Page 6 - We Are Premier League: LUFC Promotion YEP Special

been relegated and Bamford lost 2-1 at Stoke City meaning
was on his way back to the
Championship having made
eight Premier League outings
for Boro including two starts.
Now, two years after
signing for Leeds for £7111,
Bamford is relishing the
prospect ofa top-flight return
in what he considers perfect
circumstances.
“I’ve never had a real fair
crack of the whip at it,” said
Bamford, when asked if he had
a point to prove in the Premier
League.
“I think the easiest way to get
a chance in the Premier League
is probably to take a team up
from the Championship and
then you get your chance and,
fort unately, I have been able to
do that.
“I said when I signed for
Leeds to my mate that I don't
think I realised myself that
being the No 9 for Leeds is a
massive privilege and it's also
such a big thing that taking
them upjustmakesitextra
special.”
Reflecting on waving
goodbye to the Championship
and its notoriously
unpredictable results, the
26-year-old smiled: “I think
you can get that in the Premier
League as well, maybe not to
the same extent.
“The Championship is a
terrific league and it does
throwr up the odd result every
so often. It makes it enjoyable
for the fans.
“I suppose ifyou are not
supporting that certain team
it’s enjoyable but for fans of
Leeds and whoever else has
69
I owe him
everything...
there’s been times
thisyear where I
have been through
rough patches,
maybe not scoring
goals but offering
other things to
the team and he’s
always been the
one to support me.
been on the rollercoaster
with their team I'm sure it’s a
nightmareandyournervesare
in tatters ”
Amazingly given the recent
16-year rollercoaster at
Leeds, nerves were back fully
intact as United took in their
final two games oflife in the
Championship with promotion
as champions already secured.
With United already six
points clear in the automatic
promotion spots, they sealed
promotion without even
playing on Friday, July 17as
second-placed West Brom
slipped up 2-1 at Huddersfield
Town.
The title came the next
day as third-placed Brentford
Leeds could strut their stuff
in their final twfo games at
Derby County and at home
to Charlton Athletic as
champions.
“It was surreal, unbelievable,”
said Bamford. “We all went to
watch the West Brom game and
I don't think any of us expected
West Brom to lose and then the
same with Brentford.
“We thought we were going
to have to go Derby needing to
win to win the Championship.
But for once we can actually say
some teams have done us some
favours in the last few'games.”
Leeds, though, needed no
favours at all, finishing 10
points clear ofsecond-placed
West Brom with top scorer
Bamford netting 16 goals during
a season in which he has made
43 starts and two outings from
the bench. Through the rough
and the smooth. Bamford has
been Bielsa’s go-to man.
“I owe him everything.”
saidBamfordofUnited’shead
coach. “I can't speak highly
enough about him. There’s
been times this year where
I have been through rough
patches, maybe not scoring the
goals but offering other things
to the team and he’s always
been the one to support me. To
be honest I owe him a lot, an
awful lot.
“I can’t really put it into
words howr much it means the
kind oftrust he has put in me.
Yeahhehashadagoatmeafair
few times and I have probably
deserved it but he’s always
stuck by me and Ijust really
hope he stays next year.”
TEAM PLAYER: Patrick Bamford gets togerher in a pre-match huddle with his Leeds United team-mates
HEADING BACK: Patrick Bamford can’t wait to have another crack at playing in the Premier League,
where he as Dlaved Dreviouslv with Middlesbrouoh. above.
picture: Richard sellers/pa
aheadofWednesday’sfinal-daywinoverCharltonAthletic.
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