Now we are back to normal, here is the September 2026 update / monthly branch meeting minutes.

Monthly branch Meeting

The Chairman opened the branch meeting with it’s new start time of 6pm. This change from the old 8pm meeting time was discussed at the last branch meeting. It was decided that there was never a particular reason for the 8pm time. 6pm kick off meant that even though The Chairman would have to change his usual Sunday teatime, it may be easier for the further flung branch members to attend.

Minutes from LUSC exec

The Secretary read out the minutes from the LUSC exec meetings. There has been much debate about the changes in the home ticket sales. It was pointed out that this would affect families in the main who are in different categories for the sale. i.e if parents are in the priority group but their children are newer members, this would mean they would struggle to all be seated together. The difference between consultation and just disseminated information was discussed. All are in agreement that there is disappointment across the board about how this has been implemented and the lack of actual consultation.

Wilko 92 fundraising. In the current difficult economic climate, it has been a bit of a struggle to raise funds for the statue. This has been impacted by lots of events involving the title winning ex players, but not necessarily contributing to the fund itself. LUSC are discussing with Dave Tomlinson ways in which the LUSC can assist with organising events etc.

Concerns raised re booking parking at ER and parking / travel in general to home games due to pre booked cashless system.

New branch in Rothwell – Angel Whites welcomed.

Interbranch transfers were discussed

Memberships

Good response so far. Almost 100 renewals, which is good considering it’s school holidays still and people are away. We will aim to meet up with the Membership Secretary for a curry next week or so to retrieve the forms and cards which have not got a stamped self addressed envelope. New enquiries / members all the time now from the website.

Treasurer

£20 paid for website updates (see AOB).

Made a surplus over the two Forest games, but hefty deficit at Brighton. But the bank still looking good.

Away travel

Like several other organisations, insufficient demand has meant that the usual coach travel to Chelski in the League Cup has been abandoned. Diesel costs (and therefore coach costs) and time off work etc (especially after long away to Brighton) have impacted the decision. As with last season any branch members who have asked for assistance to this game have been signposted to other official LUSC branches. We will continue to try run / organise official branch coach travel to all away games this season. As has happened frequently in the past when we weren’t very good etc, we will be sharing with other LUSC branches to make sure official LUSC travel is available to all branch members.

A.O.B

We have banned an individual for failing to honour a coach booking.

Steve Smith discussed Scottish clubs seemingly being the best choice for the card.

The future of website was discussed at length. The website is now 12+ years old and realistically no one thought it would still be going. However, it has proved very successful in increasing our profile in Harrogate and resulted in quite a few new members. There is s steady stream of enquiries throughout the season and it was decided that we should continue with it. It needs updating as it is an old format. Pricing was discussed, and it was decided that the branch should go ahead and look to getting the updates required to continue for another few years at least.

The return to a London Weekender was discussed.

Facebook Closed group / email list

In the next few weeks the closed group will be reviewed. Currently the closed group is used to disseminate information re away travel / ticket sale dates / meetings / raffles etc.  It also updates people who are not attending games to where the games can be watched. We will look to changing the way away travel information is made available to reduce duplication and ensure the correct information goes to the correct individuals. The email list etc. does tend to get cluttered as does facebook and it does become quite time consuming. We also get many many requests to join the closed group and restricting it to just branch members may need to be changed. It will go through a trial revamping period.

Cheers to the new season from the Chairman

 

After a little while away (not of his own making), by popular demand… drum roll please… and he’s back.

Chairman Charley Returns

……and he’s back. This is a bit like The Saint, when Ian Ogilvy took over from Roger Moore as The Saint in The Saint Returns. Cue that 70’s music.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=769109809423568

This edition is a corker. Combining the Chairman’s infinite wisdom for a refreshing take on some of football’s current affairs and more. You want topics dissecting – you’ve come to the right place!

The Bad Guys

Chairman Charley: Have you ever noticed how some evil people in real life look like baddies from telly?

