Sunderland - 17th February - 24/25

February 18, 2025

Leeds United v Sunderland

Monday 17th February 2025 - Elland Road, Leeds

2024/25 Season


The roof came off Elland Road with a last-minute winner from Struijk. As Elland Road erupted the noise was unbelievable and even now, three hours after the end of the game my ears are still ringing. This was one of those moments you would want to be there to experience and there is no doubt in my mind that this was a vital win. Enjoy seeing Leeds back at the top of the league in these challenging times because, it was by no means an easy win.


Earlier it had felt surreal that we were heading to a football game. Having a day with family first, then saying goodbye to a friend, picking my granddaughter and then my daughter up meant we went straight into the ground. Luckily our turnstile was working this week, but I’ve heard of many of our fans having issues with the turnstiles. It is worth nothing the number of any that do not work, in my instance I went straight through it recently, so I wasn’t sure if it had registered my ticket. All notifications can be sent to the club via the SAB (Supporters’ Advisory Board).



Team:  Meslier, Ampadu, Rodon, Bogle, Firpo, James, Solomon, Aaronson, Gruev, Piroe, Tanaka.

Subs:  Rothwell for Gruev (71), Struijk for Tanaka (71), Joseph for Aaronson (78), Ramazani for Solomon (78), Byram for Firpo (90+2).

Subs not used:  Darlow, Guilavogui, Gnonto, Schmidt.


Leeds won the game 2-1 with a brace from Struijk (78, 90+5) after coming on as substitute.


Attendance:   36,804, 2,898 Sunderland fans.

Referee:  Stuart Attwell.

Booked: Bogle, Tanaka, Firpo.


Sunderland showed they wouldn’t be a pushover when they kept the ball in play in front of the West Stand. With Gruev slipping in the penalty area as the shot came in, Meslier made the initial save, then got to the rebound to save that shot too. That was a warning, but they won a free kick on the right-hand side. Before we knew it, the ball was sent quickly to the left wing then another quick pass to their player on the wing. He cut inside, got the better of Ampadu to hit a low shot against the post that bounced across the goal and into the net to take the lead. Although Leeds kept trying, a header from James was blocked on the line, but in reality, there was no chance it was going in as they had three players there. I felt it wasn’t really working for us and could tell we weren’t going to get a goal as we went into the break still losing by the one goal. 


Solomon saw his shot across goal from the by line saved by their keeper. Piroe had a shot saved too before our first subs were made. Firpo was out of position a few times today and it looked like he was playing up front at one point. It did look intentional, but I wasn’t sure how effective it had been. Firpo was fouled in front of the West Stand as Rothwell stepped up to take the free kick. A fantastic pinpoint cross reached Struijk who headed the ball into the net to equalise. The celebrations carried on all the way to our half as the team wanted to get on with the game. Leeds stepped up the pace now as all the time wasting from Sunderland was punished, I’m pleased to say. It’s a shame it took until the 83rd minute for their keeper to be booked for it. It was a game littered with fouls from both teams resulting in nine altogether, although some of those given to Sunderland were very soft challenges.


With five minutes of injury time on the clock, Leeds kept coming forward and won a corner. Rothwell took the corner, and the ball came to Ramazani at the far side of the box. His shot/pass came back to Rothwell again only this time his shot was headed into the net by Struijk again to put Leeds into the lead. The scenes then from all around the ground were absolutely fantastic with everyone going nuts, jumping about and celebrating until the final whistle went a few minutes later. Everyone stayed where they were for a long time afterwards as I predict a riot and Marching on Together belted out around the ground. Happy? You bet I am as I was jumping for joy too. Just before Struijk scored his second, I’d told him to get a brace, the lad next to me said he’d get a winner and there had been other predictions of Rothwell being the provider and Struijk scoring.


As we head to Bramall Lane for the key game against Sheffield United next Monday, let’s hope we can get something out of the game there too.




 See you there, LUFC – Marching on Together!

