Wednesday 12 November 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: George Graham On Gardening



The LUFC Diaries was delighted to catch-up with Leeds United manager George Graham at Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens in Harrogate.  George loves gardening and boy didn't he let us know that. George had the nickname 'Stroller' in his playing career but today he reminded me of a mafia don. John Gotti always dressed well for his many trials but he couldn't escape from looking like a thug, Graham looks like a boss you had to respect.  Having won November's Premier League Manager of the Month award & signing a new improved contract at Elland Road, George Graham was back on top of his game & in demand.  I wanted to know how George Graham was enjoying life back in football management.



'Last year was tough and I know the team bored everyone to tears but we were in a relegation battle and had to stay in the Premier League'.  'When I was a player football used to be an entertainment, now it's a business'. 'I knew the financial situation when I came to Leeds, I knew we couldn't spend the sort of money like Manchester United, Arsenal & Chelsea do'. 'I told the fans that this isn't going to be a quick job, I told them we had to progress gradually and bring in the kids who have love for the club'.  'I want to copy the model of Manchester United where most of the first team came through their youth ranks, they have got it right'.  'I did the same at Arsenal and I had it right for a period of time'.  'We had superstars here last season who were waiting to be pensioned off, I had to change that culture at the club'. 'I've inherited a good youth policy at Leeds, let's stick the kids in'. 'I admire teams that build things for the long term, not for quick short term success. 'I tell all my players the way I work and the way they are gonna have to work for me'. 'I try to let players know what is expected from them, it's as simple as that'.  'I hear all this modern thinking of let players express themselves, I believe in that but not to the detriment of the team'.  'Let the team win first and then they can express themselves'.



Finally, I asked George Graham if he was worried that his hobby for gardening will affect his tough guy reputation?

'Haha, it's just an act...a good act'.

THE LUFC DIARIES: Lucas Radebe On Experiencing Snow



THE LUFC DIARIES had the opportunity to speak with Lucas Radebe ahead of the Yorkshire clash with Barnsley FC.  Lucas was looking forward to the game because he would be facing his old South Africa teammate Eric Tinkler.  Life for Radebe was good after receiving rave reviews for his form under the tutelage of George Graham.  During Howard Wilkinson's reign, Radebe was just a Leeds squad member going nowhere but Graham changed all that and turned him into a world class defender who was wanted by big clubs across Europe.  Lucas revealed to us that his first couple of years at Leeds was tough because he missed his family back home in Sowato and had to deal with spells of being homesick.  A man who took a bullet in his back in Sowato wasn't going to give up on his dream of being a superstar for Leeds in the Premier League and thank god he didn't.



Monday 22 September 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Jimmy's Free-Kick



Wonderful reconstruction of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's stunning free-kick against West Ham United at Elland Road.

Wednesday 17 September 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: How To Distract Alan Smith



December 2nd 2001 was the day when Robbie Fowler made his debut for Leeds United in an away fixture at Fulham.  The match will be remembered for a boring 0-0 draw but the events before the kick-off was extraordinary.  Leeds hot-head striker Alan Smith was in the media spotlight after being sent-off against Aston Villa in the previous week and his week didn't get any better when the club bought the striker Robbie Fowler from Liverpool for £11 million.  Obviously the London club thought Smith would be vulnerable and could be rattled so they tried to push his buttons in the pre-match warm-up.  Smith was sickeningly targeted by a gang of beautiful Fulham FC cheerleaders who never left the poor lad alone.  A source from the Leeds board told me 'How can you expect the player to have his mind on the game when he has women dancing around him like a chorus line, these girls could cause a bloody riot'.


I spoke to a Fulham steward after the game and told him I wasn't impressed with the cheerleader stunt.  He just stared at me and nodded.

