Much has been happening of late at Leeds United. New signings, winning pre season games, buying the ground back, improving the stands…. Far too much like a properly run football club. Luckily enough, as by the sounds of it some of our fans are still misbehaving. Thankfully, some things haven’t changed that much. Here’s an update and a summary of the branch AGM July 2017.

Annual General Meeting held Sunday 2nd July 2017.

Thanks to everyone for turning out at the AGM. A delicious pre meeting buffet curry at Jinnah (where the drinks bill was higher than the food bill) probably wasn’t the best idea in the world, but we live and learn. I would like to mention Des Yates and Nicky, it was good to see you and thanks for coming. It has been a really tough year for the branch off field again. We hope and pray for a better coming season.

The Chairman read the minutes of last years AGM out, there were no points arising or questions and these were duly proposed by Mally Appleyard and seconded by Chrissie Colman.

LUSC AGM: The main LUSC AGM held earlier that day, was briefly reviewed. Please note, the MPO will try to send this meeting’s minutes and future ones out in the group email this coming season. This will ensure you are all kept up to date with what is going on at the LUSC. Good relations between the LUSC and Leeds United continue, and we hope that this will be maintained. The LUSC exec meetings are still held at Elland Road, as is theAnnual  Quiz. The Annual Dinner has also been welcomed back to the West Stand, hopefully for the foreseeable future. Social media presence of the LUSC is growing exponentially across facebook and twitter.  This despite much competition from other Leeds United groups across all forms of social media. Membership is on the up but funds going down.  This is due to the LUSC getting more younger (free) members and also at the other end, as unfortunately, we are all getting a bit older too! There are now 36 fully paid up LUSC branches across the globe, ( Harrogate are the 2nd biggest LUSC branch according to the figures available).  There continues to be enquiries from potential new branches throughout the season. 2019 will be the centenary year of the LUSC , the LUSC exec are asking for any help to organise the coming celebrations. It was decided that the LUSC continue with the sponsorship of young Kalvin Phillips for the coming season. Angus Kinnear the CEO of Leeds United then did a speech and a Q&A session which was very good in my opinion, given he is technically still only 2 weeks into his job.

Membership Report from Roy: Memberships are still rising. Roy would like to thank everyone who very kindly encloses a stamped addressed envelope for the return of their membership cards.It is very helpful, please continue.

Secretary’s Report: The Secretary thanked everyone for their attendance and participation in the non footballing activities. Our guests, Fish (Peter Haddock), Debbie and his two lads, Peter and Carl attended the LUSC Annual Dinner. The branch had two tables and supported our members with subsidised tickets and travel for the night. The LUSC Annual Quiz was well attended, featuring three teams from our branch. We did ok but could have probably done better had The Chairman been available. The pork pie and peas supper was very tasty, but the bottle of red wine may have been excessive. All the LUSC exec meetings were attended. The LUSC Sponsored Player packages were another highlight. Deputy Andy Yates and Mr Steve Carass represented Harrogate & District Branch and the LUSC at the players lunch. Helpfully clearing up any left over alcohol and kindly escorting Kalvin Phillips and Charlie Taylor back home after their exhausting training day. Sorry should that be the other way round??? The Secretary also won a pair of the West Stand hospitality tickets for the Norwich game at the end of the season. The Paul Reaney Suite was very pleasant, as was the fillet steak and salted caramel roulade. Sadly, the same can’t be said of the first half of the game. Unfortunately, we were subjected to the company of a certain ex managers family sat behind us not really watching the game. Luckily enough, in the second half they were replaced by a few Italians happily screaming and shouting, which was much better. The Secretary thanked Deputy  Yates for the signed shirt which we raffled off ( won by Karen Webb eventually!) at the Wigan game.

Treasurers Report: Excellent season all in. The losses on the long away trips were mitigated by sharing with The Mavericks, Bradford 2011 and Bradford Whites. As Mr Flynn had previously stated, memberships are up again this season. The 250 draw yielded some good results. The Treasurer thanked Deputy Yates for the shirts and everyone who does the footy card. The costs this year included the LUSC Annual Dinner ( subsidy on the tickets, Peter Haddock’s costs and taxi fares) and transport costs to the (other) Members Dinner. Other items such as the wreath for Terry Rankine and support for the midweek long aways where we did not run a coach were also taken into account. Faye Smith ( a steward in the North East Corner) was sponsored in the London Marathon as was branch member James Proctor in a swimming event. The branch have ordered a new flag to replaced the dated and sadly, stained, old Harrogate & District flag. Branch members voted on a new design and this will be unveiled at the preseason Austria games. We are a not for profit organisation, any money raised goes back to the branch via subsidised coach travel and support to non football branch events etc. Accounts were proposed by Steve Smith and seconded by Martin Thomas. Approved by a show of hands.

