Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday 2nd September 2023 at Elland Road please log in to view this image What is it with me and being prepared only for things to go pear shaped! Today I was going into the director’s box with Mick Hewitt, Gary Edwards and Tony Winstanley who all had the ambition of recording all the old Leeds songs from the terraces. After four years of sheer hard work and lots of resilience on my part, we finally achieved three CDs with the songs on. I want to thank everyone who contributed to the songs, whether being there at the recordings, helped us remember the earliest words to songs, bought the CDs or supported us in any other way. I even typed up all the words to the songs and can say despite other fans saying we only have one song, there are over 200 different songs and chants on the CDs. Hence, we called the CDs, Leeds United we’ll support you evermore; we’ve only got one song! We were finally going to hand over the monies today but of course, despite me going into the bank to check everything would be in order, I couldn’t transfer the monies. After speaking to someone at the bank, because the account was set up as a charity/business, I would have to wait until Monday to speak to someone sadly. The good thing is that the presentation still went ahead, and we were joined by Adam Underwood, Rudy Cline-Thomas and Eddie Gray and this was greatly appreciated. In total after costs were taken out, we raised the grand sum of £6,605.16 which will be shared equally between the Leeds United Academy and the Leeds United Foundation. We all set out not to make anything personally from this but to do this for Leeds United and I can say, what we have done, is a fantastic achievement. I also want to thank everyone for the hospitality we received today as well as the great food. The good thing with being so stressed last night was that I kept mostly off the transfer thread which was going nuts on WACCOE. Personally, I wasn’t disappointed that Sinisterra went because to me his body language at Ipswich last week told me he didn’t want to be here. Now we have got rid of the stench in the background with the “rats” jumping ship, we can move forward as far as I’m concerned. Team: Meslier, Ayling (captain), Struijk, Rodon, Shackleton, Ampadu, Gray, Rutter, Summerville, Gnonto, Joel Piroe (making his home debut). Subs: Djed Spence (signed on loan from Spurs) for Ayling (81), Glen Kamara (signed from Glasgow Rangers) for Gray (88). Subs not used: Darlow, Cresswell, Gyabi, Gelhardt, Joseph, Poveda, Hjelde. The game was a goalless draw. Attendance: 36,484; Approx. 2,900 Sheffield Wednesday fans. Referee: Dean Whitestone. Booked: Rutter. It turned out to be a lovely warm, sunny day which showed on the terraces with all the Leeds shirts on view. Leeds played plenty of attacking football using the width of the pitch but were lacking in finishing despite having lots of possession. The nearest we came to scoring was Rutter seeing the keeper save his shot after being put through by a great pass from Summerville keeping things level at the break. Admittedly their player grabbing his arm just as he shot maybe didn’t help. The second half saw Leeds attacking the Kop, and Shackleton came close to opening the scoring as his shot on target wasn’t that far over the bar. Rutter returned the compliment and put Summerville through, but their keeper saved it. Rutter himself carried on an attack sending a great shot on target but was booked as the referee had already stopped play. Despite the booking for Rutter, their keeper should have followed suit if that was for wasting time, as he took ages with the goal kick. Sadly, the referee didn’t do anything about that. Sheffield Wednesday had their best chance when they made space through the middle, but Meslier spread himself well and saved the shot. When Gnonto was brought down in the penalty area the referee pointed for a goal kick when everyone was screaming for a penalty. I was impressed with Spence when he came on and it was nice to have a bit of height in our team as Sheffield Wednesday had giants in their back four. I had been concerned then as Sheffield Wednesday started to get into the game, but Leeds manged to keep them out. As the game ended in a 0-0 draw, there were a few boos which I couldn’t understand why. The only thing I would say is that we should try shots from outside the area rather than trying to walk the ball into the net. Putting things in perspective, we have come a long way with a relatively new team, for a new manager, since our disastrous relegation last season. We are playing football as a team, can pass a ball, are fitter (well we couldn’t get any worse than we were), kept a clean sheet and it is coming, we are going to hammer someone soon. Well, that’s my prediction so see what happens after the international break. Because we have a 12 o’clock kick off, it means a very early start from home for the coach leaving Leeds at 5.00am. The things we do to follow Leeds, see you there. It was lovely to meet Paul Smith after the game who is heading back to New Zealand tomorrow so have a safe journey home. LUFC – Marching on Together! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Great job on the fundraising. Any plans to make cd available on Apple Music or Spotify. We don’t have a cd player in the house. Glad we agree on the shooting from outside box. It’s frustrating watching us trying to walk it past eleven defenders. Oh for a Pablo with a cool head and his cultured right foot curling one into the top corner
Heidi, fourth picture down, any idea what the Wendies player is grabbing hold of, with both his hands?
As far as we are concerned we have done our bit with the CDs as I want to close the account and move on as I don’t want the responsibility anymore. We did have someone who wanted to put them on Spotify but I can’t remember who it was. I will try and find out who it was as it would be fine for him to do that now. Donations to the Academy/Foundation would have to go through him in future.
