Page 3 - We Are Premier League: LUFC Promotion YEP Special

gleefully bumped forearms youngster Leif Davis also Elland Road. The promotion
with every outstretched limb.
When people reach out
to Bielsa, he reciprocates.
There are countless tales of
supporters receiving replies to
their letters, accompanied by
signed photos.
Jo Bedford, a season ticket
holder since 1990, wrote to
the head coach in Spanish to
express her belief that, after
almost a decade of illness and
an even longer period of Leeds
United-related nightmares, his
arrival was a Godsend.
When the reply came, it
read: “Dear Joanne: I appreciate
the love you express to me in
your letter. It’s something that
I really appreciate. I wanted
to congratulate you for your
struggle to overcome the
adversities that life put you.
Don’t give up and go ahead with
optimism.Yourssincerely,
Marcelo Bielsa.”
Bielsa never looks happier
than when he’s with his adoring
public. On Sunday, after
Leeds beat Derby County 3-1,
he insisted that his car was
brought to a halt outside Pride
Park when he spotted disabled
Leeds fan Bethany Kelly.
He parted a small crowd,
making a beeline for her
wheelchair before throwing
wide his arms for an embrace.
The video went viral.
At York in pre-season the
head coach spied seven-year-
old Riley Ross and jumped out
to give the youngster a cuddle.
Riley, who plays frame football
for a Gainsborough Trinity
disability team, lives with a
rare genetic condition. He has
a special relationship with the
65-year-old from Rosario.
“Bielsa came out one day at
Elland Road and picked Riley
up for a cuddle and has
remembered him ever
since,” said mum
Ashleigh.
“Riley is in
awe ofhim, he
adores Bielsa.
Everything
is Marcelo
Bielsa. He calls
him Grandad
Bielsa.
“York is the
moment Riley
remembers.
hopped out to greet Bethany
at Derby and presented her
with a shirt, Pablo Hernandez
received a message ofsupport
from Riley and responded via
his wife Mar with a promise to
send the youngster a shirt - but
two names crop up time and
lime again.
Club captain Cooper and
his best mate Stuart
Dallas have built a
reputation as two
men who will go
out of their way
to help.
Martin
Stead,a
lifelong fan,
moved into
Sue Ryder
Wheatfields
Hospice last
October for the
celebrations have been
bittersweet - his father Fred is
terminally ill.
“Coops knows all about
the situation and some of the
messages he’s sent have been a
real help in making me realise
I made the right choice going
back to work - dad wanted
me to, he knows what the club
means,” he told the YEP.
“I’ve been
privileged to know
hundreds of
players but
Coops and
Dallas are up
therewith the
best, they’ve
helped mould
the club back
to its rightful
standing
amongst the
community.
They care,
personally
and professionally. That’s what
counts.”
Ten-year-old Oliver
Rahnavard went to matches
with his dad Daniel, until the
36-year-old tragically passed
away in January.
Oliver’s uncle, Nick Burns,
was keen to show Oliver that
football would still be there
for him and convinced him to
go to the Millwall game, Leeds
United did the rest.
From owner Andrea
Radrizzani to the media team,
Leeds showered Oliver with
love and support.
Oliver left LS11 that night
with memories ofa behind-the-
scenes tour, photos with the
players. Cooper's signed shirt
and the captain’s armband.
It didn't stop there. Leeds
were relentless in pursuit of
Oliver’s happiness. Cooper
stayed in touch, Dallas spotted
the family at the ground a week
later and approached them,
unprompted, to give him a
cuddle. Oliver later visited
Thorp Arch to play pool with
his heroes. “Having suffered
a tragic loss in the family, the
club were amazing,” said Nick.
“Liam and Stuart still keep in
touch. They couldn't do enough
for us and it was genuine, most
ofit was done in private, clearly
not for exposure.
“Then when my mum passed
away both Cooper and Dallas
got in touch to offer support.
“It's unbelievable and I’m
so happy they’ve won the
Championship because I
cannot think ofagroup of
people and management who
deserve it more. “A credit to the
club, football and the city.”
Dirty Leeds? Not quite.
These are nice guys, theyjust
moments you’ll
never forget."
When he arrived two years
ago. Bielsa inherited a squad
ofdecent human beings,
among whom there was
already a culture ofgenerosity
when it came to supporters -
particularly those in need.
There are stories about
lots ofLeeds players doing
nice thin&s for their fans -
securitv for the olavers at
haooened to finish first.
PABLO HERNANDEZ: Has
Tm so happy they’ve
won promotion.
Dad said to Liam
that day ‘just
do your best,
I know you
give your best
every game
but I want you
to go up this
season and I’ve
got total faith in you,
whether I see
it or whether I
It’soneofthose beenpopularwithfansever don’t.’”
since arriving at the club.
life, after almost
10 years with
cancer.
The family were expecting
world champion boxer and
Whites fan Josh Warrington,
but he came with a special
guest.
Martin’s son James had
returned early from a holiday in
Rhodes knowing that time was
of the essence.
“When I landed my mum
told me she’d spoke to Josh, she
knewThis dad for a number of
years and someone had helped
arrange a visit to Wheatfields,"
he told the YEP.
“Wejust assumed it would
be Josh coming but Liam came
along as well. They spent a
good couple of hours there
and brightened his day. It was
probably the happiest they'd
seen him in there for the
two or three weeks he was in
Wheatfields.
From the
small things -
the pair left their seats on the
train home from London after
a 2-1 defeat at Millwall to go
and buy beer for fan Declan
Greenwood and his pals,
Cooper always makes a fuss of
the matchday mascots - to the
biggest things.
Martin Sykes provides
01274 401 932 • 07753 407 447 • www.bursltd.co.uk
STUART DALLAS: Among
finalweeksofhis thoseLeedsplayerstobuilda
reputation of wanting to help.
HELPING OUT: Liam Cooper poses with fan Oliver Rahnavard, whose father Daniel tragically passed
away in January. He was given a night to remember by Leeds a short while after.
BUILT UP ROOFING SYSTEMS LTO
Congratulations to
Leeds United for your
promotion to the premier
League, After 16 years
you are back where
you belong.
Meeting all your roofing requirements
With over 15 years of industry experience.
Built Up Roofing Systems Ltd is fully
equipped to look after your roofing
requirements.
From liquid fibreglass/GRP solutions to
built up felt systems, we can handle a wide
range of services. Our experience, expertise
and workmanship have earned us a great
reputation with our clients, who return to us
every time. Our complete range of roofing
services is sure to appeal to you.
picture courtesy of lufc