Marching On Together

Durly wrote:My memory is very sketchy but, as I remember it, I was about 4 years old and we lived in Barnstaple, North Devon. My parents and three siblings had moved down there from Derbyshire (which is where my parents are from) before I was born, in about 1960. We had family staying and The Big Match was on (I think). Telly was black and white, so the only "colour" that stood out as anything other than a differing shade of grey, was white. Everyone got talking about football and someone (could have been my uncle or grandad, or possibly my older brother.....they were all Derby County fans, although only my uncle was really that serious about it......I seem to recall my brother had a brief dalliance with the Summerbee, Bell, Lee Man City team) said "I can't stand Leeds. Dirty team". I asked "are they the team that play in all white?" The answer came back in the affirmative and I said something like "I've seen them play on the telly a few times and they look brilliant". Not long afterwards we got ourselves a colour telly and the first game I remember watching on it was the 1972 Cup Final. I remember watching it and willing Leeds to go on and beat Arsenal. I was thrilled to bits after the game and still remember vividly being in huge admiration of Mick Jones as he gingerly ascended the steps to the royal box, wincing in pain at the dislocated elbow he received in the dying seconds of the game. From that moment on, I was a Leeds fan. Even though I was only 4 and a half, I followed our results and lapped up any chance I got to see us on the TV.
My Mother maintains that the following year I was inconsolable after Sunderland did us in the Cup Final. She claims I cried but I don't think I did. No disgrace but, much as I love football, there are other, more serious things to shed tears over.
Peter Lorimer was my hero, my idol, my footballing God. A colossus with the hardest shot in football. All I wanted back then was to be able to strike the ball as hard as him.

I never actually got to see us play in the flesh until 1977 or 78 (I should remember the exact year but I don't). All my older siblings had left home and flown the nest and I was left an "only child" with Mum and Dad. My Father had suffered from ill health and lost his gardening job at the Saunton Sands Hotel, so we upped sticks and moved to Cambridgeshire. One of the lads at the local school was an Ipswich fan and his birthday treat with a handful of friends (including myself) was a trip to Portman Road to see Ipswich entertain the mighty Leeds. The whole game was a blur. I could hardly believe it was real. Leeds won 1-0. I seem to recall Trevor Cherry got the winner but I wouldn't swear to it.
For my birthday that year I received the full, white Admiral home kit - shirts, shorts and socks, in itchy material with the little, yellow Admiral badges down the sleeves. I remember wearing it at play times (the school had a no uniform policy) and screaming "HANKIN" at the top of my voice every time I took a shot.

The job my Dad had been promised never materialised and, after a couple of years, we moved back to Devon, where my Mum and most of my family still live now. My Dad passed away a few years ago, sadly.
I managed a few trips to see Leeds in the 80's once I was earning money from a weekend job whilst at 6th form college but I only really started to go with any frequency once I moved out and headed to London to go to university.

My Mum still talks to me about football on the phone and about how Leeds and Derby are both faring. She's having a lot more to smile about than me this season. She says every year "is there any chance that Derby and Leeds could both go up this season?" Not something you'd hear from your typical DCFC fan, as they seem to have some weird, unreciprocated hatred of us.

Woodywhite wrote:About 1983 for me, I would have been 7 - My Dad and Grandad took me to ER - I think it was Birmingham and we got beat 3-1, I still have the ticket somewhere. As a Leeds lad, I was never going to be allowed to follow anybody else. Same goes for my boys now - Eldest (9) went to his first game against Hartlepool shortly after told me he wanted to support Man City - He was told in no uncertain terms that he wasn't allowed to and thankfully he is now Leeds through and through.... It is difficult for him though, seeing all of his 'favourite' players getting sold year in year out, I don't actually think he knows who to have has his favourite

Woodywhite wrote:About 1983 for me, I would have been 7 - My Dad and Grandad took me to ER - I think it was Birmingham and we got beat 3-1, I still have the ticket somewhere. As a Leeds lad, I was never going to be allowed to follow anybody else. Same goes for my boys now - Eldest (9) went to his first game against Hartlepool shortly after told me he wanted to support Man City - He was told in no uncertain terms that he wasn't allowed to and thankfully he is now Leeds through and through.... It is difficult for him though, seeing all of his 'favourite' players getting sold year in year out, I don't actually think he knows who to have has his favourite

Billy Wizz wrote:Cripes-imagine your first game being v the likes of Hartlepool.Usually its Scum or Liverpool!

Dr.Leeds wrote:
Away at Grimsby in my case...

Osprey wrote:I've only just joined the forum but I've supported Leeds since October 7, 1967. On that day we beat Chelsea 7-0.