Swansea City - 24th November - 24/25

November 25, 2024

Swansea City v Leeds United

Sunday 24th November 2024 - swansea.com Stadium, Swansea

2024/25 Season


It was a very emotional day yesterday as the celebration of my husband’s life took place at Rastrick Cricket Club. Waking up to a white out with snow giving him a Leeds United send off, this impacted on some getting there with ice, flooding and jack-knifed lorries causing severe travel issues. We are so grateful for everyone who did make it to share our memories of Phillip/Captain. Thank you to Malta Whites for the mention of him in their remembrance service, LUFC South Kirkby for raising a glass to him on the way to the game and Shuy in Australia arranging for a wreath to be delivered from the Halifax Whites.


If we thought the storms were over, they impacted on fans travelling to the game with flooded roads in Wales. I’m glad I was travelling by coach and luckily slept most of the way there and back. By the time we did stop though I needed the break as I was in a lot of pain which at least eased with painkillers and something to eat. Thank you to everyone at the game for their hugs, good wishes and love sent our way which were greatly appreciated.


It shows how much I know about previous results here as I didn’t realise our win today was the third in a row! It’s a good job I don’t rely on my memory because despite being at the games I had no recollection of scores.


Team: Meslier, Struijk, Rodon, Bogle, James, Byram, Soloman, Rothwell, Aaronson, Tanaka, Piroe

Subs: Joseph for Piroe (74), Solomon for Gnonto (75), Wober for Byram (84), Guilavogui for Rothwell (84), Debayo for James (90)

Subs not used: Darlow, Crew, Bamford, Ramazani


Leeds won the game 4-3 with our goals scored by a brace for Solomon (20, 73), an own goal from Cabango (55) and the winner from Gnonto in injury time (90+1)


Attendance 17,125 with 1,976 Leeds fans

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Booked: James, Byram


Although the game ended with seven goals scored it felt a very surreal scoreline. Leeds had the first attack and from the corner the ball reached James at the far post who saw his shot go over the bar. Swansea were lucky they weren’t penalised for a pull on Rodon’s shirt. We were frustrated with the referee blowing for any little touch on Swansea players. They were given a free kick for an innocuous challenge, which we were made to pay for when they scored from the set play when their player got past our defence in acres of space. Luckily for us we got back into the game relatively quickly and a fantastic pass through to James saw him run forward and unselfishly pass the ball across the box for Solomon to get his first goal for the club. Three minutes of injury time were given for the first half which felt more than was needed, but they got a second goal when we lost the ball in midfield, then a wicked deflection from Bogle, took the ball into the bottom corner of the goal, just of our Meslier’s full stretch reach. Without the deflection he would have saved the shot. That was a disappointing one to concede as we went into the break.


Ten minutes into the second half we were back on level terms after Tanaka broke up a Swansea attack. Rodon got the ball, passed forward to Bogle and his first time pass saw the speed of James on the wing run forward. He passed the ball into the box and their player trying to stop the ball getting to Piroe, put it into the net for an own goal. It was nice to have a bit of luck for once. We took the lead when a fantastic ball from Struijk through to Byram who was onside and in acres of space, ran forward and passed into the middle for Solomon to get his second goal of the game and for Leeds to take the lead for the first time. It shows how much I know as Farke got it right. We’d taken a quick thrown in with our first subs waiting to come onto the pitch and I felt we should have made the subs rather than carry on playing. As Solomon went off shortly afterwards, he obviously wouldn’t have scored the goal! With fans singing top of the league, I couldn’t do that in case it came back to bite us on the bum. As the game drew to a close, we started to defend deep and the only thing you could see was Swansea scoring which turned out to be the case. Meslier had made a great save from a shot but on full time they equalised, after a cross into the middle of the box saw their player get in between ours to score. That was a big disappointment as we thought we’d thrown it away only for Gnonto to come on as sub and get a dramatic winner in injury time when James put him through in the penalty area. The Leeds fans erupted then as the goal sent Leeds to the top of the table. This time I’d no problem singing it and it was a great feeling to get the win and three points. Thank you Phillip for looking down on us today.


Luckily our journey home was relatively smooth, and it was only as we neared Leeds that the reality of going back home hit me as listening to music finally saw the tears come. I’d done better than I dared hope and as usual, being with our Leeds United family, is the best tonic and I’m under no illusions that things will take time to ease. See you against Luton on Wednesday.


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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