Saturday 30 August 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: David Hockaday Tribute Video



David Hockaday's reign at Elland Road ended after 70 days but who was this man & how did he ever get the chance to manage Leeds United.  When Hockaday was first linked with Leeds I was shocked, not because I didn't think he deserved to be our next 'Head Coach'. No, I was shocked that I've never heard of the guy.
Like most Leeds fans I had to google Wikipedia to do some research on the man who soon became known as the 'Hock'.  Obviously I wasn't blown away with what I read on the 'Hock' but the fans negative reaction to the man made me want to support him.  Neil Warnock & Brian McDermott both had a great CV before taking the Leeds job but they couldn't handle the pressure of the Elland Road hot-seat, so I thought what the hell let's give this guy a go.  I was naive to think people would think like me & back Cellino's judgment. Hockaday was ridiculed from Day 1, everything from his appearance, to his accent & to every word he spoke was subjected to the mob who wanted him sacked.  Sure, these people were quiet when Leeds beat Middlesborough 1:0 at Elland Road but they were only waiting for the next defeat to repeat their hate for the 'Hock'.  Even though Hockaday had the backing from senior players in the Leeds United dressing room his appointment as Head Coach created a black cloud over the club where every defeat turned into 'will he stay or be fired' routine. Cellino had to get rid of this black cloud & Hockaday simply had to go.
Did the 'Hock' get a fair crack at the job? Of course not.
Will Cellino get the next appointment right? That's a good question.

Friday 8 August 2014

Euro 96: Zidane Live At Leeds


In 1996, football came home.  Well that was the soundbite the English press used for England staging the Euro 96 tournament.  On Saturday 15th of June, France played Spain at Elland Road & the game ended 1:1.  It was the only time Zinedine Zidane would ever play at Elland Road but the untold story of that summer was how close Leeds United were to signing him.  Zidane was playing for Bordeaux at the time but his desire to leave his club was not a secret & teams across europe wanted the highly rated midfielder. Manchester United seemed to be leading the chase for Zidane but Ferguson changed his mind after the success of Beckham, Scholes & Butt in the previous season.  Blackburn Rovers came into the race when they invited Zidane & teammate Christophe Dugarry to their training complex for talks with new manager Ray Harford who decided not to sign them.  This is where Leeds United come in. Howard Wilkinson knew he was going to lose the services of Gary McAllister & Gary Speed who were two important players in his 1991/1992 title winning team .  The pair had made it clear to Wilkinson that it was time to move on & Speed transfer to Everton had been lined-up for months.  Wilkinson's main concern though was how to replace McAllister.  Scouts recommended the names of Robert Prosinecki and Zinedine Zidane.  Bordeaux told Leeds that Zidane was available but they had to beat Juventus to sign him.  That didn't worry the Leeds manager who had snatched Eric Cantona from the hands of Sheffield Wednesday four years earlier.  It was rumoured that Leeds had a meeting with Zidane's agent during Euro 96 where the club heard the news that Zidane prefered the move to Juventus because he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Michel Platini who had been a superstar in Turin.  Juventus paid Bordeaux £3.2 million for Zidane who became a football legend, Leeds paid Manchester United £4.5 million for Lee Sharpe who became Howard Wilkinson's final ever signing at the club.

Below is a highlight video of Zinedine Zidane playing at Elland Road for France against Spain.


Monday 28 April 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: JIMMY'S GOT CANTONA-ISMS



After losing his place in the Leeds United team to the youngster Harry Kewell, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had a point to prove to his manager George Graham.  Leeds were 0:3 down to Derby County at Elland Road and the dutchman was sent onto the pitch to rescue the game & he did.  His super-sub performance not only changed the game for the mighty whites but it became a massive turning point in his Leeds United career. Graham never dropped Hasselbaink again & he became a Premership superstar.  We spoke to Jimmy after the game & listened to his football philosophy.


Saturday 5 April 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Tomas Brolin Released By Leeds



Tomas Brolin's nightmare spell at Leeds United ended in 1997 when the club finally released him from his contract.  Only two years before, he had signed for the club in a record £4.5 million deal but his time at Elland Road was a massive failure.  Howard Wilkinson signed the Swedish superstar after failing to land Brolin's Parma team-mate Faustino Asprilla.  At the time it seemed the transfer was a panic buy and it proved to be.   George Graham wouldn't entertain Howard Wilkinson's flop & his departure at Leeds was just a matter of time.



Tuesday 1 April 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: David Elleray Loves Leeds?



David Elleray was probably the most famous referee in the Premiership in the 90's & he shocked the football world when he outed himself as a Leeds fan during a game at Elland Road against Newcastle United.  This started a craze when other ref's jumped on the bandwagon, yes I'm talking about you Graham Poll.  I suspected that Dermot Gallagher was also a closet Leeds fan too but he wouldn't comment on it when I asked him.


