That magic millionth hit
At 3:23 this morning, Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything recorded its one millionth hit at the age of just under 18 months. The success story is actually a little more meteoric than that for a blog which is a one person operation and which has managed to average over one article per day in the time it’s been going. The fact is that, until #LLUUE gained the immense fillip of distribution on the NewsNow platform – a football news aggregator which opens up a world-wide readership – this blog was very small-time indeed, having gained only around 13,000 views in the first 9 months of its existence. So it was rather a quiet gestation period – but then things really took off.
At the end of August 2013, NewsNow started to share the blog globally – and readership figures went through the roof, as can be seen from the graphic above. In the 8 or 9 months since then, that paltry 13,000 figure has been left far, far behind as an average of over 30,000 hits a week were recorded – and that figure is rising. I had been looking at sometime in June for the magic Million – but things have accelerated even more since the new year, so the landmark has been reached early. I’m sure that Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything will continue to grow and I’m hopeful that the second million can be reached by Christmas, or shortly afterwards.
It goes without saying that I owe a massive vote of thanks to everyone who has supported the blog, whether that support has been simply by reading the posts, right up to those incredibly generous people who have made substantial donations. In between are the people who faithfully follow the blog; who take the time and trouble to respond regularly and stimulate debate; the ones who share each post via Twitter and Facebook and the other social media platforms, those who have donated small, medium and large sums via PayPal – so many people who have helped me concentrate on providing a regular output of a quality acceptable to me as an aspiring writer.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything is here to stay. I’m determined that it shall keep going and continue to grow, even as I’m working on other projects including a “Full Circle” book about my time supporting Leeds between the two Championship seasons of 1973-74 and 1991-92. With a blog, you know you’re getting somewhere when you attract a good few ill-wishers, and I’m glad to say I have my share. To those people, I’d say – carry on complaining about the blog, it gives me a good laugh. One particular troll seems to feel he has enough influence to get Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything taken down altogether. Good luck with that – but don’t hold your breath. Well, not for more than thirty minutes or so.
Please keep reading, responding and sharing. The time ahead, I hope, involves a successful Leeds United for us to support, discuss and argue about – an enticing prospect. The aim for the blog is to March On Together with LUFC, towards a brighter future and shared success. Thanks for everything, all of you who form a part of that landmark first million for this blog. Your participation and support are very much appreciated.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Congratulations Rob – really well done. Keep it up
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Thanks a million 🙂
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You’re welcome. First comment but I think I might be responsible for about 50 hits…lol
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I appreciate every one of them. Please come back with more comments anytime – MOT
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Congratulations Rob, keep up the great work because as you say, you have a world wide following now. I am part of the proof being a resident in Lapu-Lapu City Cebu province in the Philippines.
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Cheers Allan – great to hear from you all the way over there. MOT
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well done , congrats
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Forgot to mention I was born and bred in LS 11 (Beeston) but don’t remember any Haigh’s from this part of Leeds. I do remember Paul Madely though because I played in the Cross Flatts school under 11 team in 1954/55 and so did Paul. Funny how the good guys are remembered but the not so good are despised….like Haigh and other’s whose name I won’t type.
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Don’t get carried away Rob you don’t get a lot for a million these days………Luke Murphy for example!!!
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I doubt Fellaini is 27 times better 😉
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Well done – long may it continue !
All the best Rob
MOT
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Well done.
I read your blog almost every day and think your (sometimes cynical) writing style is brilliant and a breath of fresh air compared to most of the other football blogs. This is my first time commenting but thought I had to today just to say keep up the good work.
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Many thanks HD. Please come back and make more comments, they’re all more valuable than I can say, whether they agree or disagree. MOT
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Well done Rob. Your writing is always thoroughly enjoyable and as a lifelong Leeds fan I agree with every single sentiment . Excellent stuff.
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Well done Rob Thanks for intelligent, erudite and sometimes provocative entries. You are a pleasure to read R
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Well done Rob, I don’t always agree with your views but at least those views are well presented and informed. Keep up the good work. M.o.t.