Promotion Party- 21st April - 24/25

April 22, 2025
Promotion Party! Monday 21st April 2025 - Elland Road 2024/25 Season At the end of the game, we went back to the Holbeck Working Men’s Club before heading back down to Elland Road to celebrate our promotion as Burnley were winning Sheffield United. Great scenes as we celebrated with the team and other fans although the flares let off stunk to high heaven. A nice gesture was my granddaughter being given a Leeds scarf to cover her face when the smoke was overpowering. The smoke lingered in my throat long into the night too. It was also very humbling to be told that I am an inspiration which were amongst some of the lovely words said to me by our fans today. With the hugs and thoughts about my late husband, I couldn’t ask for more support from so many of you which is why Leeds United supporters are second to none. Thank goodness we don’t have to go into the play offs as thousands of Leeds fans cancelled their hotel bookings including my daughter. To be able to go into the last two games knowing we are already up with no pressure on is immense. Saying that, I want to go up as Champions as we were robbed of celebrating properly last time due to covid. I had a film crew with me that night and now we’ve had a good result, I will be heading to Elland Road for 6pm tomorrow for an interview with ITV.  I’d like to dedicate this promotion to all those Leeds fans who have died this season and are unable to celebrate this with us including my husband Phillip/Captain, Halifax White. To everyone else, enjoy your celebrations as United Are back again, and we are promoted back to the Premier League. LUFC – Marching on Together!

Stoke City- 21st April - 24/25

April 22, 2025
Leeds United V Stoke City Monday 21st April 2025 - Elland Road 2024/25 Season I’d woke up at 3am and found I couldn’t sleep for hours. My mind had started racing thinking of all the permutations of what could happen at the game today. We could actually be promoted if things went our way and the excitement rising in me meant I’d gone into overdrive, which all contributed to the sleeplessness. Speaking to others at the game, I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. The worst thing was dropping asleep for an hour before getting up then feeling like I’d been hit by a bus and all my enthusiasm had waned so what would be, would be. Before heading to Elland Road, we went for our traditional bank holiday visit to Selby market and to get a Doubtfire’s ice cream. Leeds fans were out in force which was good to see. One a stall holder shouted to a Sheffield United fan who “wasn’t impressed” to see me, a Leeds United fan. There again we had a conversation, and he told me that we would win 4 or 5 nil today which I said I’d take. Never in a million years would we have expected to be 5-0 up at half time especially after being turned around at kick off. Team: Darlow, Ampadu, Rodon, Bogle, Firpo, Gnonto, Aaronson, Solomon, Piroe, Gruev, Tanaka. Subs: Ramazani for Gnonto (66), Bamford for Piroe (66), Byram for Firpo (77), Schmidt for Bogle (77), Harry Gray aged 16 making his first team debut for Aaronson (86). Subs not used: Meslier, Joseph, Guilavogui, Wöber. Leeds won the game 6-0 with Piroe getting four (6, 8, 20, 41), Firpo (26) and Gnonto (59). Attendance: 36,644, with approximately 1,900 Stoke fans. Referee: Darren Bond. Booked: Ampadu. Turning us round at the start of the game didn’t have the effect that Stoke thought there’d be. Leeds were on fire as Gnonto then Solomon with Piroe hitting the final ball into the net saw us take an early lead. Within two minutes we had doubled our lead when Bogle carried on running past the Stoke player taking the ball with him passed into the box for Piroe to score a second goal. Piroe then completed his hat trick after Tanaka sent a great ball into the box for Gnonto. He hit his shot at the second attempt which brought a save out of their keeper then Piroe came in at the far post and scored from a narrow angle. Wow, unbelievable scenes at Elland Road as the fans erupted hardly believing our eyes. We hadn’t finished yet as Bogle once again getting involved, got round their man in the penalty area and his pass saw Firpo hit a fourth into the net. Gnonto saw another shot saved by the keeper before Bogle once again saw his shot bounce back off the upright and Piroe hit the rebound into the net. It looked like a Stoke player and Aaronson tried getting a toe onto the ball, but it looks like Piroe was given the goal. It felt very surreal going into the break 5-0 up. Stoke had their first shot on goal but straight at Darlow just before the whistle blew. The second half saw Stoke bring on three subs and although we took a little while to settle, a fantastic cross by Solomon saw Gnonto head the ball into the net for a sixth goal on the day. There was no coming back for Stoke from the score then as we started to believe we were going up. They did have another shot on target on the 80th minute but in reality it was one way traffic for most of the game which was great for us fans too.  It was lovely to see the Gray family dynasty carry on when Harry Gray younger brother of Archie, came on as a sub at 16 years of age. A special moment especially for Eddie Gray who was extremely proud and full of emotion on seeing him come on to the pitch. LUFC – Marching on Together!