Comms: Eh?

Chairman Charley: You look at that Infantino bloke. The one that’s messing up football. He looks just like the baldy bad guy off Thunderbirds.

Comms: You mean The Hood

Chairman Charley: Yes, The Hood could be Infantino. He’s really evil. Trying to muck up the game. Playing four quarters and then a half time show. Stupid idea. The best bit about that was Shakira, the rest was rubbish. Fancy doing that, messing up our game. Plus, he’s the one that banned a normal club flag from being at the World Cup.

Comms: Eh?

Chairman Charley: Look it up. They banned Barrows’ flag because it had a picture of a submarine on it. And it was only a picture. It wasn’t a sign declaring war or invading or anything. Just a normal picture.

Comms: Duly done . https://www.facebook.com/FootballAwayDaysClub/posts/-barrow-afcs-flag-was-reportedly-denied-entry-to-englands-game-against-croatia-b/1870831713836924/

Oh yeah. W***ker

Best Song Ever written

***warning this will be a recurrent theme, especially when Steve Smith is on the bus***

Comms: So what is the best song ever written?

Steve Smith: I don’t know why you are even bothering to ask? The survey has already be done several times, and that local today – he knew

Chairman Charley: Only because you told him the first words were “Life On ”

Comms: and then you had to go all pictionary and tell him the last word was a popular chocolate bar in a black wrapper…..

Steve Smith: Irrelevant

Chairman Charley: Have you got any 10cc songs in your top 10 list?

….. lots of discussion about how many actual songs are in Steve’s Top 10 best songs. Currently standing at Life On Mars, Hotel California, Champagne Supernova and then another 20 songs

Apples

Chairman Charley: Did you know this was where bramley apples were invented?

Comms: Eh?

Chairman Charley: It was. This was where bramley apples were invented. Look it up. That’s why there are bramley apple trees everywhere.

Comms: Duly done. https://her.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/whats-new/the-story-of-the-bramley-apple Oh yeah.

Genuinely, The Chairman is a minefield of information. and yes, he’s back

 

Happy New Season folks!

We’re back!

Happy New Season. What a way to start! New keeper in, old keeper out – literally OUT! Several other new signings to boot. The “Exciting New” stadium (like the “Magnificient New East Stand” in 1993) already underway. Pre season in USA and the Boyle Cup game in Ireland at the fantastic venue of Croke Park! Let’s hope that our involvement in the Boyle Cup lasts a little longer than the doomed Whyte and Mackay Cup in the 2000s. If you weren’t around then, it lasted one game! Hibs away.

Although work and family commitments meant I couldn’t attend, Croke Park would have been a ground to see. Ancestral home and HQ of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) , Gaelic football and hurling. From humble beginnings in 1884 as the Jones’ Road sports ground, bought by the GAA in 1913 and renamed in honour of Archbishop Thomas Croke in 1913. Home of THE famous Rule 42. No foreign sport should ever be played on it’s (GAA) properties. Eventually amended in 2005 to allow other sports like rugby and other football by GAA Congress. Following the ban on it’s members being allowed to attend other sports being lifter earlier in the 20th century.

The Secretary has been there to watch a couple of Gaelic (proper) football games at the old Croke Park before it’s massive redevelopment. Games permitting, I’d like to go there and watch a game one day.

Back to it

After a prolonged time away, not of my own making,  the season starts this weekend, at an away game at 3pm! Yes, I said it. 1st game of the season, away, 3pm on a Saturday. Woo hoo! Happy New Season!

Cup game away (boo) at the same ground three days later, and then the announcement of three changes Arse away 12.30pm (but at least still on a Saturday), Sc*m at home 2pm on the Sunday and the Mackems away now 4.30pm on the Sunday. Not quite a happy new season. But this won’t be the last intervention of the true Gods of Football, SkyTVisf**kings**t, BT or TNT as they are now called, and Amazon. Depending on how we get on in both the League and the Cups (both Cups with any luck), they’ll be more changes afoot. The BBC and ITV will also get in on the conversation, sooner rather than later. Give it a few more years, and it’ll be Netflix too.

