Yeah. Great question. And I suspect we have all been thinking about it in one way or another this week. Its why so many of us who have been scarce about here of late are showing up.
I think my answers are likely different than the rest of you. Living in San Diego on the left coast of a continent that is on the left side of an Ocean that is an island away from England means my connection to Leeds United is a bit different ... But why I love Leeds United is intimately connected to my love for the game. I've only been to Elland Road twice -- and that only recently -- so it can't be the ground. But Leeds has been my team since I was a child. I've only met other Leeds fans fairly recently -- so it can't be the fans. The Leeds I fell in love with was the Revie teams, and as you say they're all gone from the pitch and some from the planet. So it can't be that. The Club? Like you say: what, exactly, is that? For me, Leeds IS the game. It is a particular way of playing. It is hard, unyielding, a certain amount of creative flair. I can't quite describe it but, like Justice Potter Stewart said about pornography, "I know it when I see it." It is why we all knew that Smithy was Leeds. Michael Gardiner San Diego Whites In a message dated 5/1/2007 7:35:51 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Message: 5 > Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 15:06:46 +0100 > From: "Steve Gillen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [LU] LU: Why do I Love LUFC? (Long) > To: "LUFC" <[email protected]> > Message-ID: > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > 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 > ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. _______________________________________________ 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
