I have been pondering a lot over the last few days about Leeds United - as I suspect all of us on this list have, and I have started to wonder just what is it about this club that I love so much that I feel the pain I do at the moment?
It's easy to take the snide jokes at work, and even join in them a bit to show you are a "good sport" and more likely to show that they cannot get to you, you are a man, you are not upset about it, it's only a game, etc etc But...... Deep down I am suffering real pain that my beloved club have been relegated to the 3rd division (call it whatever fancy schmancy name you like - it is the 3rd division!), I am constantly thinking of it and doing loads of the "what if?" scenarios in my head. So why is this? What is it that make me love - and yes I believe love is the right word for the feelings I have for Leeds United. So I tried to break it down to find what it is.... The Team Not really - The team I first saw way back at my first game (Revie was only a few weeks into the job) is no more, in fact many of them have passed on. Later teams have instilled the same passion in me when watching them an interacting with them (Glyn Snodin doing the Leeds "salute" (lets bring that back can we?) to the Kop for example), no matter what the personnel changes. What about the current team then? Well they play in white and are based at Elland road so of course I support them, but if they all F***ed off tomorrow (and many most likely will) then I transfer my support and passion to their replacements with hardly a look back. so it can't be the team then can it. The Ground Naah - Couldn't really give a shit - nice to have a nice place, nice to remember "the shed" (but would I want it back? - no not really!), but if we moved to a more modern stadium (Think Sunderland - stadium of Light type place) I would be just as happy, so a regular same place is not "it" - maybe it's the regular people around me - nope, not that either as I haven't had a season ticket for quite a while now and only go to selected matches when funds allow (Grrrrr) and mostly I haven't a clue who the guy is next to me. The City of Leeds Hmmm, there is an element of this in it for me, as I was brought up here and have lived here all my life - but I don't "love" Leeds Rhino's in the slightest - nice to see them win, will always hope they beat the others, but I don't really care. So that's not it either. The Club Itself Well what is the club? A collection of football teams (1st team, reserves, junior team, ladies team etc) a ground and some offices. A local employer of ground staff and laundry ladies as well a part time employer of various stewards and turnstile operators etc. I suppose if I think about it (and I really have!), I don't really care about the business that is Leeds United any more than I do about another Leeds based company - Asda for example. But I DO - I care deeply about each and every one of these things because...... Well because as a whole they are Leeds United. The ONLY reason I can come up with is..... The Fans - yes, you lot, and many hundreds and thousands more like you. When I am amongst you all, and I have my Leeds shirt on, and you yours. And whether we are back in the 70's with scarves tied to our wrists, or are dressed in suits eating prawn sandwiches in a private box, we are a clan, we are all of a same mind, a band of brothers "for he today who sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother, be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition". In other words we shall endure a win or a loss together and feel the surge of joy when we score, or the gloom of despondency when scored against - TOGETHER. So thank you guys - *you* are the reason I have passion for Leeds United, and thank goodness for it, because without it, my life would have been that much less exciting. Marching On Together Steve Gillen _______________________________________________ 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
