Valencia - 3rd August - 24/25

August 4, 2024

Leeds United v Valencia

Saturday 3rd August 2024 - Elland Road, Leeds

2024/25 Pre-Season Friendly


It was lovely to see a sea of yellow around Elland Road with the new away shirt worn by plenty including many children. Today’s last pre-season friendly was an opportunity for many fans to bring young children to their first game.


Team: Meslier, Ampadu, Jayden Bogle (making his home debut), Firpo, Struijk, Rodon, Rutter, James, Gnonto, Joseph, Gruev

Subs: Byram for Bogle (60), Wöber for Struijk (64), Piroe for James (64), Aaronson for Gnonto (64), Rothwell for Gruev, (64), Bamford for Joseph (76), Gelhardt for Rutter (76), Crew for Ampadu (81), Debayo for Firpo (81), Chambers for Rodon (88)

Subs not used: Darlow


Leeds won the game 2-1 with goals from Joseph (14), Rutter (41)


Attendance: 32,973


Referee: James Bell

Booked: Ampadu

Sent off: Mir (Valencia)



To say this was a preseason friendly, it was anything but on the pitch. There were a lot of hard tackles and fouls put in, mainly from Valencia, but it wasn’t a surprise when they ended the game with 10 men.


With Bogle going off after being injured in a tackle, I’m hoping that was just as a precaution. All I could think of was that we may end up with injuries before we even start the season. As we have already lost young Harry Gray until 2025 according to a now deleted post on Instagram, I want us to start the season strongly.


The game saw some flashes of brilliance and a never say die attitude showing resilience which was good to see. Both Joseph and Rutter took their goals well and I’m looking forward to seeing them build on today’s performance. I didn’t want to see Aaronson or Wöber back at Elland Road, but I was still surprised by the number of boos as they came onto the pitch. They will have to do their talking on the pitch as far as I’m concerned and as always, being at games in person is how I will always judge how Leeds as a team will perform.


With Summerville completing his move to West Ham today, that’s another one out of the door so having depth in our squad going forward is essential. As the transfer window doesn’t shut until the end of the month and the season starts in earnest next week with our home game against Portsmouth, I won’t rule out any more incomings or outgoings until then.


See you next week, LUFC – Marching on Together!


April 29, 2025
After Game Celebrations Monday 28th April 2025 - Elland Road 2024/25 Season What a night and it wasn’t finished there because at the final whistle, the fans carried on singing as the team came out to celebrate being promoted to the Premier League. This is how to celebrate as we stayed for a good hour after the end of the game enjoying the atmosphere and the moment and what a moment it was. This was the night that we were robbed of when we were promoted under Bielsa, and it shows how much we relished the chance to celebrate in style tonight. We even wore the microphone out at the end of the game! It still feels quite surreal that we have been promoted when we had two games still left to play. With one game left, we are back in pole position at the top of the league. I want nothing more than to get 100 points and win the league at Plymouth at the weekend. With both us and Burnley on 97 points it will go to the wire but make us even prouder Leeds by staying at the top.
April 29, 2025
Leeds United v Bristol City Monday 28th April 2025 - Elland Road 2024/25 Season First of all, I want to thank Leeds United and Joe Rodon for giving my granddaughter Alexis an amazing experience as a mascot tonight. Coming out to the sight of scarves waving all around the ground that had been donated by the club plus the tremendous noise of us singing Marching on Together is a moment she will never forget. After the last year we have had as a family culminating in my husband’s death and the subsequent grieving for him, I don’t think I can underestimate what this evening has meant to us all. Alexis was like a giddy kipper especially as she hadn’t got too much sleep last night as she was so excited. We headed to the ground very early to ensure we didn’t have any traffic issues. Luckily, we arrived in good time and after waiting with her at the West Stand main entrance, my granddaughter Hannah and I then headed into the ground although separately. I can’t remember the last game I’ve been into a home game so early, but it gave me a chance to catch up with other fans before kick-off. It was a proud moment seeing Alexis come on to the pitch with Rodon. A big thank you to everyone who told me they appreciate my posts today because as always they are gratefully received which makes it worth doing.
April 29, 2025
Leeds United v Bristol City Monday 28th April 2025 - Elland Road 2024/25 Season That'll teach me to take so many photos last night as it's taken until 9am to whittle them down. All photos will be on my website very shortly where I share my love of Leeds United with fans around the world. First of all, I want to thank Leeds United and Joe Rodon for giving my granddaughter Alexis an amazing experience as a mascot tonight. After the last year we have had as a family culminating in my husband’s death and the subsequent grieving for him, I don’t think I can underestimate what this evening has meant to us all. Team: Darlow, Ampadu, Rodon, Bogle, Gruev, Tanaka, Piroe, Gnonto, Solomon, Aaronson, Firpo. Subs: Bamford for Piroe (81), Ramazani for Gnonto (81), Joseph for Aaronson (86), Guilavogui for Tanaka (86), Byram for Firpo (89). Subs not used: Meslier, Gray, Cairns, Wöber. Leeds won the game 4-0 with Tanaka (21), Gnonto (55) and a Ramazani brace (82, 90) making it a convincing win. Attendance: 36,310. Approximately 1,900 Bristol fans. Referee: James Bell, Booked: Tanaka. Leeds started off well attacking the South Stand and could have taken the lead three times in the opening minutes. Their keeper made a couple of good saves then from a corner we caused problems in their area before Solomon sent a great cross into the box for Tanaka to put the ball into the net. Having had a goal by Solomon disallowed for offside shortly before (replays later showed this was a correct call), it was nothing more than Leeds deserved. When Solomon was put through again, their keeper managed to sit on the ball and catch it at the second attempt to prevent us taking a greater lead. From a corner, Tanaka headed into the side netting but despite al the pressure we went into the break with only the one goal in front. There was a great atmosphere below the stands and luckily it was only a beach ball that hit me in the face as someone said I should have headed it. At least it created a laugh. The second half saw Leeds batter their goal, but they somehow survived the onslaught when first Firpo then Gnonto were denied a goal and Bogle saw his shot hit the post and bounce back. Leeds saw a fantastic pass out of defence from Piroe that went straight into the path of Gnonto who ran forwards and put the ball into the net to increase our lead. Ramazani had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes after replacing Gnonto, as another attack saw Bamford win the ball and set Firpo up to send a perfect pass into the centre for Ramazani to score. Now there was no way back for Bristol. To be honest there was only one time in the first half when Darlow did a kamikaze run off his line that Bristol came near, but we were able to thwart the attack. We hadn’t finished though as another perfect pass from Gruev set Ramazani on his way to score a second goal on the night and be the crowning glory which he celebrated with a somersault and back flip.  See you on Saturday for the last game of the season. LUFC – Marching on Together!
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