City Dweller LEEDS UNITED
LEEDS UNITED MADE A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT ADEL PRIMARY SCHOOL.
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson, his first team squad, and World Cup winner Norman Hunter made a surprise appearance at Adel Primary School in last month to spread the word about the City Region’s bid to be a host city at the 2018 World Cup, should England be successful. They were there to celebrate the launch of a DVD produced by Leeds United, in association with Leeds City Council, aimed at promoting the Back The Bid Leeds campaign in schools. The DVD is being distributed to over 300 schools in the area and Adel was the launch venue. The players and management even arrived on a specially branded Back The Bid bus. After watching the DVD with the pupils, the players signed autographs and chatted the children, and the manager said it was an enjoyable afternoon. “It’s been good,” said Grayson. “It’s something worthwhile and backing the bid is important to the city and the club. Coming to a school is good because the players realise the children contribute to their wages and support them, and it’s good for the kids to meet their heroes. “It’s important to get involved with the community like this.” Former Leeds school pupil Jonny Howson proved a popular attraction for the kids and he said the players enjoyed the experience. “It’s good to come back to the schools and it’s nice for the kids,” he said. “I know what it’s like being a young lad getting autographs and I always make time for that. All the lads did and it was enjoyable meeting the kids.
UNITED LEAD THE WAY Leeds United ended the month of October by blazing a trail at the top of League One. A 12-game unbeaten league start came to an end when United were felled by old rivals Millwall on October 24 - but Simon Grayson’s men responded by thrashing Bristol Rovers 4-0 on their own patch just three days later. The 4-0 success was United’s most comprehensive away league win for over six years, and the club’s promotion campaign is gathering in strength as each week passes by. “It’s been a great start,” said manager Simon Grayson. “I’m sure most other teams in the league would have taken the start we’ve had, but now we have to build on that. “We came back from our first defeat with a terrific performance at Bristol Rovers and we raised the bar even higher with the standards we showed.
“The most important thing is getting the votes for the bid. It would give the city a massive lift if we could bring the World Cup here. It’s a big sporting city and for the World Cup to come would top it off.”
“Promotions aren’t won in October, they are won in May and it’s where you are then that counts. We’ve given ourselves the start, now we have to continue.”
Adel headteacher Stephen Boothroyd said the visit had created a real buzz around school during the week.
Jermaine Beckford, who became the first Leeds player to bag 30 goals in a season for almost 40
“There was a buzz all week from the pupils and the staff,” he said. “They’ve been talking about it all week, and the players went and sat with them on the floor during assembly which was great.
years last term, has again started in fine form and after scoring a last-minute winner against Norwich at Elland Road he scored his ninth and 10th goals of the season at Bristol Rovers. “Jermaine is a quality striker,” added Grayson. “You only have to look at his goal against Norwich in the last-minute. Other players had turned their backs, but he was there, waiting, and he was rewarded for keeping going right to the last.” TICKETS are now on sale to Members for the home game against Huddersfield Town on December 5 (12.15pm). The East Stand Upper will be opened priced at Adults £26, Senior Citizens £16 and Juniors £12 (equivalent to North Stand prices for the Category A game). Tickets are currently only available to Members online, but tickets are available from Monday via all usual sales channels until Saturday November 14. Tickets will go on general sale from Monday November 16. Fans are advised to book early for the game. Full details are available on www.leedsunited.com.
TO VOTE FOR LEEDS TO BE ONE OF THE HOST CITIES FOR THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP VISIT WWW.BACKTHEBIDLEEDS.COM
“We feel privileged that they visited us - and Norman Hunter as well who has been a great ambassador and we were honoured to be a part of it. “We would like Leeds as a host city to host World Cup games Being from the city myself I think it would be great for the city and would give us a buzz.” To register your support visit www.backthebidleeds.com
Buy tickets online at www.leedsunited.com or call 0871 334 1992 City Dweller | 31