This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Thank you for your interest in this story

To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week

    Already a subscriber? Log in here.

    22

    Jul 2020

    Last Updated: 22/07/2020
    Sport
    Sport

    Harrogate Leeds United fans prepare for Premier League

    by Calvin Robinson

    | 22 Jul, 2020
    Comment

    0

    Leeds United supporters in Harrogate celebrated the club ending 16 years outside the Premier League this past weekend and will see the Whites lift their first trophy in 28 years tonight.

    harrogatewhites
    Harrogate and District Leeds United Supporters group.

    After 16 years outside English football’s top flight, Leeds United fans in Harrogate are preparing for a return to the Premier League and a first piece of silverware in 28 years.

    The Whites confirmed promotion last Friday after an Emile Smith Rowe goal in the 86th minute for Huddersfield Town defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1.

    Less than 24 hours later, United clinched the title without kicking a ball as third-placed Brentford lost to Stoke City.

    For Lai Lam, branch member and publicity officer at Harrogate and District Leeds United Supporters group, the moment on Friday night was special.

    “I got loads of messages about going down to Elland Road but I’m trying to be responsible so stayed away.
    “I saw the footage of the ones who did though, then saw the team on the steps of the East Stand on Facebook. It was brilliant.”


    The supporters group, which was formerly Knaresborough branch until 1996, has around 150 paid members and usually follows the club home and away.



    Read more: 



    • Council considers £47m redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre

    • Hospital parking to remain free for NHS workers





    Miss Lam, a season ticket holder for 30 years, joined the branch for the 1995/96 season and saw United relegated to the Championship at Bolton in 2004. She said:

    “Most of us realised we were going down but we didn't realise it was only the start of the rot that took us even lower.”


    After a play-off final defeat to Watford in 2006, United dropped into the third tier for the first time in the club’s history the following season.

    https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1284470294263083008

    Promotion back to the second division in 2010 was a ray of hope in dark times. But the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as head coach in 2018 proved to be the catalyst for a return to the Premier League.

    Now, Miss Lam and fellow branch members are itching to get back into the ground to see the team for the first time since March. She said:

    “We play some of the best football I’ve have seen in years. I'm looking forward to seeing how Bielsa's ways work in the Premier League. 
    “The man is a genius. He’s completely transformed football in two short years.
    “When we can get into the grounds it'll be great to see the atmosphere that our fans generate.”


    Before that though, there is a small matter of lifting the Championship trophy, which United will be presented with following the Charlton game tonight.

    Amid the pandemic, football fans have been forced to watch their teams away from the stadiums. Instead, Miss Lam will celebrate the Whites’ first piece of silverware since 1992 at home with friends. 

    “It has ruined what should have been a fantastic end to the season. This is the first year the players and the club have been so approachable and we could really have enjoyed it with them.
    “But we're promoted with the best points tally for ages.”