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Congrats’ Rob you have your own trademark in articles and you deserve it.
Tare
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Well done Rob, your opinion is always insightful, brilliantly articulated, sometimes controversial, which culminates in a very enjoyable read. Keep up the good work and good luck with the book! MOT.
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Gratz Rob, always a good read! keep up the good work and roll on 2 million 😉
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Rob, you will be able turn your blog into your day job soon! heaven knows how you find the time to write as much as you do!? Its easy to write words in a hap-hazard, nonsensical manner (Just read the trash the Daily eM`s spout!) Its much harder to be thought provoking and challenging, especially doing it with such passion and no little humour as you do. Here is to the next Million hits!
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Thanks Rob – that’s one I’ll keep coming back to when doubts take charge. Much appreciated mate! MOT
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We’ll done Rob, always a good read. They say good things come to those who wait, lets hope our wait is over and the Mighty Leeds tide is about to turn.
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Amen to that!!
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Correct me if I’m wrong Rob but was it me who gave you the idea of ‘Full Circle’ as a possible title for your book a few months ago? Hope so as that would be great to see and read. Congrats on the milestone (were you awake to witness the event?) and good luck with the book
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Yes mate, I think it was you, and I think it’s the best single title element I’ve seen, so at this stage I definitely see it as part of the title – I hope I acknowledged the idea at the time. If not, my apologies and my sincere if belated thanks 🙂 MOT
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And yes – I woke up for no good reason and saw I was only 54 short – so I hung around for the milestone!
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Fantastic news Rob keep up the good work. I wait for your new blog every day as you talk such sense.
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Many thanks Jan, that’s really kind of you – MOT
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I’m still trying to find the original post but I am quite sure you did acknowledge it at the time so no worries there.
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Rob – excellent news and congratulations! Not only are your blogs witty and informative, but during what has been a particularly difficult period for our club, you have managed to voice the thoughts of the majority of right thinking fans. Well done and keep it up!
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Thanks David – you’ve always been a source of support and encouragement – it’s much appreciated.
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I’m just curious, all this talk about the meteoric rise of your blog just makes me wonder how much money you are making from the advertising and does that revolve around how many hits you get? Maybe I should start writing any old crap and with the word Leeds United making it instantly scooped up by NewsNow I would be able to get a lot of hits too. Or did you think people actively searched for your articles?
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As regards site revenue – none of your business mate, I’m glad to say. Maybe you should start writing any old crap – that might just be right up your street! Don’t hold your breath waiting for News Now to pick you up though – it’s not quite as easy as that, sadly. But I shall watch your progress with interest.
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I actively search for your articles. MOT
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I appreciate that 🙂
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Well done rob.
Keep sticking it to the bastards at the football league
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Definitely!!
Cheers Ste
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Fair play Rob great blog been great reading and entertainment
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Cheers as ever Sniffer mate, MOT
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Congratulations Rob, I read your blog every day and being a Leeds fan for nearly 50 years I remember the good old days of the Revie era and the not so good times since, however I agree with everything you write about, well nearly everything! Keep up the good work.
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Nearly is ample! It’d be boring if we agreed on everything 😉 Thanks, Mark – MOT
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Well on the way to 2 mill now Rob, with a good close season (fingers crossed) you will be there by Christmas. Keep it up, entertaining stuff always.
MOT
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Cheers Karl – MOT
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yayyy … one squillion hits, mega congratulations and keep up the good work 🙂
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Many thanks and the same to you 🙂
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Nice one Rob, 6 months to next million. Keep up good work.
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Cheers mate – hope you’re right 🙂
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For fear of repeating myself congratulations rob ,, we all play a small part in in what I suspect is going to be a much bigger thing one day , hundereds of thousands of comments and over a million hits speaks for its self , (national press take note) , as they say round our way , more power to you’re elbow mate
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Thanks again Mr O – you’re an inspiration mate 🙂
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nice warm up, now when do you start for real, Rob?
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Any……..minute………….NOW!!