Oxford- 18th April - 24/25

April 19, 2025
Oxford United V Leeds United Friday 18th April 2025 - The Kassam Stadium 2024/25 Season After a couple of bad days, I’d felt more upbeat on my way to Elland Road when a lorry with a lest we forget cab, passed me with a big Leeds United badge on the side. I automatically gave it the Leeds salute as I go onto autopilot when I see other Leeds fans. Listening to music helped me so in my reel I said I wanted Leeds to go and enjoy the football, forget about our target of automatic promotion but to keep fighting. My thoughts were that it would take the pressure off us. After other results didn’t help again (not that I expected any to), winning the game had to be a priority. At our pub stop it was nice to talk to some Oxford fans who still wished us good luck despite wanting their team to win, as they’d be fighting for the points as they were near the relegation zone. The last time we’d come to this ground was for a pre-season friendly, but I couldn’t remember when but was reminded that it was for Bielsa’s first game. It’s still unique with only three stands in place but it gave some Leeds fans the chance to watch from the car park and others in the distant trees. This was another ground where we were treated well as far as I was concerned. The only issue was getting soaked before the game when I switched the tap on in the ladies sink only for a torrent of water to overflow everywhere. I wasn’t the only one to find that out the hard way. Team: Darlow, Ampadu, Rodon, Bogle, Solomon, Gnonto, Gruev, Tanaka, Aaronson, Firpo, Piroe. Subs: Bamford for Piroe (75), James for Gnonto (75), Schmidt for Solomon (87), Guilavogui for Aaronson (90). Subs not used: Meslier, Joseph, Byram, Ramazani, Wöber. Leeds won the game 1-0 with the goal scored by Solomon (32). Attendance: 11,537, 1,434 Leeds fans. Referee: Dean Whitestone. Booked: Gruev, Bogle. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy game which turned out to be the case and very tense for us Leeds fans. Oxford were the first on the attack which saw Darlow make a good save before their keeper was called into action to save a shot from Aaronson. Oxford were having plenty of possession, looking quite dangerous at times. Instead of the flying Leeds fan at an Oxford game in the past, it was a flying Leeds player when Tanaka was pushed in the back. After soaking up the pressure, Leeds took the lead when Rodon sent an excellent ball for Bogle to run onto who sent a great pass across the box for Solomon to race in and put the ball into the net. That was a welcome relief to take the lead and meant we were in control then as we went into the break. The second half still saw Oxford with a lot of possession, and we had to be really patient in our build ups (not that us fans were), but we did manage some good play down the wing. We started attacking more as Farke was looking to bring our first subs on and a Firpo shot went over the bar but was not that far away. Darlow threw a long ball out to Solomon on the wing, and he would have been away bearing down on goal only for the game to be stopped for a foul. Tanaka was so unlucky not to score as his long shot hit the bottom of the post and bounced away sadly not near a Leeds player. From a free kick their keeper was able to make the save from Gruev easily. Oxford tried getting back into the game, but we were standing firm in defence and there were plenty of sighs of relief that we were one step closer to automatic promotion when the final whistle blew. It is still all to play for, and Monday will have a big bearing on the outcome of the table positions, as Burnley and Sheffield United play each other after our game has finished. Keeping us in pole position will be vital and put even more pressure on those two. As long as the challengers implode and not us, I’d be happy. I’d have no problem us all going up to have local derby games, but we have to go up automatically whereas one of them can go up via the playoffs I’ve tried for exchange tickets for Monday without success so it will be just the three of us with season tickets being at the game. I’m looking forward to a bouncing Elland Road, but we must get behind the team for the full 90 minutes. On the way home, I had a few tears as my husband won’t be there to share the chance of Leeds going up. We first met at a pre-season friendly in Molenbeek in 1977 so go back a long way. There are many more Leeds fans who won’t be there to share this with us either so the emotions and nostalgia will be hitting many of us if we succeed. See you there, LUFC – Marching on Together!
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