Burnley v Leeds United | 18th October 2025 | Turf Moor
As we headed to Burnley after the latest international break, I just wanted to thank everyone in the Leeds United family and friends/family for their support on the first anniversary of my husband’s death last Monday. The support is priceless and greatly appreciated.
If you haven’t managed to see the Paris 75 documentary yet, then please do so if you can. I appreciate at the minute there are fans who live abroad and in areas that are not showing the documentary in the UK, who may find this difficult but hoping there will eventually be a way for you to see this. It is very emotional but shows the truth of how we were robbed of our rightful trophy and why we still sing WACCOE – We are the Champions, Champions of Europe 50 years on. I know I’m a glutton for punishment as I have cried at both the showings I’ve been to, but I’ve have booked for the special Q&A session with Paul Reaney and Havey Marcus the producer on 30th October too. Paul Reaney is a star in the documentary so it will be good to hear more from him.
As we were leaving our pub stop in Bury, some Man City fans approached me who recognised me from my pre-match reels on social media. It was nice having a chat about our respective visits to Maine Road (back in the day the worst ground to go to as a Leeds fan alongside Ayresome Park), and their visits to Elland Road. I would like opposition fans to be this way anytime, as they were happy to join me for a photo.
On arrival at the ground by the time I’d made my way through our fans after taking photos and chatting I realised it was only 10 minutes to kick off. It was only after the game that I found out I had been on tv again at some point. It was an extremely poor performance all round for me, so there is not much I can say about the game itself, but I’ll try and put it in some perspective below.
Leeds had the first chance but the overhead kick from Calvert-Lewin was off target. With not being able to hold the ball up and losing the ball easily, it was Burnley who took the lead with a great cross into the box. Despite plenty of our defenders in the box, no one picked up their man who had a free header into the net. We did have a couple of chances to get back into the game. Harrison was unselfish and passed the ball across the box to Aaronson, but his shot was parried by their keeper as the ball went under his body, hit the post and was kicked away. A after we won a free kick after a foul on Gudmundsson at the edge of the box great shot from Stach brought a great save from their keeper. In between these chances it was painful to watch as we were very slow and predictable in our passing across the back. It was no surprise that we went into the break still a goal down.
The second half saw us get into a couple of great positions only to see the shots way off target. The game was put beyond us when Burnley got their second goal, a fantastic long range shot that hit the back of the net despite Darlow’s efforts. Any attempts for Leeds to try and get back into the game were very tame in comparison as it looked like we wouldn’t score in a month of Sundays. We looked more balanced as a team once all the subs had been made but in reality, it was too little too late. The team selection felt all wrong but there again, if Aaronson’s shot had gone in, then we could have been looking at a different game.
In my opinion, we needed three points and a win today to get us back on track, but it was sadly not to be. The team stayed just passed the halfway line as they came to clap us all, but I find it very sad that we don’t have the togetherness that we had at the end of last season. We can have all the possession we like but it’s no good if we are constantly going backwards or sideways. I don’t expect any games to be easy so with West Ham coming to Elland Road on Friday, all we can do is see what happens on the pitch.
See you there, LUFC – Marching on Together!
Read all Heidi’s blogs at followmeandleedsunited.co.uk
Sponsored by Clearwell Pest Control
Leeds lost the game 2-0.
Team: Darlow, Ampadu, Rodon, Gudmundsson, Bogle, Struijk, Aaronson, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin, Longstaff, Stach
Subs: James for Aaronson (66), Nmecha for Harrison (66), Piroe for Stach (73), Tanaka for Ampadu (81)
Attendance: 21,646 (2,460 Leeds Fans)
Referee: Tim Robinson
Booked: Struijk