Review: Coaches were run to all the weekend games and most of the midweek ones apart from Bristol City, Fulham and Brentford. This season there was a branch presence at all away games however, by car and/or mini bus. Our thanks go to Tim the Driver for his excellent efforts and we are sad to see him move on. The Secretary thanked the Chairman and the MPO for their help running the second buses. Our 2016/17 season refreshment stops have been a resounding success and any suggestions for future venues are welcome.

Election of Officers: No nominations or applications were made. All 4 existing committee members agreed to stand again. Proposed by Chrissie Colman and seconded by Dave Poole.

A.O.B: Bookings currently being taken for Bolton, Sunderland and Forest. The Secretary thanked everyone for the generous collection and also the committee.

Meeting closed 9.07pm.

Away Games.

Bolton now Sunday August 6th 4.30pm kick off

Sunderland now Saturday August 19th 5.30pm kick off

Forest now Saturday August 26th 5.30pm kick off

Bookings currently being taken, looking like there will be two buses for Bolton, usual channels please.

Memberships.

Please return all forms with the correct payment as soon as possible. Your forms and subs are due now.

Website (and other social media).

Our old “We Are Leeds” fanzine has now all been uploaded to this site. Reports from The Chairman are that people are finding this interesting, so it looks like all the work to get it on here has been worth it. We would like to thank The Chairman for his efforts in compiling this.

I will continue to do the updates from the monthly branch meetings in the ‘News and Events’ section. Preseason reports will also go on there with any pictures courtesy of Deputy Yates and anyone else who can hold their phone steady enough for some decent shots. A couple of queries about the post documenting Deputy Yates and Mrs Silvestre’s shenanigans were made. The pictures were certainly NOT doctored by me or Deputy Yates, as far as I am aware.

It is difficult to do the blog, as well as all the other things during the season ( ticket ordering, sorting pubstops etc.) so this will only be done as time allows.

The Chairman would like to continue with his Charley Says section, but STILL does not have a computer to do so. This puts extra pressure on the MPO. So, this is section is intermittent as some of his “memory matches” and comments are just posted on the facebook page instead. The MPO hopes to have a sensible chat with The Chairman at some point (this century) to discuss the way forward for his Charley Says.

Our Gallery section will continue as a store for any photos through the season, and is especially useful for those not on facebook apparently. I want to avoid repetition and will update it as and when I get photos.

When I get the Google analytics figures, I will put them up, but it looks like the website is useful, so will continue as it is. Any comments are welcome.

The MPO and therefore the branch does not have a twitter account and there are no plans for one because of the extra time/work etc. involved. If anyone wishes to help out with the website etc. please feel free to volunteer.

If anyone wishes to be removed from the group email list, please can you let us know via the usual channels please?

 

Apologies for the delay for the April update. There have been a couple of busy aways to sort out and of course Easter is always a busy time. So there will be the usual updates and then the blog will continue as per the norm.

Just a quick note though, yesterday was Palm Sunday, celebrating the day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. Called Palm Sunday as the people of Jerusalem lined the streets, waving Palm branches. Maundy Thursday is of course, the day of Last Supper and then obviously Good Friday is a very solemn day of Easter reflection. The branch will be of course be en route to Newcastle, so we shall be ensuring that the day is duly recognised by all the branch members, thus in keeping with the spirit of the Easter message, in true Harrogate Whites fashion.

Monthly Branch meeting

The meeting was held on Sunday April 2nd at the Londesborough Club. A quick mention for Middy, nice to see him again, in the company of Dave ( the gardeners ear) Jewitt who supplied us with an interesting update on one of our former players and some juicy goss about Peter Beagrie.

The EFL meeting that the LUSC exec went to, was as stated on our facebook page just a propaganda exercise for Sky. Apparently there were 85 new rules / modifications of the rules this new season for the referees to take in. I wonder how many of them were instructions on what to do if Leeds United have the upper hand in the game? That was the interesting part, the rest of it was just how brilliant Sky are and how they have to give at least 5 weeks notice if they want to change a fixture for the benefit of their viewing figures. Hahahahaha

Two new branches have been accepted into the LUSC fold, the Lincolnshire Whites and the reformed Pontefract Branch. There is also a proposed new Parliamentary LUSC Branch led by John Mann MP Bassettlaw. We believe this is the first LUSC, or any football supporters club of it’s kind in Westminster. So there is hope for the Houses Of Parliament yet!

Lastly, we have had a message from Terry Rankine’s widow. She has thanked the branch for the tribute to Terry and said the flowers were so beautiful that she took them home.

Away Games

Newcastle bus was full up til last night. There are now two places available. There are still places available on the Burton bus for anyone lucky enough to have their own tickets.

