Rugby League was always something I did with my grandfather.
He lived right next door to Headingley and their garden backed on to the ginnel that ran up to the cricket ground. I used to spend every Saturday with them because my parents were working. Mornings were with my grandma doing baking, shopping and girlie things and in the afternoon it was boys' things because I was the only grandchild, which meant going to the match. I was about seven at the time and it was during the mid-sixties when Leeds has a great side containing the likes of Bev Risman and John Atkinson - who was my hero when I was a kid.
Everyone in the family used to go at some time, even my mum, and my dad was a bit of an expert as he used to play, so we were always talking about the game. We often met cousins or other relatives at Headingley and whenever there was a family occasion talk always used to centre on the fortunes of Leeds Rugby. We still send videos out to places like Hong Kong for those amongst us who can't get to see them play.
We always stood behind the goals at the Western End, opposite to where the players used to run out from the corner of the old pavilion, and were frequently joined by my grandfather's brother. Somehow we were all in it together. I never minded going but I also knew that if I got bored I could always run back round to my grandma's and the same was true of the cricket in the summer.
I've just grown up with Headingley and Leeds always being there. Leading up to Wembley in 1999, we were talking about it at work and my boss said, 'Oh I expect you're just going because it's the final', and I got quite indignant with him and left him in no doubt just how deep-seated my passion for the club is. Nowadays, appearances might be deceptive but I couldn't support anybody else even if I wanted to!
Sue Munden
Originally published in 'Headingley Rugby Voices' Recollections of supporters, compiled by Phil Caplan.
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Memory added on October 22, 2012
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