THE LUFC DIARIES: Jimmy's Free-Kick

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

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.