The traditional relegation image, Barnsley variety
It’s true, then. What goes around really does come around – and Barnsley FC, whose primitive fans were so gleefully happy at the plight of Leeds United just a few weeks back, have now dropped into the lower league abyss which is their natural environment. They can expect neither sympathy nor comfort from LS11 – the home of Leeds United who, just a few short weeks ago, had problems of their own that threatened to cast them ignominiously into administration and League One. At that point, the internet rang with glee from the usual suspects, prominent among them the fans of that small club from the back streets of a former pit town in the Republic of South Yorkshire.
The Barnsley fans of my acquaintance were highly active on Facebook and the like, nudging each other in a virtual sense and snickering like excited schoolboys. “Leeds are going into admin!” chortled one. “Really?” spluttered his little friend. “Is that for definite?” And so they went on, speculating about the level of the points deduction (15 at least, I reckon. Ooh no, I hope it’s 20.) It was unedifying stuff, but sadly it’s exactly what you might have expected from a bunch of fans with such a large chip on their collective shoulder. They “hate Leeds scum”, you see. They couldn’t tell you why, though they might possibly remember something their dad once said about Billy Bremner or Norman Hunter. Anyway, they were chuffed to bits at the thought of our misery and the crisis we were in, and they cavorted accordingly.
It was similar at the end of last season. Back then, Barnsley were in relegation trouble again, come the last day of the season. So were Huddersfield; and the two played each other, knowing that the loser would go down. It ended up as a draw and results elsewhere saved both lesser Yorkshire clubs. You might have expected celebration, maybe even mutual congratulation and some clog dancing in the cobbled streets with, perhaps, a spike in the troglodyte birth-rate nine months later. But no – the sole thought in these yonners’ tiny minds was to join in with a combined chorus of Huddersfield and Barnsley as they regaled us with loud and tuneless anti-Leeds United songs. They were bang to rights on a charge of hating us more than they loved their own dismal little clubs, even at the moment of their greatest triumph – because for Huddersfield and Barnsley, avoiding relegation from a sphere higher than their natural comfort zone is as good as it ever gets.
But now, a mere few weeks on from Leeds United’s nadir of crisis and despair, when those Toby Tykes were so happy and optimistic, things have changed and the pit boot is on the other foot. Leeds United are safe – and apparently minted, with the potential to rebuild and ascend once more into the Promised Land. Meanwhile, Barnsley have gone, back into obscurity where they undeniably belong. No more Cup Finals against Leeds United – they will have to settle for playing second fiddle to Sheffield’s junior club. They will face a new and bleaker financial reality as their already tiny crowds (except when Leeds came to town) dwindle even further. Some gloomy and pessimistic “Tarn” fans are already predicting that it’ll take years to come back. Let’s hope so. Sentimental hypocrites aside, Barnsley will not be missed.
All their fans can do now is to prepare themselves for existence at a lower level, with fixtures against the likes of Rochdale, Scunny and perhaps York City. Those fans will still “hate Leeds scum”, but they will miss the brief taste of the big time that our visits provided, and they will yearn for the day that they might play us again. From a Leeds United point of view, one less Cup Final Complex opponent will do us no harm next season – and it’s probable that we’ll have moved on up, long before Barnsley can hope to slither out of the lower league mire. It’s all very satisfactory and enjoyable – and if that sounds cruel, then just cast your minds back to the fun the Tykes were having, quite recently, at our expense.
What goes around, comes around – and karma is indeed a bitch. Suck it up, Barnsley fans. You deserve it.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Funny I was thinking same thing in february, after the merciless piss taking of moyes and man united over every lufc fb site and twitter and anywhere else you looked and yeah it was funny but something told me our arses would get bitten too. karma eh? Personally Id rather see back of Millwall n Charlton
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How did our arses get bitten, exactly? I’m with you on Millwall – but Charlton??
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I don’t know rob, I like to see northern clubs doing well, I like to think Leeds are bigger than that.
I’m glad the title race is between Liverpool and citeh. I hope sunderland stay up.
Much rather see upset southerners, like with man u missing out on europe.
