19 Dec 2020 12:02:06
Got thinking about my first ever Leeds game that I went to. I was a young lad and my best mates dad was a Brummie, B’ham City supporter. That day was 29th December 1973. St. Andrews.
We were obviously situated somewhere in the home crowd, I remember my mates dad distinctly telling us to take off our Leeds scarfs as he didn’t want to be mistaken for a Leeds fan and get a bloody nose, as he put it.
Never forget that feeling of the crowd chanting and how it resonated through my whole body.
Remember saying to my mates dad, â€why are the Leeds fans louder than the Bluesâ€?
He didn’t respond, I think knew why but didn’t want to admit it.
Blues went ahead just before half time and it wasn’t until the 90th minute when my schoolboy Leeds Utd hero, Joe Jordan scored the equalizer. Me and my mate were jumping in the air, my mates Dad had a look of sheer fear and terror, needless to say he grabbed us both by the collar and we left very sharpish.
Did anyone else have a memorable first match, young or old.
A side note, Leeds were really hated in those days and I think my generation and older, 50+ still feel that hatred towards Leeds, mind you there was generally a lot more rivalry and hatred between clubs in the 70’s/ 80’s period.
19 Dec 2020 13:07:38
Good one OP. Mine was 1965 at Elland Road, a pre season friendly against Scunthorpe. We won 3 - 1, but Gary Sprake got sent off, so Alan Peacock went in goal. It was our second season back in Division 1, after we had just lost the League on Goal Average and the Cup Final in extra time.
19 Dec 2020 14:18:20
Love reading sharing stories like this - I'm in London so don't get to many. My dad and I made it to my first leed's game back in 2002/ 03 season away at Southampton where we lost 2-3. James Beattie ruining it for us that day although getting to see Nigel Martyn (my hero as a young lad who played in goal) even just on the bench made my day.
Times changed and my next Leeds game (and first at Elland Road) was in 08/ 09 a 1-0 home win against Stockport.
Worst ever Leeds game attended 0-3 home loss against Swindon anchored by Charlie Austin and Billy Paynter in 09/ 10 leaving me convinced we'd blow promotion again
Best ever Leeds game a certain 0-1 win at some dump called Old Trafford on Jan 3rd 2010 Dad bought the tickets late so they only had hospitality left even better. Was in the United end and quiet for fear of getting kicked out but it transpired that half the guys our immediate area where in the same situation - stayed quiet to naturally but just had to be at the game. Seeing how it was cold was wearing the leeds shirt under about six layers :)
19 Dec 2020 15:21:24
First game was December 2007 vs Huddersfield, on the 10th anniversary of Billy Bremner’s death. We had 35,000 fans packed into the ground, and we won 4-0. Fantastic game and just remember the noise. Amazing game.
19 Dec 2020 15:40:29
love these stories and as a fellow Londoner Ealing I feel your pain
my best crowd story was at Palace, my best mates dad was a goalkeeper who played for Millwall and Charlton and at the time was a coach at Palace and he got us tickets for the F. A cup game. We was five minutes or so late and got to our seats just as leeds scored. me and my step dad got up going mental and cheering only to look round to see we was in the home stand. chants of sit down before we beat you up (to go west) starting ringing round. later in that game the great nigle matyn (who we just signed from palace) saved a penalty before they scored from the rebound, a bloke behind tapped my step dad on the shoulder and said. bet you have never been so glad to see leeds conceded because if we didn't get the rebound you would not of been walking out of here.
19 Dec 2020 17:17:31
OP The equalizer you witnessed continued our famous unbeaten run.
19 Dec 2020 17:47:09
27th Feb 1982, Liverpool at Elland Rd, lost 2 0, that Liverpool team was Class, but a memory I will treasure forever.
19 Dec 2020 19:36:00
Remember that Brum game well OP. Easter I think. Our bus took an age to get there and we were locked out of the Leeds end. I was watching the game on a monitor at a BBC van when a copper said they were still open at the Brum end. Managed to get in but kept my mouth shut. At half time there was an announcement the IRA had put a bomb in the main stand and the gates were open to let spectators out, of course hundreds got in. Last minute JJ put the ball past Gary Sprake for the draw. Going back to the bus was carnage, Brum fans wrecking the area, coppers too scared to go down to where the buses were, each and every one had their windows put through. Very cold journey home. Footbalł in the seventies was a dangerous hobby.
19 Dec 2020 20:46:48
First game at Elland Road was 81 when we drew 3-3 with my local team West Ham. Had been to a few London matches before but first time at Elland Road was amazing. If I wasnt already totally hooked I was then, I even met the players and manager, Allan Clarke as I was 11 and quite Ill at the time. Club were incredible and Kevin Hird looked after me for most of my time there.
19 Dec 2020 23:15:28
Can't actually remember the first game as we went from being so young.
Earliest I remember was FA Cup game vs Wimbledon when they were non league.
Remember a Womble mascot carrying me onto the field and the disappointment when Guy saved the penalty.
We had season tickets near the tunnel and remember Bremner would often ruffle my hair on his way onto the field. Happy days.
20 Dec 2020 00:00:34
Mine was sept 1980 and was Leeds v Man U, was an 8y/ o lad and ended 0-0, loved them ever since.
20 Dec 2020 09:55:17
Great stories. My first visit to church was actually a testimonial foe John Charles and Bobby Collins which saw a Leeds 11 with other stars including King Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush take on Everton. I believe it was 1988 and my dad, brother and I were at the back of a packed and very noisy kop. Leeds came out 3-2 winners in a very entertaining game.
20 Dec 2020 10:55:42
My first game is a blur but I do seem to a big win against SWansea in the 1962/ 63 season. The main memory for me is the privilege of seeing all the giants of the game coming through that year and one of my early heroes, Bobby Collins.