....to everyone who posted messages of support in response to my health update a couple of days ago.
Your kind words, warmth, compassion and encouragement mean the world to me considering I've been living under the cloud of uncertainty with my my mortality in serious jeopardy for over 2 years. I am profoundly grateful for your good wishes, including those of the two Liverpool supporters who troubled to write a few lines of support. Thank you.
To answer a couple of questions that cropped up in the comments -
Salonika,
I try to have a balanced perspective on everything connected with LUFC. I don't dislike Bamford, Meslier or Farke. There are latterday parallels with all three.
Eddie Gray had a poor injury record which robbed him of many appearances in a Leeds and Scotland shirt over the years. Granted, there was no social media in those days for supporters to vent their spleen but my attitude was, and I'm sure this was the case with many supporters, sympathy for Gray's bad luck and regret that we'd been denied his talent on the field of play. Neither Gray nor Bamford could/can help getting injured any more than I can help having cancer. Excrement happens. The fact that Darren Anderton was known as "Sicknote" tells you everything you need to know about his sorry lot as a footballer.
I try to see things through eyes of the player and how they must be feeling. Ask Stuart Dallas about that and hear to what he has to say. All footballers want to do is play. Anything that prevents that must be, at the least, disappointing, at the worst, a living nightmare.
Regarding Meslier, let's remember that goalkeeping enigma that was Gary Sprake. World class goalkeeper one day, a complete disaster the next - and yet Revie kept faith with him for a full 5 years from the Anfield debacle which gave him his nickname of "Careless Hands", before finally running out of patience with him and replacing him with David Harvey.
This brings me to Daniel Farke. People demand his head on a platter for a variety of reasons. I personally think the club is in very good hands. He's diplomatic, measured, very protective of his players and has fostered a great team spirit. If last season had been a "normal" season, we would have been promoted then. As it is, it wasn't and we weren't, but he's at it again this season. We're top of the Championship, playing good football and no doubt the envy of many clubs below us. How he fares in the PL WHEN we get there time will tell, and that's when the 49ers will need to get involved to give Farke the best chance of bucking his own personal trend of failure in the PL. Is Kieran McKenna suddenly a bad manager at Ipswich after successive promotions only to find his team being eaten alive most weeks in the PL? I have complete faith in Farke. He's no mean psychologist and I trust him with all his decisions, however controversial they may seem. Blowing a personal gasket of indignation isn't going to do me any good and it's ultimately not going to change a single decision he makes. It's pointless. The guy has openly declared he has a special affinity with LUFC - he gets it. We should respect that and let him get on with the job.
As with any manager, there's only so much they can do and the recent draw at Hull when leading 3-1 reminded me of a match I followed on Radio Leeds in 1989. It was our promotion season and we were playing Portsmouth away. We were leading 3-1 until we conceded twice in the last 2 minutes to draw 3-3. The result prevented us from going top. As gutted as I was, I don't recall anyone calling for Wilko's head or supporters demanding that Mervyn Day and his back four be burned at the stake. Excrement happens - move on. For anyone interested in the video report of the match, here it is: -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cMwsytN798
Similarly, after a 29 match unbeaten run, did anyone demand Revie to be sacked because we threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2?
As I said at the beginning, a balanced perspective. Yes, our defence looks shaky at times, our corners and set-pieces leave a lot to be desired, yet in spite of that, we're top scorers in the Championship with the third best defensive record. Wilko's class of 1989/90 didn't win promotion until the final day. I attended every home game and the support throughout the whole season was incredible. That's what support is - through thick and thin, and I personally know the true value of that.
Outwood,
Regarding my band The Side Effects, there are no videos of us in action at the moment - we're very much in our infancy despite a couple of performances in the reception area of Huddersfield Infirmary. Because we're affiliated to MacMillan, any info about us can be found on their Facebook page -
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079463694641
As usual with me, never one word where 20,000 will do
And as Zebedee in The Magic Roundabout said, "Time for bed"
MOT
A Huge Thank You.....
posted on 21/1/25
Inspirational Elland!
posted on 21/1/25
Elland White, not been on for a few days but just read your Personal Update!..
All I can say is good luck, keep up the good work and all the best!..
"Sorry to prattle on so long"
I don't think anyone saw it that way Elland!.
posted on 22/1/25
Good to see you catching up for lost time, Elland. Was that you in the Macmillan photos, holding the guitar? I know you have cancer, but there's no excuse for wearing that jumper .