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Also hoping Birmingham stay up at expense of millwall
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My Mum’s a southerner, so I don’t hold with this North/south thing. I’m bigger than that. I hate them as hates me and mine 🙂
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My dads a manc, thankfully he supports the true Manchester team and not the mid table also rans.
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Good man ….. And there’s good a bad in all …… as you say Barnsley had it coming to gobby by half ….. Just need that scum Millwall to drop as well …… One other thing what’s all this crap on BBC radio kissing the arse of Manchester as per usual ….. They keep stating the Giggs era ….. Frickin era when does 4 games constitute an era …… Idiots
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Exactly – but it’s impossible to see a scum arse hanging out without a media crew crawling up it.
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Interesting reading. I am a Bradford City supporter (not fan) and personally I like to see all Yorkshire clubs do well apart from Huddersfield Town due to their fans hatred off all things none Town and a jealousy of anyone doing well other than themselves. I do like to see Leeds do well, I do love my football and I have actually gone down to Elland Road on a few occasions to support Leeds as I think you have a fantastic ground, I have been caught up in trouble between you and Huddersfield Town fans in the league cup several years ago, but still a night I don’t regret experiencing and was my first visit as a neutral, and before you ask, I didn’t get involved in any of the post match action lets say. Leeds showed us great support in the promotion hunt and the League cup run last season which was absolutely amazing, but I do have to make a comment on why Barnsley fans may hate Leeds. I have grown up hating Leeds if I am honest not because of the club, but because of the fans associated with the club. Fans that never go, no intention of going and would struggle to name a couple of players from the last couple of seasons let alone one. It is the glory fans that tarnish Leeds United, I know all clubs, Bradford included have their fair share of terrible fans, but nothing grates more than glory fans with no affiliation to their preferred club. It is their attitude and lack of knowledge that infuriates supporters from other clubs, just as Man U fans up and down the country that classes watching them on TV at the pub or reading about them actually classes as supporting their club. It was an interesting read, I don’t take gratitude in Barnsley going down, even though I am looking forward to next season’s derby, but sometimes it would be good to look at the reasons Barnsley hate Leeds United rather having a go that they do. For the record I do work with a Barnsley fan that hates Leeds, then again, he hates every Yorkshire club even his own as they hardly win, but when they do, his tune changes slightly. Just one last thing, what is it with everyone crying when their club goes down, it really is the most pathetic spectacle I can think of. I really think some people need to toughen up, it’s not the end of the world, no one has died or got hurt and supporting a club that has experienced a devastating fire with 56 people dieing horribly, administrations and literally my club going to the wall on a couple of occasions, 3 relegations from the top flight and having to acclimatise watching and losing to Accrington and the like instead of watching us compete and beat teams like Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, I really do know what I am talking about regards that. Worst comes to the worst, clubs go bust, and if mine did, I would never shed a tear, there are more important things in life to worry about, but there were times I did fear that my first team would be Bradford Park Avenue 😦
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A true football fan. I don’t agree with all you say, but you have the right outlook IMO. Respect.
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Oh, do you want Andy Gray Back?
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Erm, no thanks…
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I’m not really happy (well I am) that Barnsley have gone into the dark dim dungeon of League one. I wanted us to give them 2 really good wallopings next season. They hate us so much – same as little Donny. In this respect I hope Donny don’t go down as well. Then we can hammer them, Millwall, Wednesday and Hudderfield.
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Sounds good to me. ‘Appen we’s’ll get Barnsley in t’Coop??
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Well rob , after predicting a 3-1 win for Leeds this weekend I feel I should share my powers of prediction with everyone again , Leeds will win promotion next year , man u will again finish mid table , oh and barnnnsligh will get relegated to division 3 where they will languish for for years ,, bye bye barnnnnsligh ,,
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Blimey Mr O, you did, didn’t you!? I hereby convey upon you the title of LLUUUE Resident Soothsayer and Clairvoyant. Yours, sir, is a ball of pure crystal 🙂
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Only down side rob is that I had Ross Mc to score first ,, it would have been a nice little pay day ,, oh well , as the famous poet wrote , if you can lose and not complain , ( words to that effect)
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Ah, the one about the two impostors – did old Rudyard mean Barnsley’s strike force??
