Monthly branch meeting

Decembers meeting was held Sunday 4th December. The Chairman had suggested that the branch pay for a Christmas drink for everyone who attended. It was decided that due to the Branch Secretary not having enough money on him, that this was deferred to the January 2017 branch meeting when the branch may have some more funds. Dave Poole once again thanked the exec for getting the telly in the North East corner fixed as apparently he had mentioned this to the Leeds United stewards on several occasions over the years, and this has been the first time anyone has ever done anything about it. The MPO reminded him that he better be watching the telly, all the time! Next branch meeting will be Sunday February 5th after Huddersfield away, for anyone who is still conscious and not in the pub.

Away games

These are coming thick and fast. Bookings are currently being taken for Huddersfield (only 2000 tickets) and Sutton (even less tickets). The Blackburn coach is currently full however, with a waiting list. We would like to remind branch members that we can only order tickets for fully paid up branch members who have a valid Leeds United customer number.

Membership

The website is generating memberships. The Membership Secretary was MIA at the last branch meeting.

Website

The MPO apologises for no update in December, this was due to ill health sadly. The MPO will try better 2017. There continues to be a steady stream of views according to Google Analytics. The “We Are Leeds” fanzine is now completely available on the website. Dave Poole has provided us with a scrapbook of memories from days gone by. The MPO will scan these in so everyone can enjoy some of the articles.

LUSC Annual Quiz

This will be held Thursday 23rd February in the Eddie Gray Suite in the magnificent new East Stand. Andrew Dalton has agreed to set the questions again and there will be a pie and peas supper. We have been advised that the bar will be open from 7.30pm, with the quiz starting at 8pm on the dot. As usual the teams will consist of 4 people per team, the branch can enter as many teams as it wishes. If there is enough interest from Harrogate, the Branch will subsidise transport to Elland Road. Please can anyone who wishes to come along, let us know via the usual channels asap please?

Monthly Branch Meeting

The meeting was held a little later than normal on Sunday 6th November. The main point arising was that the TV in the North East Corner has been fixed. Dave Poole thanked the committee for raising the subject at the LUSC exec meeting. There was feedback from the last months LUSC exec meetings and feedback from the last exec meeting which Bryn Stokes, the Football Liaison Officer attended. The branch has won £15 in the last 250 draw. Andy Yates has asked us to pass thanks onto Leeds United staff for looking after the luggage during the Burton game before the LUSC Annual Dinner (see below)

LUSC Annual Dinner

This was held Saturday 29th October after the Burton game at The Banqueting Suite at Elland Road. Everyone agreed it had been a good evening and we think that Peter Haddock and his family made it back to the hotel in one piece, despite the efforts of Ryan and Natalie Whyte and Steve and Cath Alderson! The players were around for the beginning of the evening and as usual all had their pictures taken with publicity shy Andy Yates. Pictures will be available in the Gallery section presently.

Away Games

There was much discussion around Liverpool in the “meaningless” Cup tie. Plans to run two buses look like they will be scuppered due to the unexpectedly low allocation and the season ticket free for all scramble on Wednesday 9th November. Buses had been run to Wolves, Derby and Norwich with no harsh losses. The branch will be running a bus to Brighton on the Friday night. We are currently taking bookings for Rotherham and Brighton. Liverpool transport will be confirmed as soon as all tickets are secured.

Membership

There has been a recent increase in enquiries.

Website

The rest of the old fanzines will be loaded on as soon as possible.

International break week, so just a quick update.

Monthly Branch Meeting

Meeting was held on Sunday at the Londesborough Club. Thanks to all who attended. Discussion about the role of Leeds Uniteds Supporters Liaison Officer (SLO) Fiona Hanley. Dave Poole complained about the telly in the North East corner being disconnected for at least a season now. Apparently the wires are still there as is the telly, but no one has connected them up. The Secretary will pass this onto the SLO. The branch has won £15 and £20 in the last two LUSC 250 draws.

LUSC Annual Dinner

Our guest of honour has been confirmed as Peter Haddock for the event on Saturday 28th October. The Chairman has agreed to reacquaint himself with Peter, and definitely not take him for another dodgy curry after the do. We have already had several confirmations from branch members for tickets. Please can anyone else wishing to attend let us know as soon as possible, so we can make our requests for tables etc.

Away Games

The Derby coach is FULL.

The Wolves coach is full, pending on members tickets on Friday.

Brighton has been moved to Friday 9th December 7.45pm kick off, the branch will be running a bus to this fixture, bookings currently being taken.

Villa has been moved to Thursday 29th December 7.45pm kick off, the branch will be running a bus to this fixture, bookings currently being taken.

Membership

Membership Secretary unavailable for the meeting, no comment

Website

Overall it is going well. The rest of the old fanzine needs to be put on. The numbers of visits has increased and we are generating a few membership requests from it. If the branch flag makes an appearance at the Derby away game, we can look to posting a newer featured picture. Anyone wishing to contribute is encouraged to get in touch, all articles will be carefully considered

Autumn – the season of mellow fruitfulness, and September – the proper start to the season.

