjoyed writing it actually - it's funny the stuff you remember once you get started!
Hilarious. I ♥️Louise.
Thanks for reading, Cherry! Haha - I will let her know.
Newcastle fan here (I come in peace). Same age as you, my first game also oddly Chelsea at home in 94/95, although for us a magnificent 4-2 win with two goals from Andy Cole.
Beautiful writing and really hit home - family man now, wife and daughter, but always with an unbreakable bond to my club. Which I think some people understand but others probably don’t - and will never - really “get”.
Your passion shines through in the article. Loved it. And good to have Leeds back.
Thanks for reading, Yousef! Great to hear you enjoyed it.
I definitely have a soft spot for Newcastle - great fans and a similar idea to Leeds being one club cities. I've never been to St James' Park so hopefully next season I will get the opportunity.
Andy Cole - what a player he was!
Even though I'm not a footie fan, I read all the way to the end because the way you write about it is really funny!
I didn't "get" the appeal for a long time. My dad, grandad, and uncle were always going off to watch it, though. I was born on a Saturday morning and by the afternoon my dad had gone off to watch his team lose to... Leeds!
While my grandad should've been enjoying his retirement, he became Colchester United's club accountant. Not a week passed without "me" sponsoring a piece of player's kit, with my name appearing in the match programme. I had no idea until a friend at school excitedly assumed I was a fan.
I have a friend who is a big Hudds fan and she took me to a match - Hudds v Birmingham City. It was only by going to a match that I finally understood why people are so devoted to the game. When Hudds scored, I was surrounded by thousands of strangers losing their shit with joy and it was so emotional, I cried! Some random bloke next to me tapped me on the shoulder, just so he had someone he could yell "YEAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!" at while doing an air punch!
My dad then got emotional when I told him I'd seen Hudds - "your grandad would be so proud that they were your first match, they're a classic side!" I felt as if I'd been allowed into an inner circle and when the footie results appear on the news when I'm at my dad's, he now goes into great detail about the day's results. I nod and pretend that I understand the implications of the Saints' and the Tractor Boys' goal-scoring abilities that day.
Thanks for reading, Helen. Haha, excellent! I just don't think there's anything else in life that's quite like being at a game when your team score. Can't beat it. Good to hear you're dad was impressed!
The atmosphere was just amazing, being surrounded by all those joyous people!
I'm very happy for you, Andy! Particularly loved the photo with the baby in the hospital. I arrived in Leeds from London to work in 1994, when you couldn't survive a social occasion unless you could name the team and have an opinion on the last match. I spent months learning my patter. Then Ridsdale took over, it all went to s#@!, and suddenly they only wanted to talk about cricket.
Thanks, Sarah! It's been a brilliant few days. The parade yesterday was just amazing - such a great atmosphere.
Haha. Think a lot of people shifted their interest to cricket and rugby around that time!
A Leeds United/fashion moment from 1972 when they were mighty (starts at 3:40) https://youtu.be/APfXZI1sDzU?si=TB0Y6hf_UTN8JmNa&t=220