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Congrats on the 1,m hits Rob.Wonder how many you would get if we were where we should be, in top half of the Prem (you’d have to take on staff ) Great read though and I agree with a lot of what you say.Best of luck with the book. MOT
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I’m hoping the club and the blog can grow and achieve success in tandem Chris. That’s the dream!
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Cellino or not Cellino ? .That is the question.Hope it is the answer.MOT
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Congratulations, I found you through News Now but now you are bookmarked. Intelligent and humorous and a great read. MOT.
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Well done on the milestone, even though I don’t always go with the politics, without doubt you catch my attention with a good column and more important, great views on Lufc . You deserve the plaudits Rob, even from a so called fossil like me. Keep em coming
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I appreciate that all the more for the fact that we obviously differ on other matters. Not everyone is big enough to see past that kind of thing. From one fossil to another, it’s very kind of you, mate.
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Rob, always a good read and I make a point of looking out for your blog.. Enjoy the sarcasm and the fact you dont take yourself to seriously.. Keep it up, Derby White
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Fortunately, there’s no shortage of people ready willing and able to fire a few shots across my bows if I ever sail into THOSE waters, which it’s way too easy to do. Thanks for the kind words mate – MOT
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Hi Rob, I’d really like to help write some things for your blog, I’m 32 have been a Leeds fan for all my life, have A* in both English and English literature and feel I can contribute. Hopefully hear from you, Richard
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Thanks Richard. I have had guest writers in the past – it’d be good to have a different LUFC viewpoint. Can you send me an email with a mugshot and a short bio, with a sample of your writing? The email address is on the Contacts page. MOT
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Hi Rob, yes I’ll do that hopefully tonight when I’m home from work. Looking forward to it.
Kind regards
Richard
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Thanks Richard, I’ll look forward to reading that – MOT
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Big congrats on the milestone Rob – well deserved – best lufc blog on the net. Think your next 1m will come quicker than you think. Just need hammersfan to reappear from the abyss now to offer his congratulations and your meteoric rise will be complete
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Thanks mate for the encouragement. Hope you’re right – with or without HF! MOT
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Congratulations Rob. Hard work rewarded.
It’s a pity some of it didn’t rub off on some of the players, for who knows where we might have ended up with a little effort instead of languishing in the lower depths of the division.
Still, I hope it augments well for next season. Once thing for certain there will be plenty to write about. How is your Italian?
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Erm……… bella. Ish. 😉
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well done Rob. your blog keeps me a bit closer to the team i love despite living half a world away
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It’s a pleasure and a privilege to have readers all over the world – and a tribute to the vast army LUFC has following it. MOT
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Well done rob, sorry iv not commented the last couple of days or so but my laptop went bang i will always read your blog it gives me a good smile and makes my day as you i have been a LEEDS fan since day one and we need somewhere like this where we can express our feelings for our beloved club with usually a good debate after,i would like to thank you this season would have been an absalute nightmare without you and your blog, you have kept me sane THANKS ………………………MOT
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Cheers Scotty, you’ve always been there and it means a lot mate. MOT
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Congratulations Rob!
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Thanks mate 🙂
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best leeds utd read on the internet i read every post and agree with 99% of your content well done MOT
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It’s that 1% that saves us from a boring total agreement 😉 Thanks Simon – MOT
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Congratulations Rob! The figures are outstanding and must motivate you to keep going and improving.
I love checking in and reading your view and thoughts on the many different situations Leeds are going through.
I can only strive and hope to build a community like you have! As well as produce high quality content like you are doing!
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Really kind of you mate.
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Hey rob , now its closed season and just like Thorpe arch its very quiet , its world cup year so how about doing a piece about Leeds united’s contribution to Englands finest hour ?!
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Good call, especially as I somehow missed Big Jack’s birthday the other day. Many thanks. Watch this space 🙂
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Theres a story there about Leeds players that COULD have contributed more to England but got left out because they didn’t play for a club the tabloids love.
e.g. Nigel martyn should have had way more starts. Chris fairclough should have gone wc 90 and euro 92, way better footballing centre half than the hoofers at man u. rod Wallace, mikey bridges. Batts should have had more caps too.