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I don’t hate Barnsley per se (anymore than I hate most other clubs which isn’t a lot really) they’re more of an annoyance.
I reckon that kid is crying because his mum has just said “Aye lad yer dad is from Barnsley and yes you will learn t’play t’banjo.”
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Ha! 🙂
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A great day for football lets hope they go down next year as well.
Inbred scum
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Sensitively put 🙂
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Its all light hearted fun…….isn’t it?
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In a deadly serious way – yes.
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I trust the irony of this article is not lost on Rob. I think the reason the vast majority of football fans, not just Barnsley fans, hate Leeds because they have fans who will write this sort of stuff. The gist of it being “Barnsley fans are awful because they support a small town club but take great delight reveling in a local club’s misfortune. Leeds fans support a MASSIVE CLUB so it’s different when we revel in a local club’s misfortune.” Do Leeds fans have the idea that it’s a cup final against them because of something their dad once said about Billy Bremner or Norman Hunter?
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You’re hurting, this bitterness is understandable – and funny 🙂
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Rob, I have an annoying buzzing in my ear, its been there ever since I realised I was a Leeds fan, the annoying buzzing has been confirmed by a highly qualified Otolaryngologist to be absolutely nothing to worry about, in fact he stressed that it is insignificant, worthless and will disappear into oblivion as all things pointless eventually do, in layman`s terms the buzzing sound is the high pitched voices of envious and bitter Barnsley fans, amazing how so few can be so irritating, if it itches, try not to scratch!
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Quality 🙂
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Very poor choice of photo you’ve used to gloat over Barnsleys demise. Try and show some class if you are going to poke fun.
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Do me a favour, you wimp! When Leeds dropped out of the Prem, that picture of the crying kid at Bolton went viral and everybody had a good old laugh. I didn’t notice your heart bleeding then!!
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I’m a Barnsley supporter, and I agree that we deserve to go down, for the reason that we were not good enough this year. Can you really say that if Leeds were on the fringes of relegation, and a club may go into administration increasing your chances of staying up you wouldn’t hope it happens? Let alone a Yorkshire rival. As for last season at Hudderesfield the ‘We all hate Leeds Scum’ chant happened to be one of the few chants that both sets of supporters will sing, along with ‘Yorkshire’ and ‘We are staying up’. Although a fair few will have meant it when they chanted it you should know it’s not the full fan base. I, like many a Barnsley fan, dislike all Yorkshire rival teams equally, but don’t hate the fans, just football rivalry as it were. Some, I’m sure, hate Leeds more, perhaps due to the mutual hatred escalating it. I’m glad that Leeds didn’t go into administration because even if they had it wouldn’t have kept us up, for that is the only reason I was wishing it, preservation of my own club over another. I acknowledge that League 1 is not as easy as it seems but, I would like to be playing Leeds again in the near future because even if we lose it’s usually a good game (your win at Oakwell not constituting of a good game as it was dull), and if we’re to play you in near future, I’m sure you’d prefer it to not be in League 1. Just my thoughts on the matter.
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Fair comments all.
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@ Andrew Bentley Leeds glory fans?? with this comment do you mean we are glory hunters? like the fans of the likes of Man united, Liverpool, Man city, Chelsea, Arsenal, and any other whom support a team because they win the premiership and are in European football or they are guarantee top flight place we all see end of every season whom ever as won the premiership, wannabe supporters coming out of the wood work with the team shirt that have done well that season or won the title.
Calling Leeds supporters and fans glory hunters I think the past decade have proved this very wrong has I have always know Leeds United have the greatest support in the world, has we free falled into the lower divisions our support hardley dwindle home and away our gates surpassed all and only rivalled the top premiership teams, Leeds fans and supporters all over the world are true football fans and I salut you all!
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To be fair to him, we DID have a fair few glory hunters once. Nothing on the scale of man u, Chelsea and the likes, but they were there.
Also citeh might have a few now theyre in the prem, but they still had huge crowds when they were down in the 3rd tier (like us), so I wouldnt lump them in with their tasteless and tacky neighbours in the glory hunter stakes.