Memberships

Memberships have closed for the year. Memberships are up from last year.

Website

The Media and Publicity Officer is doing as much as possible to keep up with the website and the facebook page as often as possible. We will also try to keep putting articles up for the Leeds United programme. Any contributions are welcome.

It’s that time of the season again, time to get quizzical, quizzical. Think Olivia Newton John in her leotard, leggings and headband on Eggheads. Actually, on second thoughts, let’s not.

The Annual LUSC quiz is a tradition that goes way back. In the 80s, there used to be inter branch quizzing galore, with many references to quiz teams in pubs far and wide across Yorkshire, mentioned in our branch meeting minutes. Not so many moons ago, I remember going to one at Headingley, where the top teams from LUSC quiz were invited to face the cleverest Leeds Rhinos teams. Our branch fared quite poorly in that one too, but it is the taking part that counts!

Sadly now, there is but one main event and it was hosted in The Eddie Gray Suite, in the (Magnificent New) East Stand last night (Thursday 23rd February 2017). Bizarrely enough, when I normally check in at Elland Road, every individual part comes up on my phone, apart from the Eddie Gray Suite, maybe Google Maps have the hump as well.

So the branch entered 3 teams. The newest entry ( The Grumpy Whites) made up from the wise heads of Dave Rowson, Karen (Abbott) Webb, John Webb and the youngest brain of the night, Garforths very own hot shot, Sean Hunter. The Deputy Yates (Jolly Whites) team of Andy Yates, James Proctor, Callum ( Marseille 2nd biggest city in France) Brook and late arrivee Paul ( Smuff) Smith made their second appearance, and the usual doggedness of Geoff Thrush, Mick Barker and The Secretary and The MPO dared to sit where no one else would – right by the window overlooking the car park! True to form we nearly missed the first question as we were too distracted trying to think of the word for fear of heights. We settled for Vertigo Sufferers as the team name, as none of us could remember acrophobia. It’s a good job that wasn’t one of the questions, as we would have got it wrong! Harrogate Acrophobics saved for next season then, unless of course we get there as early as Deputy Yates did, in which case we will pick the lower seats nearest the food.

The MPO would like to extend thanks to the Leeds United catering service for the fabulous pork pie, peas and mint sauce by the way. Andy (I think) the catering manager said that the pork pies were only put on as an after thought, as their planned offerings were un-named meat and potato and cheese and onion pies. Thank goodness someone had the foresight to source the pork pies. You cannot beat a pork pie, mushy peas, gravy and mint sauce for a pub quiz. Admittedly, never had that combination with a bottle of Valpolicella but it’s Thursday, why not?

Last season Geoff, Mick, The Secretary and The MPO vowed to do some revision to prepare, like we do every season actually. And, like we do every season, we arrived at the quiz still not able to put names to current squad numbers between the 4 of us. Shoddy! Sure enough round 5, squad numbers! And not just this season, but promotion winning seasons too. So, after an excellent first two rounds start, the Harrogate Knights sank further into the mire with every Leeds United question fired at us. I can’t speak for the other two branch teams , but save the question of David Batty’s two shirt numbers, we didn’t do very well. The round was soundly topped off with “what was Harry Kewell’s number?” . We answered 666, correct answers on a postcard please…

The “general sport” round flummoxed us too, our answer to “Who is the England rugby union captain? was an inspired Donald Trump, again, incorrect, but good choice I thought. Luckily enough the combination of The MPO remembering that Beth Jordache buried Trevor under the patio in Brookside and Geoff Thrush recollecting how unfairly Gareth was beaten into second place by Will Young meant that the Harrogate Whites managed a joint 4th spot highest ranking, with the other two in the not too shabby 9th (Grumpy Whites) and 10th (Jolly Whites) places out of a possible 16 ( I’ll check that up and correct as necessary). Had The MPO not over-ruled Geoff over his knowledge of the Metropolitan Line and Mick Barker had insisted more vehemently on his 1980s info, we may have still achieved joint 4th, but at least Mick remembered Richard Naylor put a brace past Yeovil.

Our thanks to the above-mentioned for their attendance and of course to the LUSC for their organisation and Leeds United for their hospitality. Roll on next season, let’s try to start reading up sooner and get those squad numbers in our heads. New branch motto viribus unitis (thank you Dave Rowson for that little nugget) and to finish with Olivia Newton John..

 

 

Since Marco Silvestri came to Leeds United, there has only been only been one Love Story that matters. You have to admit it, the camera doesn’t lie, she only has eyes for one person. Since the first time they met, Deputy Yates has been “bumping into” the lovely Sofia far too many times for this to be a casual fling. Either that or Deputy Yates has some serious man marking issues. Hardly!

