Heidi's blog Leeds United v Southampton Play Off Final 26/5/24

Leeds United v Southampton Play Off Final 26th May 2024 at Wembley

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So, we have finally reached the end of our football season but not with the result we all wanted. After the stress of getting tickets and an 18-hour day leaving home at 4am this morning, the game at Wembley didn’t live up to our expectations. We came close to getting back into the game with a fantastic shot from James and I still feel that if we had equalised, we would have gone on to win the game. I said I hate the colour red, and it has come back to haunt us again but well done to Southampton for getting back up to the Premier League at the first attempt. We will have another season staying in the Championship but as fixtures will be out in three weeks, the Euros take place and once we know where our preseason tour will be held, it won’t be long before we are back on the terraces again. To be honest I didn’t feel disappointed at the end just resigned to us not winning another play off game. I did think it would be third time lucky with them having beaten us twice already this season, plus our lick had to change one day in the play offs. I think we could have done with having Collar back leading the fans today. We have over 200 songs and chants that we recorded for our CDs, and it would have been lovely to have lots of different ones sung today. Even though we had scarves put on our seats again today, we could not create that 12th man siege we had at Elland Road. We may have had a wall of noise, but we needed to be singing songs in my opinion. I was also sad that we never did a “one Don Revie chant” as it was the anniversary of his death today. I was privileged to have seen the greatest Leeds United team under his tenure and he and that team are why our worldwide fanbase is what it is today. I was touched to be told that I was a credit to Leeds United today because of what I do with my blogs and photos, so I want to say thank you for the compliment which is appreciated. Last week saw a BBC Radio Leeds interview on Tuesday morning, an appearance on Calendar Friday evening with my granddaughter, a telephone interview on the coach today with BBC Radio 5 Live and a zoom interview whilst in the pub with BBC London. I didn’t realise we were on the TV in the pub until afterwards.

Team: Meslier, Ampadu, Rodon, Gray, Kamara, Rutter, Summerville, Gnonto, Firpo, Gruev, Piroe.

Subs: James for Gnonto (66), Roberts for Kamara (74), Anthony for Summerville (74), Joseph for Firpo (83).

Subs not used: Darlow, Cooper, Byram, Shackleton, Gelhardt.

Attendance: 85,862 with 36,462 Leeds fans.

Referee: John Brooks.

Booked: Summerville, Ampadu.

Just as the teams came out the heavens opened with torrential rain, and we got soaked. It was lovely to see young Riley leading the team out as mascot and hopefully he had an amazing day.

Southampton’s keeper was the first one called into action with a save from Gnonto and Meslier did well to push the ball away from a free kick. With their player in acres of space, I assumed their player was offside but with no replays etc. and no shouts from our players, I’m assuming one of out defenders played him onside. This turned out to be the only goal of the game. The second half saw Southampton try to double their lead before we brought on Dan James in place of Gnonto. With his shot hitting the upright and their keeper making a fingertip save in the dying moments of the game, what a fairytale ending that would have been for James if they’d have both gone into the net.

Going to Wembley for the play offs has once again been a waste of time and money, despite the good day out with our fans. To me, that means that for next season the only way we will achieve promotion is for us to go up automatically, so we need to aim for being champions. Enjoy the summer break and thank you to everyone who loves reading my blogs and enjoys having their photos taken. LUFC – Marching on Together!

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Thank you Heidi for all your match reports .

Having been in a similar situation with everything you and your family have gone through, whilst I totally understand that football and especially Leeds is some sort of release (god knows how with all the stress the club put us under ), but to be posting your reports at 3am, 23 hours after you left to attend the game is still above and beyond what anyone could expect from you.

Of course next season when I wake up at 3 am after a game, and find there is no Heidi report, then of course I will be really disappointed and go off into a rambling rant about your lack of dedication and putting sleep before posting (only joking of course ).

Time to recharge your batteries and its onwards and upwards for next season

 

I echo what Aski says Heidi, thank you and sorry to hear you’ve had similar problems as Heidi Aski.

Strangely enough I wasn’t as down about the result as I thought I would have been.

 

If you aren't the most dedicated, loyal,and skint Leeds fan I'll eat my hat!
I travelled all over like you in all weathers, ecstatic at the highs and despairing at the lows but compared to you barely reached the end of my street ...superfan extraudinare

 

Yet another brilliant report Heidi as always. Personally I hate to lose any game. Do I care we didn’t get promoted, not a lot. Will I s e you at first home game next season. Absolutely

 

Thank you that’s appreciated. I’ve certainly been feeling it today but I didn’t even sleep before going for the coach just in case I slept in, just kipped on the settee. Managed to drive to Selby market today but then had to stop and sleep at 4 different places before I got home. Having my granddaughter with me meant I wanted to be extra careful. I’d rather stop and have that extra time although it meant I was out all day.
Was thinking that I may have to rethink it for next season as I fell asleep so many times whilst writing my blog up but then I do feel it’s better to do it straight away when things are fresh in my mind.
Still it will be nice to recharge the batteries but we start 5 days of palliative radiotherapy for my husband on Wednesday so it will be all go. I’ve got three appointments myself this week and just realised they clash but you can guarantee if I change my dental appointment, that I’ll end up with toothache!!

 

Thank you and I can empathise with Aski and anyone else going through similar situations.
I agree about not being more down but the thought of struggling every week in the premier league wasn’t appealing. It feels different to when we went up with Bielsa as I always felt we would compete and challenge for the top, something that feels light years away at the moment. The challenge of waiting another year is that you don’t make automatic promotion or the play offs. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

 

Aww thank you but I always felt we’d end up in the play offs to make sure we spent even more money. I’ve already been told by my hubby that I’ll have to tighten the belt when he’s no longer here but that’s something I’m already aware of as my income will drop. I keep saying I’ll go temping if I have to as getting to games is what I need to keep going, but the thought of work doesn’t appeal at the moment. I did three jobs in the 70s to make sure I’d enough money to go to all the games including abroad, so if I have to, I will.

 

Will look forward to a catch up MOT

 

If that's what it takes to keep happy then down to the workhouse it'll have to be .... don't let anything stand in your way keep that blue beret on show

 

Seems to be lots of bloggers making money writing about daft stuff. There’s got to be an income for you in writing your blogs that thousands read. I wouldn’t know a lot on subject but I’m sure there are some who’d specialize in that area

 

The hope is when i finally get my website up that it can create a bit of income to pay for itself. I want it to be free subscription because i want people to be able to read my blogs but also have a contribution button if possible towards voluntary site costs. Not sure if it would work or not but will see.

 

Perhaps you could look towards advertising on site too. I could imagine Leeds based companies would be happy to come on board. Things like hotel group targeting travelling fans, food outlets taxi firms. Possibly the club might want to be involved also with a link to promoting their special offers etc

 

Thank you it’s worth a try

 

It was a tough trip, Im getting old, great supporters as always though

 

Queing for pints at Wembley ****, pints ****, they ran out and were opening cans. I was waiting for a pint and this young girl noticed me putting my plastic cup down and gave me her spare one, I love LEEDS LASSES

 

Phone call from the last century. They’d like their joke back

 

I actually laugh at these, laugh at those who think they’re the first to post it and that they’re being funny.

I’m waiting for someone from the Hull board to post the Tesco Leeds Crumble image, we’ve not had that one for at least a month

 

Queuing to get out of Wembley very ****.
Ended up having a few cans from Lidl before the game. Saw police taking people's drinks and pouring it away. So ended up drinking last couple from a mcdonalds cup