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yes but how many would go support them if they dropped like we did (Leeds United) would they still get 25000-30000 crowds in there stadiums just look at man u theatre of empty seats and that’s just one bad season they had. Leeds still have supporters from all over England and the world who have supported them through the good time and bad
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@Aplanir I admire the fan base of Leeds United, I really do, the gripe I mentioned was that I grew up with people that called themselves Leeds United “supporters” having never been or will never go or even from Leeds or the surrounding suburbs. Boast at how well the club is and how fantastic the players are but they could not name 1 player, belittling every other local club. To be honest, I really detest fans like that no matter who they claim to “support”, and at work it does my head in when fans rate the players of their acclaimed clubs or possible transfer targets just on the basis on how high their stats are on FIFA 14, and yes, 1 of them is a so called Leeds fan and another no surprise is a Man U fan that has the usual excuse that he can’t afford to go but yet spends almost £20 at the work canteen week in week out…….go figure. Glory fans I grew up with always came up with excuses to never go as they now do with Man U. I have been to Elland Road 3 times once actually this season for the Wednesday game yet I have only been once was with my club and that does make me a bigger Leeds United supporter than many so called Leeds fans I personally know. I wouldn’t hesitate to go again watch you play for 2 simple reasons. I love football and for the fact I think you have a great ground and there is a brilliant atmosphere. I have even been to support Huddersfield Town the once. As for asking if I mean Leeds fans are glory hunters? Please Aplanir if you want to quote me, please quote me correctly, I say it as it is on the tin. I grew up with Leeds united glory fans since the 80s and even now as adults, many of them have never been within a mile of Elland Road. I hate those fans, but I will never hate people that support one of the most successful local clubs that we have in this area especially through the tough times. Personally I never take satisfaction from a club struggling, I like to see Yorkshire clubs barring 1 do really well, but there is one club I am loving at the moment that are struggling and I am praying they finish at best 7th this season 😉 Am I wrong in feeling that towards that particular club, or is it justified because of the attitude of their supporters and the glory fans we have had to put up with for 20 years. You may not agree with what I say, but as a Bradford fan, I have no gripe with Leeds, as what have Leeds United fans on the whole ever done to me. I know of the history of what has happened over the years from a small section of the support but on the whole, I will cheers Leeds on when you win, and if you lose, well, could be worse, you could have been brought up as a Bradford supporter. 😉
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It gives me a lump in my throat to this day. If you or anyone else feel compelled to post a photo of a “crying child” in order to gloat,there is something sadly wrong. One expects it from millwall etc,but i thought our lot would rise above crap like that.
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Where do you think I got it from, Mick? It’s out there already. And I expect FAR worse from Millwall than a grizzling bairn. There are plenty of kids round the country with far more to cry about than a team getting relegated. Passion, support, whatever – it’s still only a game for God’s sake. As for good taste – you’re hardly in a position to fire arrows over THAT, with your less than savoury attacks on other bloggers. You’re a valued contributor here – but let’s not pretend that your standards are particularly angelic, eh.
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I couldn’t give a toss whether it’s already out there in the ether. I expected more from you though. I’ve never purported to be either angelic or a paragon of virtue,but i think you’ll find my comments regarding that other blog are justified given they refer to the Leeds support as “Idiots”. Your other point regarding children having more important things to cry about is i think you’ll find pertinent to comments i have posted regarding “establishment child abuse”. It is easy to be flippant regarding the importance of football in general,but to kids football is everything. I can remember to this day the state i was in when we somehow lost the 73 cup final. Now, if you really DO consider me a wimp then i would invite you to count how many other Leeds fans have put their heads above the parapet to take issue with you.
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I’m not bothered who disagrees with me as long as they don’t start telling me what to do and not to do; what to write and not to write. I’ve always had a problem with that, I’m afraid. We’ll just have to agree to disagree – but I do feel that even to mention child abuse in this context is utterly ridiculous – and to borrow your phrase and risk sounding just as sanctimonious, I expected more class from you.
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Now, now Mick – don’t go upsetting our Rob….
In response to your earlier question: Hello AllWhiteNow.I used to live in South East London in the late 80s.Is The Fox and Firkin still there in Ladywell,between Catford and Lewisham? Aah happy days.
I haven’t lived there since the late 70s but did work for a bit in the 80s in Lursham and yes, the F&F is still there in the High St
Catford, eh? Not many people know about Catford….
