Home
Change
category
"

Becoming a Leeds fan, from Headingley Rugby Voices

I first started supporting Leeds in my late teems when my brother went away to college. Until then I had not really been encouraged to go to matches, despite wanting to travel to Wembley in 1977. I was told that it wasn't really a girl's thing!I thought going instead of him would be a bit of a chore because I had to send a long letter including a full match report, the programme and all the cuttings to Coventry straight afterwards on the Monday morning, but I became a passionate fanatic overnight in my own right. I used to stand with the same crowd in the paddock and gradually we got to know the players socially which added to the enjoyment. Tracey Collins

My initial opinion of Rugby League was tainted because I come from the South. Until 1979, when I met Sue, I had this vision from the television of it always raining, there never being grass on the pitch and it being difficult to tell the teams apart because they were always covered in mud. I came to Leeds and for the first match I went to at Headingley it was drizzling then, all of a sudden, Steve Pitchford ran out and it all seemed to fit the Eddie Waring type of image. At first, because I wasn't used to the flow of the game I thought it was really slow but it didn't take me long to realise that the players were always on the go and the fans' involvement total. Certainly sampling the game first hand changed my opinion of it completely. Jim Munden

There might be many reasons why people go and see Rugby League and Leeds in particular. It can be a family thing carrying on a tradition or because they live near the ground or maybe they’ve got free time on a match day and are curious. Whatever, its like a bug and you fall in love with the game and the team and the surroundings. Once you’re bitten that’s it, you might not go for a very long time but you retain this strong allegiance and fierce bond that you are always prepared to stand up for in any discussion anywhere in the world. Part of that feeling is a real and genuine pride in Headingley and what it stands for. You only need to see Leeds in action there once and you are smitten for life. It’s a badge of identity, you might not go but you never go away. Steve Marshall

Originally published in 'Headingley Rugby Voices' Recollections of supporters, compiled by Phil Caplan.

www.scratchingshedpublishing.com Twitter @scratchingshed2


Follow Sporting Memories Network @sportsmemnet

Memory added on September 18, 2012

Comments (Add your voice)

No comments have yet been added to this memory.

Add a comment

Mark as favourite
Leeds Rugby Foundation are supporting the Leeds Care Homes ProjectLeeds Rugby Foundation are supporting the Leeds Care Homes Project