Well we'd all been buoyed up by Saturday afternoon - the atmosphere in The Palace when we scored the winner was absurdly brilliant. Driving South on Sunday listening to the radio you would have thought we'd won the cup (any cup, even an A cup playtex).
Sunday evening embedded with the outres of Colchester Garrison, the main question was "are the Leeds up for it?" Naturally we spouted the usual mantra of tomorrow's just another game etc. Those of us who were humiliated in 1971 secretly harboured the hopes of a straight forward win. So what transpired? Well let's deal with mior detail. A drop off in Colliechester near a cash point results in nae brass because the locals have emptied it (probably for a day out in Braintree - don't ask) Wiggy sends the usual obscene text message. We then descend on pub one where we enjoy two Chas and Dave look alikeys banging out sixties specials in a pub car park. Thank you Colchester..... A quick trudge into the town takes two bashes at holes in ye walls before we get more DVs. We then regroup at the Fat Cat with Professor English of the Mekons Cycling list. Yet more Colchester fans quiz us re our current form, this is indeed their cup final. For some reason these quaint Essex folk think that Leeds are a big club, a force to be reckoned with and who are we to disabuse them of this deservedly weird idea?????? Especially when the bold Dennis and his chaps are out there to prove it to them? A quick stroll and we are inside one of England & St George's truly eccentric pieces of sporting architecture. Layer Road. Let's keep it alive. Object to their new stadium plans now. Their fans would appreciate any help you can give to keep 1936 alive. This is true, most of the people around me thought that German re-armament was a myth. So two teams trundle out on to the turf. Wisey was wearing his lucky "vision in beige" jumper and Poyet looked unusually tall in the dugout. Well if I tell you the first half was boring then you'll easily believe it when I tell you that when I went for a wazz, I repaired a cistern in the bogs (that'll be £30 please Mr Colchester). On the field Leeds looked vaguely competent and I think Gray did a fair job in defence and the lads spent a fair amount of time in the oppo's half but er, that was it. Second Half Leeds got all frisky, to the point that Douglas got a yellow card after four (according to ref Wiley's fingers) offenses and er, Leeds scored a goal. Bloody marvelous eh? Then they proved that they couldn't produce a Pudsey finish in a tart's bedroom and that a team that wanted to win could score two nae bother. BUT! Leeds did look something like a team, as opposed to 40 or so mates hanging around a football job centre, so that's a good thing. Well it would be if we hadn't wasted so much of the season already. And when you hear all these people telling you that we were saved by Bates you wonder just how much light actually needs to be shed on our current situation before people realise just exactly where we are, who we are and where we are heading. Seeing The red card at the end of the match (plus the disappearance of Wise) made me wonder just why some of these people dare to wear the shirt. (Having said that - post Alan Smith how many ever? To my mind the only person fit is the supporter) The Leeds mascots won the penalty shoot out 6-3 - pride! And don't even ask me about the shed..... Post match drinking in the town produced a lot of sympathy, especially from people who had revelled in LUFC in Europe. And just think the programme contained an insert - a facsimile of a certain match programme from 1971. Ah bugger it, home via the offy to watch the wonderful film, Pierrepoint and then to bed with Damned United. I love being Leeds me. Betty _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist it's a God awful small affair