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Upset? Me?? 🙂
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Good read again rob,i myself dont hate barnsley,its just when you look at them there eyes are far to close to each other one looking up one looking down if you know what i mean,for me i would like to see millwall and blackpool to go down only because there relationship[sitting on the board] with the fl that refused cellino and nearly dragged us into the abyss of nothingness, in reality who cares they will all see our dust over the next season or two if things go right, if we sign the right players and if we either get behind mcd or replace him which to be fair im still undecided i said on your blog after the forest game it was time for him to go but im not sure now.Lets just hope we can keep hold of mcc and big mat smith[50 goal between them next season with right midfield] and we will storm it,or im i just a bit to optamistic…………….MOT
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It’s incredible the amount of goals Smith and Rossco have scored between them in a side with all the creative ability of a demolition contractor. I agree it’s fair to hope for even greater things if that issue is addressed.
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Is Ryan giggs from t’barnsley?
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I do love people from Leeds talking about the state of people from Barnsley. Its like Hunslet, Belle Isle, Beeston, Little London, Cross Green….etc,etc are stocked full of prime specimens of humanity. LoL!!!
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In response to the comment “have now dropped into the lower league abyss which is their natural environment”.
“Barnsley have spent more seasons in the second tier of English football than any other club in history” Football365
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But have they spent more seasons there than they have in the lower leagues? Eh? Tell me THAT.
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yes
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Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 1
Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 76
Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 20
Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 10
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77 seasons punching above your weight. Bloody well done! But you can relax now, you’re home 🙂
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Yeah..
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Hi Rob.
Unfortunately you’re wrong. The lower leagues aren’t our natural environment as we’ve spent more years than any other club in the second tier of English football.
I notice you mention we’ve got a chip on our shoulder but then you’re the one making a blog post on our relegation following on from the laughable post about it been our cup final earlier in the season. It seems that you’re the one with the chip on the shoulder.
It’s always fantastic to beat teams from towns/cities nearby as you tend to work, socialise or even be related to fans of there’s so it’s not rocket science that a Barnsley fan would celebrate a victory over Leeds more than over Yeovil.
I hope you continue to enjoy our relegation. From what I’ve seen most of our fans aren’t too upset about the drop, battling relegation for 7/8 seasons in a row has got a bit boring & the chance to go to some new grounds & maybe finish a season with a positive goal difference & more wins than losses would be nice.
It’s also got a bit boring constantly hearing Leeds & Wednesday fans convinced their clubs somehow belong in the top half of the premiership. Hopefully the likes of Rochdale & Scunthorpe’s fans won’t be like that.
So the next time you think it’s embarrassing that Barnsley sing about ‘Leeds scum’ as you put it just remember that every time Leeds come to Oakwell the vast majority of your fans still sing about Man United despite you been a complete non-entity to them for about 10 years now. Now that’s a chip on the shoulder
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Oh that old “scum don’t know who Leeds are” bollocks. That’ll be why they sing about us every game then. I’d have thought a Barnsley fan might know better, as your town is full of plastic scum. Then again – why would a Tarn fan know owt about football – or anything? Enjoy Scunthorpe.
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You’ve completely missed the point.
You aren’t at the same level as them. I only sing about Leeds when we play you. I wouldn’t dream of going to a random ground & singing about Leeds. I definitely wouldn’t dream about singing about a club a division above us. That’s just embarrassing.
I will enjoy Scunthorpe, certainly more than paying £38 to go to Elland Road & have to put up with the idiots in both sets of support only there for a scrap.
I just can’t understand why you’re so obsessed with Barnsley. Just forget about us & carry on pretending that you’re only losing games because of everyone sees Leeds as a big game. They’ve been out of the premiership for about 10 years. Most of the players coming to Leeds were at school when Leeds were a big club. This mentality has long gone
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I’ve missed the point how? The Man U scum sing about hating us EVERY GAME. So do the lesser Yorkshire clubs – whenever they’re on TV you hear it. You’ll be at it next season, when we are a division above us.
You don’t have a point – you’re just chasing yourself up your own arse because your cage has been rattled.
