Engelsk gjesteskribent: Gary Edwards skriver for TPN

EKSKLuSIVT FOR TPN!

After the disappointment of missing out on promotion last season, it is vital that Leeds united get off to a good start and hopefully gain automatic promotion.

The pre-season tour was quite successful and the 3 game tour of Ireland was good for the team and fans alike. Many thousands of Leeds fans from Ireland, North and South, and from the UK were in attendance at all the games, and believe me, over the ten days, the sales of Guinness must have rocketed through the roof!

In Galway for the first game, there was an arts festival taking place with street artists such as comedians, musicians, singers and magicians everywhere. One that caught my eye was a man wearing a white hat and playing a guitar – a cardboard guitar! He also had a cardboard dog and he was selling cardboard CD’s. As I walked past he called me over and handed me a second cardboard guitar. He then gave me a plastic plectrum and we sang a duet. Only a few yards down from him was a guitarist, a brilliant guitarist, but his moneybox was no way as full as the ‘Cardboard Man’s’ was.

After a 2-0 win in Galway Leeds headed for the east coast and the seaside town of Bray. Once again a huge army of Leeds fans greeted them. There was a summer festival going on and the seaside was full of bands playing music and fairground rides. After being 2 goals down United fought back to notch up a 3-2 win before heading north to Shelbourne’s Tolka Park, just outside Dublin. It was a disappointing 1-1 draw, but the Guinness soon had Leeds fans in a good mood again.

Back in England saw Leeds heading south to Barnet and two superb goals by Andy Robinson and Jonny Howson gained Leeds an impressive win. Another disappointing draw, this time at Darlington followed, but a brilliant 4-1 victory over First Division Belgians, Dender at Elland Road saw Leeds back on track for the League opener at Scunthorpe. Heavy rain greeted us all as we crammed into the small Glanford Park stadium. Completely out-singing the home fans, Leeds fans roared the team on but it was Scunthorpe who took the lead early in the second half. Thankfully it was a lead that only lasted a few minutes when Enoch Showunmi headed home his first goal for the club. With ten minutes remaining David Prutton’s shot rattled the bar and Jermaine Beckford drove home the rebound to give Leeds all three points.

Lets hope that this is the start of a successful season. C’mon Leeds!.

Cheers 4 now, Gary.