A Message of Defiance

And so we enter a critical and defining 7 days in the history of LUFC.

Personally, whatever happens, I was, am, and always will be proud of the players who wear the white shirt. They may not live up to expectations, which are always high, due in part to our rich and successful history of the last 50 or 60 years, but they enter the field of play with a hope, passion and desire to do well for their family - the LUFC family.

Football is a game of emotions - it can take you to the highest high and the lowest low, sometimes all within the same game.

When my own mortality was in serious jeopardy, it was family that kept me going, and my spirits up. Like any family, there are disagreements, arguments, criticisms, frustration and anger, but there are also good times - love, celebrations of successes, support and empathy. Ultimately, you stay together through thick and thin. It's the same with the LUFC family. We stick together whatever.

I have lost sight of the above through the intensity of my support for LUFC, and my desire for the team to do well. I suppose when we're angry at the way things are going, it's paradoxically the most obvious sign that we care, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's no different to a parent berating a child for some innocent misdemeanour. It may come across as negative, but it's ultimately well meaning.

Whichever league we finish up in next Sunday, we all know that we will continue to back our team with unconditional love and support. It's how we are wired - it's how all football fans are wired.

I've come to terms with our possible relegation, but because we've been away from the PL for so long, in a strange way, returning to the Championship almost feels like going home after rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy. If we survive, I hope that we can learn the lessons of this season as a way forward for future prosperity. If we go down, I look forward to getting stuck into some battles and winning some matches - something which we've frequently struggled to do at PL level.

Finally, seeing Jonty on YouTube suddenly brought home to me that none of us are simply keyboards. We are all people behind a slab of plastic and/or metal sharing views and expressing opinions. I realise that many of us will not be based locally (to Leeds), but personally, I think it would be brilliant to have the opportunity to meet up somewhere centrally to talk about all things LUFC. Perhaps this has already happened, or happens on a regular basis - I don't know. It's just a thought but I think it would help to humanise our online exchanges and foster a more empathetic understanding between us, especially considering that our exchanges can be personally acerbic. Putting a face to the name can make a big difference.

I've strayed from the title of the article somewhat, but I hope you can all embrace the spirit of the content and realise that whatever views we may hold regarding the team, the change of head coach, or the owners, we are all on the same side and yearn for the same thing - the well-being of a football club we are all passionately in love with - Leeds United.

Bring on Sunday - come what may.

MOT