Happy New Start

The branch is now in it’s 31st year as the Harrogate & District Leeds United Supporters Club. The Harrogate branch itself has been in existence since the 80s in some form or another. Initially just as arranged transport for away games. Morphing into home (some choice visits to the Kirkstall Lights!!!) and away travel (including European travel +/- UF tours) and then more recently (2000) just away travel.

Patterning really how Leeds United, and generally football, has changed over the last 40 years or so. In the beginning, League football started small and local. A bit of a niche sport in the 80s, only certain groups of people were attracted to the terraces. Hardly any games sold out in those days. That was with pay on the gate as well. Plus, it wasn’t accessible unless you were there or read the papers. TV companies got involved in 90s, money got into the game in Europe early 2000s, global exploitation followed. The rest is history.

The old beginnings

However, this 25 year period has been the longest consistent one. The current Secretary, in fact Committee, has now been in place since 2000 and is the longest consistent core Committee the branch has ever had.

People (Committee members as well as branch members) have flitted in and out since the 80s. Moreover, as with any organisation, people grow older, priorities change, work changes and money obviously comes into it. People move to other towns, people emigrate to other countries, and family life comes first. On (double!) relegation in 2000s  we lost a lot of members. During the Bielsa years and when we got promoted, we acquired more and we’ve had some old faces return. There are also differences in opinion which can cause division. It happens. We learn and move on.

Everyone has got to start somewhere

I genuinely thought in 1993 that eventually I would grow up, so I needed to enjoy everything while it lasted. I threw everything, money, annual leave, my liver (!) into those glory years after promotion. I’d just finished at uni and managed to scrape a few home and aways in within the limits of my student grant before I splashed out on my first season ticket.  For those of you who don’t know what a student grant was I’ll explain. Grants were what we got from the Government if we were academically clever enough to go to uni but our parents couldn’t afford it. I qualified with a 2.2 (Desmond), got a job that summer and bought my first season ticket with my first pay cheque. I joined the branch years later in 96 and basically, I’m still here. Never grown up then!

Back to the old days

To give you a bit of insight, in 80’s Thatcher’s Britain education was different. At 16 you either were clever enough to do O levels or not, so you took CSEs instead. If you did O levels and you could hack staying in school a bit longer, you went to Sixth form. If you did CSEs, you went onto college to do a B Tec or HND (Kitson / Park Lane if you lived in Leeds) or got learnt a trade and got a job. In Sixth form, you chose 3 subjects and were forced to do General Studies. By the time you did your mocks, you’d been to the careers officer who advised you whether to try for a place at uni or just aim low and go for a polytechnic.

Leeds Poly? Great place! I eventually got to Uni, worked my rear end off. Still some great gigs at the Poly though when I could afford it. But at that time, The Duchess was better!

Back to it

Anyway, like anyone embarking on any adventure, you’re always a bit hesitant at the start. Football was and still is, an adventure. My first away was quite a start! This is another story, for another time. But, the branch has always been very welcoming, to many waifs and strays. Everyone has to start somewhere. Once I started going, I got used to seeing the same faces week in week out, and I knew that I was hooked. The same faces meant consistency and more importantly, they had your back, as you looked after your own at away grounds. Whatever you got up to! So once again I’ll say, Happy New Season to all current and potential new members. I hope this is a new start for all of you.

Keeping it real  

The pattern is the same with the Leeds United fan base. There’s a fortunate few who have been able to afford season tickets /  away season tickets for 30+ years. Season tickets were not essential until recently. Remember in the Cellino years, in 2016 season ticket holders were offered the 15,000 ST renewals by June, top 6 place or 50% back?

