Back in 1974 and onwards for several years, I accompanied my dad and some of his workmates from my home near Rotherham up the M1 motorway on Saturdays to Leeds.
At the time, this road was relatively new and the stretch into central Leeds was in fact only about a year old.... I have vague memories of being in the car and making our way through concrete underpasses to make our way to the top of Beeston Hill where we used to park in a school car park and then walk down the hill towards Elland Road. The noise would swell as we approached the stadium and then we would make our way round to the Lowfields Road stand (later called the Jack Charlton stand) to watch Leeds United.
This was the Don Revie era, where the team was unmatched in terms of ability. I was fortunate to see the classic Leeds team of that time: Harvey, Reaney, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter (bites yer legs), Madeley, Lorimer, Clarke, Yorath, Giles, Gray et al and many more besides... Later joined by McQueen, Liam Brady etc. Eddie Gray was the best...
I saw a lot of matches, including all the home matches during the short-lived Brian Clough era. I saw a lot of scraps and bad fouls and muddy pitches...
I saw the final match they played before they famously and controversially lost to Bayern Munich in the 1975 European Cup Final and ended up being banned from Europe due to their supporters' actions.
My dad saw them play Barcelona complete with Johan Cruyff.
I also had a Leeds home kit complete with sock tags which I wore for school PE lessons. I had no. 7 of course: Peter Lorimer. This was the era when they would come on and wave to the fans from the centre circle. Good times!
My dad tells me that I saw the Liverpool debut of Alan Hansen. I also saw all the classic players from the 1970s... Keegan et al.
I've followed Leeds United since, although I haven't attended a match for some years - the cost and distance is too great (although both could be overcome in reality). I remember when Leeds won the First Division Championship, and had a great many disappointments....
I remember the team with Batty et al that was just before the implosion and the decline... and now Leeds are back in the Premiership again, and not with Bielsa.
There are a few other geography greats who I know are Leeds fans: Tim Marshall and Matt Podbury amongst them... if you are too, then show yourself please...
I've followed this season and its ups and downs and am looking forward to seeing what happens this time round....
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