And I rennet being in Bradford once when you lot were in town for some grubby lower league fixture – and it was mayhem from the town centre to the Interchange – so don’t crack on that Barnsley fans are little plaster saints, because we all know that’s bollocks.
Now run along, do.
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Hi Rob,
Unfortunately you’ve misread what I’ve put again. If you notice I put idiots from both sets of supporters. I wasn’t pretending our fans are saints. We’ve probably got a similar percentage of idiots than most other clubs.
Again, I don’t sing about Leeds unless we’re playing you as I don’t care about you unless we’re playing you.
Leeds simply aren’t that important.
I’m bored now. I’ll let you go back to cloud cuckoo land.
Marching on together. European giants. Man Utd’s biggest rivals.
Bye bye.
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At least you finally saw sense…
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Man u still hate Leeds. they probably concentrate on man city and Liverpool more with them being in the same league, but we’re a definite number 3 DESPITE being out the premiership for a decade, that’s how strong a rivalry it is. these petty rivalries with our smaller yorkshire neighbours are insignificant in comparison.
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After what Barnsley fans have said about Leeds over the past few years, it is poetic justice that they have finally been relegated.
It really sickened me to see both Barnsley and Huddersfield controversially playing out a draw at the end of last season and then both sets of fans celebrating together on the pitch at the end, like they had won a double cup final.
The pathetic chants of “We all hate Leeds scum”, just about sums up both sets of those insular fans, who are fans that are so bored with their own clubs, that they are forever concerned with what Leeds are doing.
Barnsley and Huddersfield may have always taken great pride in having a good record against Leeds, but it is strange how Leeds “ALWAYS” finish above both teams in the league.
As you have famously said Rob, on many occasions, both Barnsley and Huddersfield always raise their game for their twice a season “CUP FINALS” against Leeds and you have always been spot on with those comments.
Barnsley will now have to make do with a lowly cup final against Sheffield Utd, next season in League 1.
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Hear, hear!
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I’ve heard that UKIP are replacing Nigel Farage with David Moyes cos they were so impressed with his ability in keeping out of Europe
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theyre after giggs too, apparently he’s a big HIT with the female voters
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As a Barnsley Fan (stumbling upon this page via ‘NewsNow’, I’m disappointed that we’re tarnish with the same brush. I would see no joy in a Yorkshire club entering Administration (Barnsley’s been there before, and we nearly lost our local club altogether).
I would love to be competing in a league of local derbies, the atmosphere and revenue would be fantastic.
As for poking fun at our town too, we can’t help where we live. I was born and raised here, and I support my local team.
My local town is full of people that choose to support other teams rather than their own town (they have a right to choose), which means we only get attendances of around 8-10,000 a game. That kind of money would only buy you a League One side (at best), so I am incredibly proud we lasted so long in the Championship. Not a single tear has been spared.
I have 2 good friends at work that are Leeds fans, they haven’t poked fun after our relegation because they know I wouldn’t do it to them.
I wish you good luck next season and hope you see past a few kids running their mouths on facebook before posting an article about us all in future.
Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire!
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This is why I didn’t agree with rob up at the top of this page. I’ve got respect for t’barnsley lads that support barnsley, bradford lads that support bradford etc.. because you go to these places and half the people in the town centre are wearing bloody man u shirts.
At least your sticking with a local team.
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What a heap of dross this is. I assume you’re going to be storming through the upper echelons of football in the coming seasons? Based on that game at Oakwell, both teams belong in the conference.
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You’ll be happy you’re headed in the right direction, then.
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It says it all that Barnsley are arguing about how long they’ve spent in the second tier, like it’s something to be proud of. I’m embarrassed at how long we’ve been in it but then again we are massive and we eat Barnsleys for 11sie nibbles.
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Haha!! 🙂
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You fail to mention the years not so long ago you also spent in the third tier of English football ! Plus based on an average crowd to success rate ratio your already in the conference !!
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Well remembered – but we’d have been out after one season if we hadn’t been fecked over by the FL. And – run that Conference thing past me again? #DirtyLeedsFilthyRich
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“Fecked over by the FL”? You shouldn’t even have been alloed to start that season as the owner didn’t have the Golden Share and by FL rules you should have been kicked out of the league!