As for that Portsmouth game, Mervyn Day was stellar for us that season. He saved us far more often than letting them in. Mes is not fit to butter his croissants.
posted on 22/1/25
Superb article EW. Absolutely agree with you about pretty much everything. Rooting for you, buddy
posted on 23/1/25
comment by The heart of Farkeness (U19827)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
Good to see you catching up for lost time, Elland. Was that you in the Macmillan photos, holding the guitar? I know you have cancer, but there's no excuse for wearing that jumper.
As for that Portsmouth game, Mervyn Day was stellar for us that season. He saved us far more often than letting them in. Mes is not fit to butter his croissants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi HoF,
In the photo dated 20 December 2024, I'm on the right in the yellow frame glasses playing the tan coloured bass. The guy with the white electric guitar is normally the vocalist who also has cancer, and the girl at the mic is our percussionist. We swap roles for some songs as we can all play different instruments and sing (allegedly)
Proper bunch of clever d*cks
As for the jumpers, yes, typical Christmas gore!
posted on 23/1/25
comment by 756 .. you don't furke with Farke. (U4879)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
Superb article EW. Absolutely agree with you about pretty much everything. Rooting for you, buddy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Many thanks 756. It is much appreciated
posted on 23/1/25
comment by LufcGermany (U6066)
posted 1 day, 6 hours ago
Elland White, not been on for a few days but just read your Personal Update!..
All I can say is good luck, keep up the good work and all the best!..
"Sorry to prattle on so long"
I don't think anyone saw it that way Elland!.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheers Germany
posted on 23/1/25
comment by Elland White (U8323)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by The heart of Farkeness (U19827)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
Good to see you catching up for lost time, Elland. Was that you in the Macmillan photos, holding the guitar? I know you have cancer, but there's no excuse for wearing that jumper.
As for that Portsmouth game, Mervyn Day was stellar for us that season. He saved us far more often than letting them in. Mes is not fit to butter his croissants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi HoF,
In the photo dated 20 December 2024, I'm on the right in the yellow frame glasses playing the tan coloured bass. The guy with the white electric guitar is normally the vocalist who also has cancer, and the girl at the mic is our percussionist. We swap roles for some songs as we can all play different instruments and sing (allegedly)
Proper bunch of clever d*cks
As for the jumpers, yes, typical Christmas gore!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just seen the photo you're referring to dated 18 December. Once again, I'm on the right. Being cancer patients, we're very close and support each other. He's a lovely guy and multi-talented.
posted on 23/1/25
comment by Elland White (U8323)
posted 45 minutes ago
comment by Elland White (U8323)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by The heart of Farkeness (U19827)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
Good to see you catching up for lost time, Elland. Was that you in the Macmillan photos, holding the guitar? I know you have cancer, but there's no excuse for wearing that jumper.
As for that Portsmouth game, Mervyn Day was stellar for us that season. He saved us far more often than letting them in. Mes is not fit to butter his croissants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi HoF,
In the photo dated 20 December 2024, I'm on the right in the yellow frame glasses playing the tan coloured bass. The guy with the white electric guitar is normally the vocalist who also has cancer, and the girl at the mic is our percussionist. We swap roles for some songs as we can all play different instruments and sing (allegedly)
Proper bunch of clever d*cks
As for the jumpers, yes, typical Christmas gore!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just seen the photo you're referring to dated 18 December. Once again, I'm on the right. Being cancer patients, we're very close and support each other. He's a lovely guy and multi-talented.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shall we just call you 'reindeer'?
posted on 23/1/25
comment by The heart of Farkeness (U19827)
posted 6 hours, 6 minutes ago
comment by Elland White (U8323)
posted 45 minutes ago
comment by Elland White (U8323)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by The heart of Farkeness (U19827)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
Good to see you catching up for lost time, Elland. Was that you in the Macmillan photos, holding the guitar? I know you have cancer, but there's no excuse for wearing that jumper.
As for that Portsmouth game, Mervyn Day was stellar for us that season. He saved us far more often than letting them in. Mes is not fit to butter his croissants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi HoF,
In the photo dated 20 December 2024, I'm on the right in the yellow frame glasses playing the tan coloured bass. The guy with the white electric guitar is normally the vocalist who also has cancer, and the girl at the mic is our percussionist. We swap roles for some songs as we can all play different instruments and sing (allegedly)
Proper bunch of clever d*cks
As for the jumpers, yes, typical Christmas gore!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just seen the photo you're referring to dated 18 December. Once again, I'm on the right. Being cancer patients, we're very close and support each other. He's a lovely guy and multi-talented.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shall we just call you 'reindeer'?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been called worse