Bad week in South Yorkshire

The week started full of promise.  After three straight league victories I was hopeful that we would come away from the Republic of South Yorkshire with at least four points.  But alas we were ripped apart by Barnsley in a great second half display.  Another inept performance by our defence and we lost 5-2.  Becchio never seemed like scoring and his support just wasn't there.

Things had to get better for our TV appearance against Doncaster on Friday.  Surely the manager wouldn't stick with the same defence - there must be changes.  And indeed there was.  In came Hughes, Bruce and White.  Up front Somma started and Becchio was on the bench.  Despite being under the cosh a bit at the start this was a much better performance and the team seemed well balanced.  I think Bruce played particulalry well - you've no idea what it takes to say that.  His dad, Steve Bruce (yes him), was watching the game from the stands.  Who would have thought that Schmeichel and Bruce would ever be wearing a Leeds shirt!

Anyway a 0-0 draw was a good result against Donny Rovers and we finished Friday night in sixth place.  After yesterday's games we had dropped to 12th but still only a win off 2nd spot.  Leaders QPR remain unbeaten on 19 points.

Way back in 1920 Leeds were beating Leicester City 3-1 at Elland Road on Saturday 18th September.  Goals from Ellson and Goldthorpe (2) secured the points.

Leeds fans really love it when a local lad plays for the club.  In the current team we have Jonny Howson of course.  In that 1920 side thrashing Leicester City there was Ernie Goldthorpe.  He was a centre forward born in Middleton, Leeds on 8th June 1898.  Bad injuries prevented Ernie from fulfilling his potential.  After leaving the army Ernie trained with Spurs but joined Bradford City in June 1919.  Leeds signed him a year later but he was troubled by a serious knee injury and in March 1922 he rejoined Bradford City.  Six months later

he committed perhaps the worst sin any local lad can and went to Manchester United on a free transfer.  Three years later he signed for Rotherham United.

Next week sees a third consecutive derby against another South Yorkshire team - Sheffield United.  They are now managed by Gary Speed.  I hope he gets a good reception from the crowd - I'm sure he will.

Swans Beaten and FA Cup Trouble

Another win after coming from behind - it's already a bad habit this early in the season.  Nevertheless a 2-1 win keeps us in the play off places.  In fact all three promoted sides from Division One are in the play offs - us, Millwal and Norwich.

I get really frustrated with Max Gradel - he tries to be too flash too often.  He should get his head up a bit more often and show more composure otherwise we'll see too many good chances go begging.  The Swansea goal came from yet another slip by Richard Naylor.  I have the same nervous feelings when Naylor is around the ball as I used to get years ago when Chris Whyte and Chris Fairclough were playing for us in the early 1990's.

Goals from Bradley Johnson and Luciano Becchio secured the win today.  Bradley seems to be really consistent so far this season and always seems to give 100%.  Becchio is always likely to score, especially from close range.

Next match is a big derby game against Barnsley at Oakwell on Tuesday.

On this day in 1920 Leeds were away at Leicester City and got a 1-1 draw with a goal from Merton Ellson.  That was the club's fifth game of the season.  So far they had lost three, beaten Port Vale 3-1 (including two goals from Ellson) and got the draw at Leicester.  Three points from a possible ten.

It was a real odd situation for the club in that first season.  Because they were a new league side they had to enter the FA Cup from the qualifying stages.  This meant that some league games had to be played on the same date as FA Cup qualifying matches.  The club decided to play their stongest side in the league games and play the reserves in the FA Cup matches. 

So while the first team were drawing away at Leicester the reserves were playing at Elland Road in the FA Cup qualiyfing rounds against Boothtown (a side from the Halifax district).  The reserve side won 5-2.

However Boothtown reported Leeds to the FA for failing to field their strongest side, pointing out that there should have been a bigger crowd, and therefore more gate money to which they were entitled to a share, had the United first team turned out.  Leeds were fined £50 and ordered to field their strongest side in future.

In the end the club reached a compromise with the FA.  They played their reserve side in the next round against Leeds Steelworks - won 7-0 in front of a 3000 crowd at Elland Road and then promptly withdrew from the competition.  They went straight into the competition at the first round next season.

Over the following 90 years the football authorities have often seemed keen to take tough and unjustified disciplinary action against the club.  Perhaps more about this in future blog posts.

New signings

Well two new signings yesterday.  Adam Clayton on a permanent move from cash rich Manchester City.  He was already with LUFC on loan and made a couple of substitute appearances this season.  Also signed Ramon Nunez - Honduran international who played in the World Cup.

No game this weekend - next match is home against Swansea.  Looking forward to good win.

Another transfer caught my eye - Ian Harte moved from Carlisle to Reading.  He really was a goof left back for us in the O'Leary era.  He scored some wonderful goals from free kicks.  Good luck Ian.

Play off places already

Four games gone and we are in the play off places.  Now I'm not getting carried away, there's a long way to go, it's a marathon not a sprint and we'll take one game at a time - and all that.  But we've had a good start to the season.

I think Richard Naylor needed the goal at Watford on Saturday.  For me he is no long Mr Reliable.  Just being a life long supporter shouldn't guranatee him a place in the team,  Some of his performances towards the end of last season and the start of this one haven't been too impressive.  So maybe the goal on Saturday will keep him in the side - for now.

Transfer window closes tomorrow - wonder if we'll get any late signings.  I would like to see a couple of players added to the squad - midfield and defence.  Once we get Snodgrass back I think that will make a huge difference.  The signing of McCormack from Cardiff was good and adds strength to a not very strong forward line.

First Match

28th August 2010 - my daughter's first wedding anniversary.  Congratulations and lots of love to Jayne and Jamie - wishing you many more happy years together.  Looking forward to the birth of your first baby at the end of September.

28th August 1920 - Leeds United's first match in the football league, 2nd Division.  We lost 2-0 away at Port Vale.  I guess that Leeds United supporters back in 1920 were looking forward to their first win and many more seasons in the football league.

Leeds United 1920/21 Season

Incidentally Port Vale were the club that replaced Leeds City in the   football league when City went out of business the previous season.

Leeds United had been formed in 1919 and played their fist season in the Midland League along with Barnsley, Rotherham Town, Halifax Town, Scunthorpe United and a few other clubs reserve sides.

In that first season United chose to start the campaign in blue and white striped shirts and white shorts.  The team colours changed a few times until the club settled on the famous all white.  The club badge has also been changed regularly and we'll have a look at these in future blogs.

In my blog I want to look back at the club's history, talk about some of the players, relive some of the great memories, tell you about games I have been to, remember the good and bad times and comment on what's happening now.  There are a lot of other Leeds United blogs and forums for fans - I will add links to these over time.  I am going to try to write something each week.  I hope you will find it interesting and sometimes amusing. 

Until I started supporting Leeds United in the 1960's no one from my family had shown much interest in the fortunes of the club.  My brother Trevor also became a supporter but our dad was more of a Leeds Rhino's rugby league man.  Whenever United lost my dad could always be relied on to utter his immortal phrase "bloody mugs".  I think he thought football was a bit of a cissies game.

Over the years we've had some awful players, some mediocre players, some good players and some great players. We've had players from all over the Uunited Kingdom and from across the world.

I think it took a long time for the city to get really interested in the football club - rugby league was well established since the 1860's and the Yorkshire Cricket Club headquarers are in Leeds.

To be honest for the first forty years or so United supporters probably didn't have much to shout about.  That all changed in  the early 1960's and the sleeping giant began to stir.  The next fifty years were much more successful and the club was established as a major force in the game - at home and abroad.  There have been some lean years but the optimism and expectation of the Leeds fans is always enduring.

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