We came 16th (?) I think and we got our refund, but only 25% as 15,000 eventually renewed. For the unbelievers https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/how-many-season-tickets-will-leeds-united-sell-by-sunday-and-how-much-will-fans-get-back-if-they-dont-make-play-offs-1794153

These lucky souls are what makes up the core of the (certainly away) fanbase. In 1993 we barely had mobile phones, let alone UHD camera phones capable of making small movies. Thanks to T’Internet, every single minute of matchday is now captured and plastered all over social media for the whole world to see. People who we only ever saw on Saturday at football or in the pub are now superstar super fans across the globe. The conversations that we only ever had in the pub or at the game are now 24/7 thanks to Noseybook, Twitter, Instagram etc. and to people all over the world. Football has truly become a 24 hour global phenomenon.

Times have changed, so have we.

Now, no one has to wait till match day for that pre match analysis of the team selection and game plan, or post match forensic dissection and dissemination. The last bus home is no longer the end of the discussion. In fact discussion and debate, opinion and counter opinion, it never ends. Thanks to the like of SkyTVisf**kings**t and social media, football never stops. It can, and will take over your entire life. Sometimes, it is not necessarily a good thing. When you get to the point where football becomes life encompassing, and your life is on public view for the world, something else has to give.

I must admit, I am so glad that my early years following Leeds were not all documented for all the world to see. We did some stuff back then when we were young. Times have changed. It’s not like it used to be and in some ways, that is a good thing. Like the song says, “regrets – I’ve had a few ….. but I did it my way!”

Meet the gang

But we’re not living in the past anymore. It sometimes helps though to reflect back to remind ourselves how far we have come. This keeps us grounded. We’re all grateful for all that we had.

With that in mind, seeing as it is the 31st year, I thought I’d introduce you to the Committee. Here’s a photo of us back in 1996 or around that time. Chairman Charley, everyone knows. He’s one of the most famous faces on Facebook, having maxxed out his followers and friends.

Charley is the public face of Harrogate & District LUSC. The rest of us, well, we really aren’t that bothered with publicity and never have been. We’ve very little to say to be honest. Unless you ask me about the ticketing system at Leeds United over the last 20 years. I won’t shut up then. On that subject, I can go on ad infinitum. However, we don’t much feel the need to be seen and talked about at games. It’s enough just to be there supporting the team

But, after 12 years of doing this website, here is The Secretary, Paul McManus aka Stella, the Membership Secretary Roy Flynn and me, the Comms Officer Lai in one collaged photo. With a smiling Chairman Charley Megginson. We look a bit older now, and are probably that little bit wiser than we were 30 years ago.

Welcome and happy new season!

 

I am afraid I just don’t care.

It’s been quite a while since I last wrote something. Life, family, work, the usual. Day to day life has just taken over .Unfortunately the website and this page has been forced into the back seat. Although, fortunately, with the introduction of the away ballot, I have to say, it’s been a little less stressful running a branch. I don’t miss the two hours, three days a week of  sitting in front of a computer trying to order tickets on that website.

Pity those folks who in the previous decade or so have never had to go anywhere near the ticketing page. Firstly, clicking on the right link, let alone try to remember the login details and tick all the boxes. Secondly, that pressure of waiting for that screen to change from the East Stand to that little man walking across the screen. Finally, logging in to find that even though you clicked on the link at 10.30am (before it changed to 1.00pm), you were still 17000th in the queue. Plus, ticking on all the boxes that had a traffic light in them. They missed all of this.

Now they get all day to apply in the ballot and I cannot. Consequently, I am now excluded and frankly I don’t care. I did my time with all that, and it was enough.

The why.

Therefore, my main raison d’etre – moaning about tickets – has gone and football has happily bobbled along this season. Plus, we are above Spurs as we stand, so it’s not so bad right now. Sadly I have been moved by the latest “controversy” that has been stoked up by the people who hate Leeds this last week. A feeble attempt to condemn all Leeds fans as intolerant racists and bigots etc. etc blah blah blah. Whatever the flavour of the month “anti” thing to cause dissent and division. I don’t care what it is. Basically, the latest trend to give the bored attention seekers something to bleat about and make themselves feel really important.

