rodrigo

Looks like your telling a true tale :p

retired_smuasher

Nexus, I do vagley remember reading that but it had slipped my mind when setting up this story, although I live in Leeds now I'm really an exiled QPR fan. I had to name my team Leeds City AFC as there's an amateur side Leeds City already in the database.

retired_smuasher

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, Wednesday 1st August 2007

City shed three before big game

As City prepare for their only home friendly of the pre-season tonight against top Coca-cola Championship side Crystal Palace, manager Tak Pivo has announced several more alterations to his pool of players. Gavin Johnston, Jason Mycoe and Arkadiusz Kidrycki have all had their trials terminated while 19 yr-old English striker ]Shabazz Baidoo has arrived on a three month loan from Q.P.R. He said “ I listened to my coaches and while the three lads released would have all been good players at our level they were just a bit to far down the pecking order to justify offering them a contract. I brought Shabazz in on loan as Zuchowski might well pick up an additional ban and that coupled with Bajdziak’s injury could leave us a bit short up front. Plus of course it’s a chance to look at someone Q.P.R. think a lot of, he’s made 19 Championship appearances scoring three goals already.”

In other news City have added a fixture, away at Blue Square South side Cambridge City on Saturday while the board have announced they have been very impressed with the pre-season sales of season tickets, City have sold over 9,300 at this point.

retired_smuasher

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, Thursday 2nd August 2007

Large crowd see City hold Palace

Almost 8,500 turned out to see City’s first game at Elland Road against a strong side fielded by the South Londoners. The visitors were slightly the better side in the opening stages but they failed to find a way through a resolute Leeds defence. Palace thought they had scored in the 37th minute but Dickov’s effort was ruled out for offside.

Palace continued to have the lions share of possession in the second half without seriously threatening the City goal. On a rare Leeds attack debutant Shabazz Baidoo latched onto Gleeson’s pass and flicked it home but his effort also fell foul of the Assistant Referees flag on the hour mark. A solid display against a team tipped to be in the running for Championship glory backed up by a man of the match performance from keeper Adam Fedzin.

Final score Leeds City A.F.C. 0 Crystal Palace 0 (att: 8,448)

retired_smuasher

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, Monday 6th August 2007

City show their class

Leeds showed against fellow Blue Square conference side Cambridge City that while they might have struggled against opposition several leagues above them, when dropped back in their own class they’re the team to beat. Baidoo served notice of intent when he hit the post after just three minutes and then opened the scoring six minutes later when he latched on to Ogilby’s high ball over the defence and drilled it home from 10 yards. Four minutes later it was two when Ephraim’s clever ball split the defence and Bjarnason once again popped up unmarked behind the defence. With all trailing in his wake he fired in a powerful shot from the edge of the area. The home side were flabbergasted in the 26th minute when David Gash muscled through the Leeds defence to allow Roche to stoke the ball just inside the post only to have the referee disallow it for Gash’s foul on Avinel.

Leeds extended their lead with ten minutes left of the half when Scott Donnelly slipped it to Ephraim and his mazy dribble bemused the defence, opening up the gap for him to go through and powerfully beat the home keeper from 15 yards. Ephraim was involved again when Leeds made it four just five minutes later, his delicate ball turned the defence and found Lallana who had no problem slipping it under the advancing keeper.

With quite a large number of Leeds fans amongst the 4,900 crowd giving it a preview of what sides can expect this season when City come to town, Cambridge really had to dig deep to prevent themselves being overrun in the second half. They managed to carve out a few good chances, helped as City gave run-outs to most of the travelling squad in the later stages. The home side were finally rewarded in the 81st minute when Kemp outpaced last man Ogilby and Fedzin wasn’t quick enough off his line to prevent him firing in.

Final score Cambridge City 1 Leeds City A.F.C. 4

Pivo was very upbeat after the game “ I think the travelling fans today have seen what we will do to the Blue Square North this season. I’ve assembled a very strong squad for this level and Lucas and I both feel we have adequate cover there. We have offered contracts to trialists Tomasz Zuchowski, Piotr Bajdziak and Lukasz Krymowski and that will complete the squad then. Unfortunately Hopkins and Harris will be released as they were below the level of the rest of the squad. Zuchowski appears to have suffered a bruised thigh but as the League has suspended him for a further two games that’s of little consequence.

retired_smuasher

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, Friday 10th August 2007

One on One with Tak Pivo

How do you feel the squad was shaped up?

I’m very pleased, all the three lads I offered contracts to last week signed up giving me 27 to pick from. It’s a very big squad for this level I know but we’re working to achieve league status not to scratch around in the non league levels, every year we’re out of the league really hurts everyone in Leeds. I’ve only spent £73,000 of my transfer kitty so I’ve been allowed by the board to release some of those funds to accommodate to slightly larger than anticipated wage bill. I’m particularly excited by our front pairing of loan players, Hogan Ephraim and Shabazz Baidoo - I think they’ll finish well up the scorers charts if we can extend Shabazz’s loan period.

Have you named the captain?

Yes, we’ve appointed David Ogilby as captain and Adam Fedzin as vice-captain.

Are there any areas of weakness you can see?

I think with Hopkins not making the grade we might be a bit stretched on the left wing if Stephen Gleeson was to pick up a injury but I think we’re covered every where else

Do you think the fans will support this new team like they did with United?

The season ticket sales currently stand just shy of 11,000, that tells its own story doesn’t it? The people of Leeds are desperate for success in all their sports teams and I think we can give it to them

Where do you think City will finish this season and have you any advice for your opponents ?