THE LUFC DIARIES: Leeds Fans Refuse To Watch Defeats



Leeds fans are always creative & when the team went on a losing run they decided the best way to deal with it was to pretend it wasn't actually happening.  Instead of watching the game, the fans would lie back on their seats & think of Alan Titchmarsh.


THE LUFC DIARIES: Graham Dreaming Of Spurs Job



In the 1996/97 season Gerry Francis of Tottenham Hotspur signed every player that was linked with Leeds, ie, John Scales, Ramon Vega & Stefan Iversen.  Can you imagine how George Graham must have felt being beaten by the post on every transfer by Spurs.  But as the saying goes, a week is a long time in football and Francis reign at Tottenham Hotspur was now in jeopardy.  The one name who kept being linked with the Spurs job was George Graham.  It was unthinkable that the old Arsenal boss would take the job but everybody in the game knew Graham wanted a quick return to the capital.

THE LUFC DIARIES: David Hopkin Signs For Leeds



George Graham finally gets his man.  David Hopkin was linked with Leeds United throughout the summer of 1997 but the mighty whites had to battle with Sheffield Wednesday to get his signature. Hopkin surprised the media at the press conference by wearing flip-flops, not a good PR move when people are comparing you to the next Billy Bremner.  The midfield general had hoped his move to Leeds would help him get into Scotland's World Cup squad at the end of the season.  Time will tell.


THE LUFC DIARIES: Hasselbaink Signs For Leeds



The mystery european striker Leeds United were chasing was finally revealed at Elland Road when the club signed Boavista's hitman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.  George Graham hopes Jimmy takes over Tony Yeboah's role in the team & becomes a fan's favourite.  We spoke to Jimmy after the media press conference to hear why he decided to join Leeds.


Monday 31 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Tomas Brolin Bird Accident



Tomas Brolin's career at Elland Road was a major disappointment & just when he needed a fresh start to impress Leeds United manager George Graham fate intervened.  The swedish superstar was on the way to the airport to catch a plane back to Leeds for pre-season training when a bird hit his car windscreen & made him have an accident.  When the news broke of this incident in Leeds, fans of the club thought it was the worst excuse they had ever heard to miss training.  George Graham wasn't happy but he had bigger problems in the form of Tony Yeboah.  The Ghana hitman failed to show up for training & nobody at the club knew where he was.  Graham wanted Brolin & Yeboah out of the club and in the coming months he finally got his wish.


Thursday 27 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Leeds Win 1997 FA Youth Cup



Paul Hart's brilliant Leeds United Youth Team beat Crystal Palace for the FA Cup in 1997.  The above video shows that memorable night.


Wednesday 26 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Robertson Signs For Leeds



David Robertson from Glasgow Rangers was unveiled as Leeds United's first summer signing of 1997.  We spoke to him to hear why he decided to join Leeds.


THE LUFC DIARIES: Leeds Chase Mystery Striker



Bill Fotherby won't tell the media who the mystery european striker Leeds United are chasing but that didn't stop THE LUFC DIARIES trying to find out.

THE LUFC DIARIES: Boro Relegated At Elland Road



The last day of the season is always a memorable occasion but Middlesborough's visit to Elland Road in 1997 turned into a nightmare for Bryan Robson's team.  Boro who got to two cup finals in this season needed to win to stay in the Premiership but it wasn't to be.  In the above video we see exclusive images from THE LUFC DIARIES who covered the game.


THE LUFC DIARIES: Laurent & Lilley Sign For Leeds



George Graham made two surprise signings on transfer deadline day in March, 1997.  In the video above we spoke to the Leeds United manager after the Blackburn Rovers game at Elland Road to hear his thoughts on Pierre Laurent & Derek Lilley.


Monday 24 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Palmer Wants To Quit Leeds



Carlton Palmer wanted to quit Leeds United after George Graham made it known to him that he was not part of his future plans for the club.  In the above video we spoke to fans in the city of Leeds to hear their thoughts on the matter.


THE LUFC DIARIES: Can Graham Make Leeds Great?



Tommy Docherty managed Chelsea FC in the 1960's and George Graham was one of his players.  In the video above we spoke exclusively to Tommy and asked him whether he thought Graham could make Leeds United great again.