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Another example of the fairly common Lesser-Brained Barnsley Fuckwit
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Yes filthy rich for how many times in how many years ? The last lot of filthy rich owners nearly bankrupt you .
I would always have banter when you beat a local team but to revel in their decline I would never do #timewilltell
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You might not, but plenty do – and I heard a lot from various Barnsley fans when it looked as though Leeds were in bad trouble a few weeks back – as I’ve gone to some trouble to explain at the start of the article.
It’s those people, and others similarly inclined, that the piece was aimed at.
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Just remember, you “heard a lot from various Barnsley fans”. Not ‘a lot from ALL Barnsley Fans’. We don’t assume ALL Leeds fans are like you or have the same opinions. I wasn’t overly happy when Wednesday got relegated but I was happy when they got promoted and I am looking forward to a trip to Brammall Lane next season to play United as the atmosphere in those games as it is with yours, is absolutely unbeatable and also from a fiscal point of view it makes sense to want to play in the same league as your closest rivals, its cheaper to travel for us and it makes financial sense for the clubs as it generates a lot of income. Banter I can deal with with you are being disrespectful. All the best for next season.
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As I said, my comments were targeted – without respect – where no respect is due. It’s a case of “if the cap fits” I’m afraid, and if you can’t or won’t see that, I feel you’re being slightly precious and over-sensitive. I hope you enjoy your trip to Sheff Utd and return with three points – they are higher up my disrespect list than certain Barnsley fans!
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Eh up Rob….well what a great read and yes I too was thrilled to see the Dingles of South Yorkshire get relegated. Before moving to NZ I lived in Barnsley for nine years. Nice town with some great people but their pathetic uneducated hatred for Leeds pissed me right off. Every time Leeds visited Oakwell it was like Papa Lasarous circus had come to town. Barnsley ‘fans’ would come out of woodwork to slag me off, tell me how dirty we were and basically dine out on the weekend experience. The only problem was that no matter how shit Barnsley were they always pulled one out of the bag against us,
As much as I love life in NZ part of me wishes I could just stroll around Barnsley this week in my Leeds colours and watch all the ‘fans’ admire the colours of a club on the up.
As always…..Marching on together and oh yeah…..Barnsley fans……let us know what the pies at Bradford taste like next year !
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Like boiled dog as usual, I’d imagine 🙂
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Mmmmmmmmmmmm…..that smell of them….stings the senses !
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Rob you seem to be taking a lot of satisfaction from the fact that Man Utd supposedly sing about Leeds at every match. These chants are mere remnants of Leeds success in the 70s, catchy tunes that you picked up as a kid, everyone knows them so they are an easy way to generate some atmosphere at a lot of local clubs. The word ‘Leeds’ in these chants has become completely arbitrary, I can’t imagine anyone actually has any thoughts about Leeds whilst singing.
You’re obviously very loyal to your club, we all are, but the way you write about other clubs and respond to comments sort of confirms the delusions of grandeur evident amongst a large proportion of Leeds supporters – your response to comments, even when a valid point open to debate is made, is to shoot them down with some form of the big club / small club argument.
I suppose at least it sets you apart from the million other football bloggers who write with zero emotion as if they are auditioning for the BBC or something.
Personally I’ve nothing really against Leeds and I enjoyed watching the great games they had in the Champions League on TV all those years ago, but the days leading up to our games have been somewhat annoying where my Leeds supporting friends assume that because we’re playing Leeds it’s seen as a ‘cup final’ – maybe 15 years ago it was but now it really isn’t. The police presence at the fixtures at Oakwell has been well over the top which creates something of a strange atmosphere in the town, that’s the only reason I can put my finger on why a Leeds fan living in Barnsley would think there was anything different about the Leeds games, but of course, playing Leeds is always going to be more appealing than some team from a town 200 miles away that you’d only ever heard of through following football.
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I respect your efforts to gain some moral high ground – or at least to have a valid argument – but you must be aware that to try and dismiss the Man U thing as some 70’s hangover is arrant bollocks. Man U have three hated rivals, Liverpool, City and us. For us, it’s Man U and Chelsea (I personally would add Spurs, but only because of my liking for Arsenal). And of course, everyone hates Leeds. And – hate it though you may – we ARE your Cup Final – or at least we were until you plummeted to a lower status.