The context.

On Friday, I was unlucky enough to be in front of the telly when SkyTVisf**ings**t Sports News was on. The headline? Breaking news at Leeds United -“Latest development at Elland Road”. Haha I thought. Farke has finally got the backing of the Board. He’s going to appeal against the red that was frankly being pulled out of the ref’s pocket before he had even stepped on the pitch. Nope. The breaking news wasn’t even that Joel Piroe might even start a game this season. No. The “news” was the press release from ER about what had happened at the Citeh game. Eyes roll emoji  (which may or may not trigger someone).

To be fair, the Club set out a well thought out, reasoned statement.  I could screenshot and insert, but it would probably breach some copyright rule, so I won’t. You’ve all seen it anyway. In no uncertain terms, it clarifies the position that several of our players, let alone at least 25% Leeds (and some Citeh) fans were not aware of what was taking place. The statement unquestionably confirmed that this stoppage had never happened at ER before. Bravely spelling out the extenuating circumstances that occurred at the Emptiad stadium and at the Sunderland game the week before. And these were proper extenuating circumstances, which provided much context to what transpired.

Does it matter?

It was a bold step. But to be honest, personally I don’t care. We are not just fans. We are customers who pay a large amount of money to watch 22 men kick a round ball about and try to get it in between a set of two sticks for 90 minutes plus Fergie time. If His Holy Grace The Pope had stepped onto that pitch to announce the canonisation of Beckford for putting the ball in the Man U net, I would have still booed. Likewise, had the Dalai Lama strolled on to acclaim Beradi as the Golden Child, the next reincarnation of the great Bodhisattva of Compassion, equally the same.

The fact was all the Citeh players ran to the sideline and there was a “tactical” break. Just like there was when their goalie sat down in the Emptiad.  They can pretend all they like. I just don’t care. Undeniably, they were cheating. Perhaps Pep, so incensed that their goal machine Haaland didn’t want to play, let alone score against us, flipped. Why a team of Citeh’s stature, resources and £££, would sink so low as to attempt to disrupt play, to gain advantage is anyone’s guess. Pathetic.

The facts

I’m there to watch a Premier League football match. End of. If the players concerned just did what every other player who needs a drink or an energy sachet through the game does and just grabbed one from the sidelines, that’s fine. They are paid an awful amount of money to run around for 90 minutes plus fergie time. More than in a week than we can ever dream of in a year. We pay a lot of money to watch them run around for 90 minutes plus fergie time. Just get on with it.

It is 90 minutes a week. Just let me have that 90 minutes, with no other distraction than what’s going on the pitch. This is what I care about. Nothing else for 90 minutes. Leave it at the turnstiles and concentrate on the game.

Surely, if the medical team thought players were at risk of injury if they didn’t get that drink at that specific time, then the Club should not be playing them. Likewise, if a player is not fit to play, they should not be on the pitch. I’m pretty sure there are rules about that. After all the manager picks the team to win the game.  Or hold onto a 1-0 lead for 80 minutes – yikes!

No other team sport has the money, the means and most importantly the PRIVILEDGE to deprive paying customers for their right to receive what they paid for. Can you imagine a Grand Prix being stopped halfway through the the race to let someone get a drink? Can you imagine a load of jockeys suddenly pulling up their horses after the fifth fence to get a quick snack? How about a 4 x 400m relay race?

It’s important to show

I keep hearing the phrase “it is important to show”. Important to who? Not me, I don’t care. Oh wait, it was important to make other people who have not paid to watch a football match feel that they were just as important as the paying customer? No.

Oh – the global audience. The people who are just enjoying the experience on the telly. I forgot. They are far more important. But wait, aren’t these people just there to watch the game as well? As in the 90 minutes of kicking a ball about? Are there actually people who are more bothered about what happens outside of the activity on the pitch? Everything just needs to be left at the turnstiles.