THE LUFC DIARIES: Man-Marking George Graham



George Graham is known for being the master of defensive coaching and in the 1996/97 season he turned Lucas Radebe into a man-marker.  Radebe was given the role of following Steve McManaman & Gianfranco Zola in games and his performance wowed the football critics.  The above video shows Graham teaching the Leeds defender Richard Jobson the role of a man-marker.


Sunday 23 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Leeds United Project Arena



Caspian Group, the owners of Leeds United unveils their huge Leeds Arena plan to the media.  Chief Executive Robin Launders talks to THE LUFC DIARIES about the project.


THE LUFC DIARIES: Lee Sharpe On Shopping



Lee Sharpe explains his passion for shopping in our exclusive interview with the Leeds United winger.  THE LUFC DIARIES hoped Lee had a passion for strip clubs aswell but we weren't invited.



The LUFC Diaries: Yeboah Wants Out?



Tony Yeboah wants to leave Leeds United after having a bust-up with manager George Graham.  The Ghana legend thinks he's not part of Graham's first team plans and wants to join a top european team before retiring at the end of next season.  Clubs in Germany, France and Spain are in the hunt for the Leeds hitman.


THE LUFC DIARIES: Leeds Sign A Gunnar



After losing out on the signings of John Scales & Ramon Vega to Tottenham Hotspur, George Graham finally secures his first transfer at Leeds United with Gunnar Halle.  The former Oldham Atheltic defender was destined to return to Norway but signed for Leeds for £400,000 after Graham's interest.


Friday 21 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Leeds United v Chelsea: A Vicious Rivalry



North vs South, Yorkshire vs The Capital and Leeds United vs Chelsea FC.  In 1996, these two teams battled at Elland Road like their lives depended on it.  What we saw was one of the brutal games in Premiership history.


Thursday 20 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Yeboah's Knee Makes Comeback



Anthony Yeboah suffered a terrible knee injury in the 1995/96 season and was out of the game for 8 months.  He made his comeback in the Leeds reserves at Oldham but only played 45 minutes because the ground had a power cut.  We interviewed him after the match to see how his knee was doing.



Wednesday 19 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: George Graham On Leeds Utd vs Leeds Utd Ladies Team



George Graham's revolution continued at Elland Road when he supported the Leeds United Ladies Team.  Apparently George wanted them to have the same backing from the club as the men's team did. Graham had admired the Arsenal's Ladies Team for years because they played attractive football, something the fans never saw at Highbury when he was manager.

THE LUFC DIARIES: Gary Kelly Scores For Leeds



After 6 seasons at the club, Gary Kelly finally scores for Leeds United.  I caught up with him on this historic day.


THE LUFC DIARIES: George Graham's Arsenal Shrine



George Graham's return to Highbury as Leeds United manager was big news but as this video shows his heart always belongs to the Arsenal.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: Secret O'Leary Tape



Exclusive secret recording of David O'Leary's final training session for Leeds United's away game to Leicester City on 28th of September 1996.

LUFC Nostalgia: Leeds Sack Howard Wilkinson



Question, have you ever seen a football manager attend a press conference to announce his sacking?

Well that's what happened in September of 1996 when Howard Wilkinson joined his Leeds United chairman Bill Fotherby at Elland Road to break the news of his sacking to the media.  His job was always in jeopardy after previous Leeds chairman Leslie Silver sold his shares to the 'Caspian Group' consortium.  The new era started in the summer which saw the departures of club legends Gary McAllister & Gary Speed.  The owners backed Wilkinson in the transfer market with the signings of Lee Sharpe, Nigel Martyn, Lee Bowyer & Ian Rush but George Graham being the next Leeds United was the worst kept secret in football.  The rumour was Graham lived in the same apartment block with 'Caspian Group' non-executive director Richard Thompson.  Wilkinson knew he was going to get the sack and knew that Graham was lined-up to replace him.  So why did Wilkinson attended the press conference...he was there to say goodbye!

Tuesday 11 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: GFH WHERE ARE YOU?

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The video above is about the shambles of Leeds United on & off the pitch.


Wednesday 5 March 2014

THE LUFC DIARIES: CELLINO ON TOGETHER



The video above is about 'Bore Draws' & the Massimo Cellino on-going takeover.