Monthly Branch Meeting

The monthly branch meeting was held yesterday with a good number in attendance, thank you kindly for your presence (eventually Dave Poole before the search party got sent out). Amongst discussions were the acceptance of the Co Chair decision for the role of the Chairman for the LUSC, the Annual LUSC dinner (see below) and away games. There was a brief comment from Andy Yates regarding Graveleys which we will mention to the LUSC Secretary.

Annual LUSC Dinner

The date has been confirmed as Saturday 29th October 2016, after the home game against Burton, and will be held in the old Banqueting Suite ( now called The Norman Hunter Suite). The tickets for the event are £37, which includes a four course meal and disco. Presentation of our Player Of The Season 2015-16 trophy will probably be very difficult, given he is at Bournemouth now, however, there will be invites to the usual LUSC guests, and we hope to see the welcome faces of our former players and managers. The branch as usual will subsidise this for our branch members, but we will need to have confirmation of numbers as soon as possible, please. The LUSC are hoping that the current players and manager will be available (as per last event) pre meal for photos etc.

The branch has also decided to extend an invite to Peter Haddock to this event as our guest, we are looking into this at this moment in time. Please refer to the “We Are Leeds” fanzine page for the report from his testimonial at The County back in 1994, excellent write up by persons unknown.

Away Games

Bookings currently being taken for Cardiff and Bristol City games. There are only a couple of spaces on the Cardiff bus and the minibus for Bristol City has only one place left, so time is of the essence here. Bookings will also be taken imminently for Derby and Wolves, If demand exceeds supply, priority will be given according to the number of games travelled to on the bus last season.

Memberships

The Membership Secretary was unavailable last night, but numbers are up from last season.

Buoyed by the emphatic win over the Wendies and with the anticipation of one of our favourite prematch refreshment stops of the calendar, it was Wagons Roll, for the Battlebus towards Sherwood Forest.

Enter Stage Left The Chairman, or rather, just turn up..alas. The empty front seat next to Mr Poole echoed with the words “I thought it was ten past” and the sight of The Chairman, scurrying down Bilton Lane (not followed by a bear), signalled the start of looming discontent. As we left the sunny skies of Yorkshire, the cloudy horizons of Forest billowed in front of us and the heavens opened.

So, to the game itself. Defensive nightmare just about sums it up, along with the inexperience of the midfield, with Mr Hernandez as the main culprit. Failure to defend from corners notwithstanding, not being able to string two passes together was our main downfall. To be fair, I thought the signing of new boy, Ayling , would turn into Garry-with-two-Rs master stroke. His debut against Birmingham was one of the best I have seen for a while. However, like many new players that pass through our doors, they arrive with optimism and promise, and we beat it out of them with a razor wired cudgel. I can understand Monk wanting to play his own team, but the midfield just hasn’t enough Division 2 experience. In fact, Sacko, ‘just-about-back-for-good’ Bridcutt and ‘I’m not Ronaldo nor Patrick’ Vieira don’t have a full season of 1st team football between them. I like the look of Roofe, Pablo, Not Patrick and Hadi, but they may be best brought on as Supersubs at 60 minutes when we aren’t winning, rather than starting 11 material. You can’t leave them to 75th minute to see if they can make an impact on the game though! I like Murphy, he’s no flair player but I think he can hold a ball up, put in a decent challenge and his distribution isn’t any worse than any of our current players. Between him, Dallas, Mowatt and Phillips, there is a level of reading the game that gives us the upper hand when it comes to putting balls in for Antonsson to just not hit with enough conviction to get past the goalie.

On a positive note, CRACKING goal by LUSC sponsored player Kalvin Phillips.

So back to work we go….

MPO

Pre Season Friendly Games 2016

Members Andy Yates, Paul Yates and David Poole made the trip over to Ireland for the two games at Shelbourne FC and Shamrock Rovers. They were pleased to bump into the Ripon Whites,  namely Mr Kev Hunt and Heath Ochiltree, as well as other branch members Ben Simpson and Arron Grange. They were joined by John Farrell later on in proceedings.

As usual, the trio kept to the low, publicity shy profile that they are renown for whilst they were there, at least that’s what Andy said, you can make up your own minds about that.

The branch would like to extend a thank you all the people who they met out there, who made the trip so enjoyable. Andy would like to make a shout out to the Navan Whites, who he tried to get in shot for the photo but failed miserably ( see below).

We are obviously disappointed that we failed to get Statler and Waldorf to sign up to the branch, there’s always next season. The newly washed branch flag has been safely returned in one piece, as have the Yates brothers.

Unlike last season, Andy failed to secure at least one picture of himself and the current Leeds manager. Last preseason I believe he chased Uwe Rosler half way around the pitch, along with a load of people in balaclavas , to get the photo. It didn’t bode well for Mr Rosler, as he was sacked not very long into his tenure. I can’t say what happened to the people in balaclavas either.

Here’s to the start of another season, hopefully we will go up as champions.

Thanks to Andy Yates and Paul Yates for the pictures as ever, please follow us on facebook at Harrogatewhites for any further updates. Anyone wishing to join the branch, please use the form or contact the branch secretary directly at pjmcmanus2011@yahoo.co.uk

MOT