Luckily enough, the “Managers Curse” that has plagued Brian McDermott, Uwe Rosler and Steve Evans (can’t even remember a picture with Redfearn- must have been his own doing that one), has yet to touch the delicate hands of Sofia.

So here it is in all it’s glory… I think Marco is safe!

 

February Update

Monthly Branch Meeting

The meeting was held in the Londesborough Club at 8pm on Sunday 5th February. Thanks to all who turned out (in a fashion). Special thanks to Dave Rowson who made sure The Chairman duly arrived in the “ruined” state as requested by The Secretary. A bumper crowd turned out, including Makaela Rolph (taxi driver) but sadly Deputy Andy Yates was a no show ( part-timer). This was a “lively” meeting with The Chairman in a much more vocal mood than he is normally. The meeting was slightly held up as The Chairman decided we couldn’t start until Mally Appleyard turned up, as apparently Mally has never missed a meeting. Mally duly got his round of applause when he arrived eventually 10 mins late.

As part of the LUSC Sponsored player package the LUSC gets tickets to a training day at Thorp Arch, a lunch with the sponsored player and two pairs of tickets in hospitality in the Magnificent New East Stand at the end of the season. These tickets are raffled by the LUSC. The Thorp Arch tickets were available at this meeting, if anyone wants any more they are now on sale at £1 per ticket, please contact The Secretary before the next LUSC exec meeting, which is 16th February. There wasn’t a date set by Leeds United for this Thorp Arch event, so you need to be able to get the day off at short notice I am afraid, but according to Eric Ware and Makaela Rolph, who won it 2015, and 2016 respectively, it was a good day out and the players were happy for photos to be taken etc. As soon as the other events are organised, the branch will let you know.

Away Games

We will be ordering the gold members tickets for Ipswich on Weds 8th February, or at least trying to. Once tickets have been secured, we will let everyone who has managed to get a ticket know and then communicate the departure times and details in the usual fashion. Fingers crossed please! We are currently taking bookings for Birmingham on Friday 3rd March, we will be running a bus to this fixture. Deputy Andy Yates will be running a minibus to Fulham, we are happy to order branch members tickets for this fixture but please get in contact directly with Mr Yates. We will be running a bus to Reading, tickets permitting, but no plans at present to run a bus to Brentford.

Memberships

Membership Secretary as usual MIA. The Chairman has decided that memberships will close in April, as in they will close at midnight on April 1st. And no, this is not a joke! The website is generating more new members. The MPO would like to reiterate that admin on the closed group Harrogate Whites Supporters Club page do not add new members to this group until we get their £7 membership fees. There will be a cull next season.

Website

After the MPO went off on one and wrote that blog piece there was a massive spike of about 2500 views to the website. Paul Yates has requested that more of the website links are shared on our normal facebook page, to increase publicity. Any comments on this are welcome. If anyone is reading this via the facebook link that I have shared this on, then please feel free to comment. We will also consider putting a sponsor page on the website for branch members to advertise, again, only if there is enough interest.

Quiz

The Annual LUSC quiz will be held on Thursday 23rd Feb in The Eddie Gray Suite in the magnificent New East Stand. 7.30 bar  to start promptly at 8pm. Teams of four and the branch will pay the entry fee. This is open to all LUSC members and there is a pie and peas supper included. Questions will be provided by Andrew Dalton (“Stats” as I was informed by Dave Rowson on Sunday). Several rounds of questions including Leeds United, general sport, general knowledge, general football etc. The branch has won the quiz a long time ago, sadly in the last few years we have managed one trophy for joint runner up in 2009. This was a magnificent effort by The Secretary and The MPO who were flying high at the end of round 7 in first place, but failed miserably to answer any of the Leeds United questions in round 8. It was a little disappointing but demonstrates clearly how much The Chairman was missed… Our last trophy below:

Poor Eunan O’Kane got Yates-ed ( well nearly) after the Barnsley game in Harrogate. There he was, innocently trying to feed his family, when a portion of the Jolly Whites descended on him.

He was greeted by some very tired (Paul) and emotional people from Bus 1, including The Famous Yates brothers ( and Yates Snr) and several members of the Ripon branch, including Lord Ochiltree. Reports state that even though he was a little surprised at the warm and enthusiastic reception he received in the restaurant which we cannot mention, he was very friendly and happy for the photo opportunity. In true HarrogateWhites fashion, the lad was invited for a drink in ‘Spoons, but he politely declined the chance to sit down with The Jolly Whites and discuss the game over a nice pint of Carling, as he needed some scram.

As you can see from the pictures below, he enjoyed being with the Jolly Whites. Deputy Yates has been instructed to offer him branch membership next time he sees him. Please note – DO NOT PANIC the crutch in picture 2 does not belong to Eunan!