What an easy question – Champions of course! And the only advice I can give is PRAY! The Leeds boys are coming for you.

retired_smuasher

Sitting on the bus on the way to Southport for our first ever Blue Square North match I received a phone call from our recently released trialist Graham Hopkins.
“Hello Tak! Just like to let you know that I’ve get myself fixed up with another club. Arbroath have given me a years contract.”
“That’s good Graham. Do well up there and you never know there might be a spot sometime for you here, I’ll be keeping an eye out!”
“Thanks a lot! I really enjoyed my short time in Leeds. Good luck for today, I tried to stick some money on you but the bookies aren’t giving anything away – They’ve got you at 1/8 on.”
“ Ha, very good! Stick your first weeks wages on it, quickest way I know to up your wages!”

retired_smuasher

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, Monday August 13th 2007
City enjoy sea air
Leeds City A.F.C. couldn’t have wished for a better start to life in the Blue Square North than they got in their opening match away in Southport. A large number of Leeds fans swelled the crowd at Haig Avenue to 2,158 and they were soon dancing on the terraces as Lallana’s 7th minute cross was knocked down by Baidoo into the path of Hogan Ephraim who buried it for a debut goal not only for himself but also for the newly formed club.

Ephraim tucked home the rebound of Baidoo’s shot four minutes later, Bjarnason’s interception on 21 minutes gave Baidoo the chance to make it three after 21 minutes and when Baidoo’s 27th minute shot deflected straight to Lallana to crash home the fourth it was clear that the points were on their way back to Yorkshire.

Stephen Gleeson struck a rocket of a free kick from just outside the box with five minutes of the half left and put the final nail in the coffin one minute into first half stoppage time when his cross whipped in from 30yds out eluded everyone as it bobbled into the net. The second half was a big disappointment as Leeds failed to produce the fireworks of the first half but comfortably ran out six goal winners, outshooting the home side 16 to three.
Match Facts: Southport 0 Leeds City A.F.C. 6
City: Fedzin 7, Santonocito 7, Ogilby 7, Avinel 7, Moloney 7, Gleeson 8, Bjarnason 8, Donnelly 7 (Grant 7), Lallana 8, Baidoo 9*(Curtis 6), Ephraim 8. Subs not used: Krymowski, Lyng, Howson.
Booked: Gleeson, DonnellyScorers: Ephraim 2, Baidoo, Lallana, Gleeson 2.
Man of Match: Shabazz Baidoo – one goal and two superb assists
Manager Tak Pivo in buoyant mood afterwards was keen to rub the nose in it of everyone who pointed to Leeds’ pre-season form as evidence they would struggle this year. The only downside to the match was Bjarnason suffering a blow on the head making him doubtful for tonight’s match against the bookie’s favourites Kettering Town at Elland Road.

retired_jgirl87

I hope that 6-0 win is a sign of more success to come this season. Good start, mav. :thup:

retired_smuasher

Thanks Spav, alaways nice to know people are reading!

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, Tuesday August 14th 2007
City vanquish league favourites
The absence of Teddy Bjarnason caused a reshuffle in midfield but the big talking point amongst the fans as they streamed in their thousands to Elland Road was the bookies strange odds – despite installing Kettering as even favourites to win the Blue Square North they had City as 1/10 on favourites to win this game?
City Chairman, Leeds legend Peter Lorimer made a welcoming speech before the game saying how pleased the board had been with the support of the city for the new team, 11,228 season tickets had been sold and the board were confident that they could repay everyone with the first promotion on the long road back to the former glories of the city’s former team.
The opening stages showed why Kettering had been installed as league favourites, the visitors gave as good as they got and shocked the boisterous crowd of 16,477 after a quarter of an hour when Callum Lloyd picked up the ball 25 yds out and his threaded ball split the defence to find Mark Rawle who had drifted in behind the defence. He had no problem blasting it past Fedzin for the first goal conceded by City this season in league action.
Leeds stepped up a gear and finally looked the side they were at Southport, Baidoo and Ephraim spurned good chance before just after the half hour mark Baidoo laid the ball off to Jonny Howson midway through the Kettering half. Baidoo ran on to collect Howson’s slanted ball through the visitor’s rearguard and deftly chipped the advancing keeper and despairing defender from 10 yards. With three minutes to go in the half Scott Donnelly was unlucky not to give City the lead when his deep cross was only just scrambled out from under the crossbar as it curled home.

Referee Stephen Tomlinson had a strong effect on the second half as the tally of yellow cards mounted but City had reason to thank him on the hour. Stephen Gleeson stepped up to take a free kick 30 yards out and the wall could only stand and stare as he floated it into the top corner. Kettering never recovered from that and Leeds hung on for their second straight win, Tomlinson ended up with 10 bookings while City out shot the visitors 16-5 but only 3-2 in shots on target.
Match Facts: Leeds City A.F.C. 2 Kettering Town 1

City : Fedzin 7, Santonocito 7, Ogilby 7, Avinel 7, Moloney 7, Gleeson 7, Howson 7 (Rothery 7), Donnelly 7 (Grant 7), Lallana 7, Baidoo 8*, Ephraim 7 (Curtis 6). Subs not used: Krymowski, Lyng.

Booked: Gleeson, Donnelly, Baidoo, Howson Scorers: Baidoo, Gleeson

Man of Match: Shabazz Baidoo – scored the opener and was fouled to set up the winner.