Life as a Hampshire Whites Youth Member

We got up really early for my first league game which was Burnley at Elland Road and we were travelling with the HW’s on the minibus, well we were supposed to but there was a problem and the minibus wasn’t there. So, we all had to travel up in cars. We shared with Chris, my Dad and him spoke all way up there because they are both from Barnsley. But it was really nice of him to drive us.

We got to the game early and I wanted a bucket hat so we went and got one and had a look round the club shop. I have never seen so much Leeds stuff.

When we got in to the ground it was great, we were in different seats to my first ever game. It was a lot louder than I remembered and my dad said it was bercause we were in the Kop.He also said I hope you don't want to sit down for the game because no-one sits down in this end. I didn't believe him but he was right and we stood for the whole game. It was great apart from the score and losing.

I didn't know when my next game was going to be but as it happened it was the very next week away at Cardiff. This time we went on the train. My dad said there was a lot of history with Cardiff so to be safe we wouldn't travel in club colours. I didn't know what he meant but I didn't wear my shirt to travel. We got to the ground really early and had to wait to meet Chris. There was lots of traffic and we only met Chris 15 minutes before kick-off. When we got in the ground it was completley different being in the away end but it was just as loud.

It was a bit worrying at first because someone was in my dads’ seat and we weren’t sat together, but we found my seat and the one next to it was empty so everything was ok. We went 1 nil up in the first half but I was worried in the 2^nd half that Cardiff would get a goal because we had lots of chances and couldn’t score. But I shouldn’t have worried because Piroe scored and we all had a party, the man next to me hugged me and we ended up about six seats away. 

My next Game was Bristol city away, we went on the train again and walked to the ground. I even found the team bus, I thought we played really well but we just didn’t score.

The next game that I went to was Plymouth at Elland Road, it was a great game to watch and was the biggest win I had seen so far, because we scored 3 in the first half it was like being at a party and I thought some of the songs that were sung to Wayne Rooney were funny.

As a treat for Christmas my Dad got tickets for the Oxford home game and booked us a tour of Elland road the day after the game. We travelled up on the minibus with the HW’s. Jacqui had made us all mince pies for the journey. It was a really cold day but the players were on fire on the pitch and we won 4 nil.

We stayed over night ready for a tour of Elland Road the following day, On the tour I met Leeds legend Dominic Matteo, got to go in the dressing room before going to the press room to ask Dom some questions. I learnt a lot about the club and I know now why I love being a Leeds fan.

The last game I went to was at home to Blackburn on New Years Day, this was a special day because I got to take my older sister to the game. It was the first time she had ever been to a Leeds game. She loved it and can’t wait to go again. Having her there made the 1 – 1 draw feel not too bad.

Its been a crazy 6 months and I can’t wait to travel to more games with the HW’s and seeing Super Leeds get promoted to the Premier League.

Banner Photo by Samuel Ryde on Unsplash