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It was more the other local clubs that sing the chant I was getting at. If there was a game that we looked forward to it’s Sheffield Wednesday (I guess that will be Sheffield United now), given that the ‘Welcome to Sheffield’ sign is only about five miles from the town centre and only about a mile from where I live, more of a rivalry by default due to proximity though it has to be said as they also seem to have the same attitude that they should be frying bigger fish.
In the case of Wednesday they won’t be going back to where they feel they belong any time soon as they don’t have owners who throw money at them and are ‘bottom-half’ in terms of budget but I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on why Leeds seem to have struggled to compete despite generating a large revenue, and as we’ve found in the last few months, also borrowing fairly large amounts as well. I saw some information recently (from a few seasons ago I believe) which showed that Leeds non-matchday revenue was the highest in the division and was possibly more than Barnsley’s entire turnover. Leeds seem to be bridging the gap to a lot of teams who are in receipt of parachute payments (which is a ridiculous concept that just handicaps the rest of the division) yet never seem to be troubling the play-off/promotion places?
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I agree with much of your analysis.
As far as Leeds United’s financial mess is concerned, it’s a riddle inside a mystery wrapped in an enigma, as the man said – but I suspect a fiscal black hole by the name of Kenneth William Bates. We are aware that Cellino is unimpressed by the financial health of the club, and he’s not a man to keep his opinions to himself – so we may well find out more about what the hell’s been going on as his tenure progresses.
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Firstly, since the sixties (yes I can remember them) Leeds and Barnsley have been my two teams. Sadly, by having a go a Barnsley, you are doing exactly what you say the Barnsley fans did. The old ‘judge not and ye shall not be judged’ eh. Same principle just different words. The more white rose derbies the better it is for Yorkshire teams as the gates are better. Suppose Southampton fans have better things to talk about these days than the demise of Leeds. (Yes I remember that humiliation too).
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That’s a “No retaliation” rule, Paul. Do you live your life like that? Do you always turn the other cheek? Or do you point out to your fellow man that he has a mote in his eye – when you have a beam in yours? We can all bandy biblical aphorisms, old lad – but are we REALLY prepared to live by them?
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I still hate Barnsley, in fact reading the moral high ground taken by most on here makes me hate them more. EVERY time I have been to watch Leeds at their ground we’ve had serious stick whilst the old bill stand watching them and arresting anyone from our side retaliating. The words and pictures don’t match, scum club scum fans end of which is what I hope will happen to them very soon. Closely followed by all of the other Yorkshire scum clubs
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Sorry if I broke a rule I was not aware of. Quite prepared to see my own faults and seek to live better. I just like facts to be correct as I think a writer if supposedly stating correct information should do. For example you wrote referring to Barnsley…….’have now dropped into the lower league abyss which is their natural environment’…
Barnsley have spent more time in the 2nd tier of English football than any other team. Which in turn makes that their ‘natural environment’. Facts is facts.
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You lot are like dogs with a bone. Next time I write that some player would give 110% I’ll get some earnest type pointing out the arithmetical incongruity of this. It was a figure of speech for chrissake.
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When we were up the creek without a paddle and getting relegated every club in Yorkshire had a good old laugh at our demise.Now its the turn of us LEEDS fans to have a good old laugh at those who chuckled at us.
What a BITCH karma is eh LOL.
MOT
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Exactly right, this. As usual, the Leeds haters, having thoroughly enjoyed dishing it out, squeal like tortured piglets when any stick or mickey-taking comes their way. And they’re backed up by the usual sanctimonious suspects in the Leeds ranks who queue up to say “I say old fellow, that’s not cricket”. Thanks Rev for a little earthy realism.
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Hahaha dirty leeds scum what happened to your promotion challenge this season ? Beat barnsley for first time in over a decade and you lads think your it dirty scum u wonder why everyone hates you
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Aye, congratulations, troglodyte. Now Rovrum have gone up, you’ll be third biggest League 1 club in South Yorks instead of 4th.
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He may be a bitch but I still think he’s funny when he does the live reports for Sky Sports!! NUFC.
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