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Dorigo and Sterland too. The Press always had their favourites, and it was difficult for a Leeds player to be accepted as an England international. They were always waiting to jump on a Rio Ferdinand mistake until he went to the scum – after that it was Sir Rio of Devon. Pathetic. What we’ve always needed is an England manager strong enough to think for himself and ignore the press “experts”. But then, naturally, they’d dub him some sort of vegetable and hang him out to dry.
I sometimes get called a journalist in responses to stuff I write, and I’m always mortally insulted!
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Yeah sterland too rob. Dorigo had stiffer competition, but probably should have had more.
the one that sticks in my draw the most is fairclough though, would have been classy pairing with des walker but instead likes of Bruce got in the squad.
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I always thought Bruce was the only scum player who never got the England call. But Fairclough would have been outstanding.
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Nice one, Rob. I always enjoy it. You keep writing it. Here’s to the next million.!
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Thanks Stan, much appreciated. MOT
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Totally required reading, always makes my day, and never miss an article. Long may it continue. Great work Rob – a real talent due a million congrats. Mike
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And a million thanks for those kind words Mike. Much appreciated – MOT
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Went on news now hoping for a little news about the club instead we get danny mills writing about previous internationals great, and this haha well done on the mil wont take too long to get to 2 keep it up. Always enjoy reading ur blogs about ur experiences watching the mighty whites MOT, shame when im at work i have to copy n paste the blogs into word as they refuse to update IE.
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That sounds weird. Glad you figured a way round it 🙂
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Cmon Rob……..post something im bored :o) Bring on the World Cup and start of transfer season !
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Uh-oh — I’ve created a monster!
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Your blog is the best Leeds forum and always an excellent read Rob.
The subjects are what most Leeds fans want talk about, such as the Leeds game being everybody’s Cup Final.
Keep up the good work next season.
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I get so much stick for that Cup Final thing, but this cheered me up – thanks 🙂 MOT
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Hi again Rob, just piced up on a comment from stelufc, I was at the player of year diner 2002 (The one with Stan Boardman ) and had a word with Nigel Martin re him not getting the nod ahead of Seaman, I told him he would not be England No1 while ever Ray Clements was the England goalkeeping advisor, he hated Leeds with a passion. As do most non Leeds fans,
NIgel didn’t say ad much but I think he knew I was correct.
Again keep up good work. MOT
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They have to be careful what they say, I suppose. But they know, just as we do.
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Congratulations Rob , as I have said before yours is the first blog I read.I seperated it so I can go straight to it. I am new to all this but enjoying immensely thanks to you Rob. MOT
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Many thanks Gordon. You and others have been so kind – my head won’t fit through the door now! MOT
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Nice one Rob. Now all you need to do is forgot all your political principles, sell the site to Facebook for £1Billion, buy the club, sack MD, make Massimo Head of PR, make Vinny Jones Manager and make the rest of the first time have “Leeds till I die” tattooed on their left breast” (For Paddy Kenny you can easily add 200 words to that to cover the rest of his left moob). Now that’s what I call fantasy football. Have enjoyed a bit of banter now and then, and bejeezus have even agreed on some of your ideas (football related only). MOT from Cornwall from an exiled White
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Thanks Alan. I hope you’re not waiting for me to pull off this unprincipled £1bn coup before taking me up on the £200 sponsorship. Price will have gone up by then mate 😉
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…..May well take you up on that £200 offer.
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Anytime Alan Carnlogistics – mi blog, su blog 🙂 But move fast, I’ve had an offer of inclusion from a major social media network, so that price might not last…
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Well done, Rob.
I’m one of those that found you when you very first appeared on NewsNow and enjoy your blog immensely. Love the humour and the occasional rants. Keep it up.
Here’s to the next mill.
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Many thanks – I’m sure any Leeds fan will agree that sometimes you have to laugh and sometimes you have to rant – it all depends on the latest blood pressure reading! MOT
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