Football is the most important thing at a football game. Nothing else.

Leave us alone

Why can’t football fans be left alone to just watch the game? What makes the PL, or anyone else, think they have the right to spoil the 90 minutes plus fergie time that we have paid for. It’s bad enough that over the years we’ve gone from our hallowed Saturday 3pm kick offs to Monday, Tuesday , even Sunday kick offs. Why do we have to be puppets in the agendas of the globalised standardisation crew, to make sure we are all “equal”?

We are just football fans. Every one of us unique in every way. We are already massively diverse but for 90 minutes a week, for 40 weeks a year, we are ONE. Stop preventing us from being the individuals we all are, because THAT diversity is what makes us stronger as a fan base. Leeds United boast one of the biggest worldwide networks of all PL clubs, we are already very different, but with Leeds United we are one. Leave us to choose how we want to react (albeit within the law obviously – can’t go around knocking five bells out of anyone who disagrees). We have basic right to freedom of expression and freedom of speech (currently) within the law.

Standardisation and fairness.

If the PL / UEFA / FL want to bring in standardisation, than they should start with making sure all fans get the same facilities and “experience” for the same amount of money at every ground. If they want to equalise everything so it is fairer, maybe they should make sure that all fans (able and disabled) can have access to safe seating, decent toilet facilities and decent access to parking. How about ensuring all stadia have lift facilities for the people with mobility problems? Similarly, how about making sure every fan with mobility issues can park up and walk to the ground in less than 5 minutes? Maybe all fans should get the same treatment home or away (ask the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans for their feedback). These are the things that really matter, and quite rightly, should be done. However, they are not.

Is it because of money? Or is the impetus and will just not there? I just don’t care. Just get it done.

Rather than the media, social media, newspapers, influencers etc crowing on about something which was actually nothing, focus on something which should improve.

I’m not defending the small minority who were booing because they knew what they were doing. All I am saying is that there is so much more going on in the world right now, there needs to be an escape. I just want to watch the game that I pay for. Leave the rest of the politics, religion whatever at the turnstiles.

It’s a football game. Stop pretending it is anything more.

July 2025 update

Just to remind folks, the main LUSC AGM will be held on Sunday 6th July 2025. Billy Bremner Suite (West Stand) . 11.30am arrival for 12 noon prompt start. Our president Josh Warrington will be present. It’s your LUSC AGM, so come along and hear what is going on with it all.

Our own Harrogate & District LUSC AGM will be 7 hours later. So Sunday 6th July 2025 7.30pm arrival for 8pm prompt start please.

Renewal / new members forms

Renewal forms will be available on the night. Otherwise please check your inboxes for email version, and whenever Harrogate posties deign to deliver your letters, hard copies will be sent out soon.

Apologies for the delay. As usual, we have been very busy this summer in paid employment, and there’s been a few technical issues.

Please remember you need to fill in a renewal form EVERY year and pay subs (still only £7 as it stand today) as required.

New members are welcome, but you need to contact us for a NEW members form. This needs to be filled in and returned with two passport sized photographs please and the necessary subs if applicable. We will email one out to you or will send one in the post if you provide a snail mail address.

Social media

We will NOT accept or send out friend requests for you oldies on facebook, purely because we have attempted hackings continuously. The public page is open to all. The closed group is really only for paid up branch members and only has info on departure times etc and events. So, if you intend to participate in any events or are lucky enough to get a ticket to an away game, you’re in. Otherwise there is no need to ask to be on that group. You might get someone randomly inviting you, but until someone else takes over the running of the page (and the hacking attempts) I won’t accept you.

If you are a paid up / signed up member, and I have forgotten you. Please get in touch and let me know. If I haven’t included you on the email list, again let me know. I am only human and prone to mistakes.

We aren’t on any other social media platforms. Not enough time in the day!

Cheers. Back in the PL!

GDB