sorry about fred. i got into RL in 94 when my mate dragged me along and i was hooked. my son is now a big leeds fan and i assure you my grandson will be too. he doesn't have a choice

First of all I’m sorry to hear about the passing away of Fred. I was introduced to the game by my uncle on Boxing Day 1998. Feel free to read the full story with the links below- leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1518 leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1519 leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1520 leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1521 When Leeds play saints in a couple of weeks, I am hoping to do a short story on the first away match with my cousin.

First of all I’m sorry to hear about the passing away of Fred. I was introduced to the game by my uncle on Boxing Day 1998. Feel free to read the full story with the links below- leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1518 leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1519 leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1520 leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1521 When Leeds play saints in a couple of weeks, I am hoping to do a short story on the first away match with my cousin.

Started playin first....
Got into watching after 77 cup final...
First headingley experience some time in 78...
I think....

Condolences to you and your family. I started playing at age of 13 when a next door neighbor but one (Walker brothers - all play/coach at Dewsbury Rams) introduced me to amateur down and Dewsbury Moor. Never picked a ball up in my life before but an absolute legend of a man, a true gent called Derek Allot showed me what to do. Then played for Dewsbury & Batley schoolboys (alongside some blokes called Nick Fozzard and Francis Cummins). Our coach was some other geezer called David Ward, another really nice guy. My first ever Leeds game was in 1993 CC final when Franny Cummins scored his length of the field try. Enjoyed watching them ever since.

(Oh, there was a brief dabble in a couple of seasons up at Fartown watching Hudds cos my dad worked for David Brown Gears and got free tickets between 1992-93).

My son's middle name is Headingley (honest!), and I hope one day he'll pick up the ball and fall in love with the game (whoever he supports)!

"Barnstoneworth, pop down Crightons and get us some lard for tomorrow..."

sorry to hear about Fred

My RL starts out in the early 90s, my Mums side of the family are big Leeds United fans and tried to get me to support them so would take me to games (91-92 season to 1995) but my Dads side of the family are RL/Union fans who I would sit and watch games with. When I moved back in early 93 to Bramley I started to go to games with a mate in the spring time of that year

Sorry to hear about your Uncle Fred.

Sadly my dad was never able to take me to Headingley as he was confined to a wheelchair with MS when I was a kid. But he did motivate me with regard to Rugby League with many stories of former Leeds stars. He was in the old wooden North stand the day it that down in 1931 and used to joke that the builders lorries belonging to a Director were already parked around the cricket ground.

I first went to Headingley with an elder brother in the mid 50’s and since 1958 became a regular Southstander. In the early 60’s players were all part time professionals and used to train on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings after they had finished work. As we lived in Headingley we would often go along to watch theses training sessions and would join the players in the “Bowling Club” afterwards where we would sink a couple of pints of Tetleys Mild which were all the more enjoyable as we were under age at the time.

This team was our first Championship winning side and was full of stars like Lewis Jones, Ken Thornett, Colin Evans & Brian Shaw. I remember Big “farmer” Jack Fairbank used to arrive at Headingley in an old pick up truck covered in sh*te. He would journey from his farm way beyond Huddersfield up Nont Sarahs way in the middle of winter with no heater. In those days, before the M62, it was quite a journey two or three time a week as he’d been up at dawn each day milking the cows.

Some years later along with two brothers we transfered to the North stand in the days when season ticket holder were called “members” and you had your name printed on your seat. In the mid 80’s I used to take first my daughter and later my young son who also fell in love with the game and went on to become a good half back himself.

Once you have sampled the Rugby League live there really is nothing to touch it.

One of the best posts we've had in years on here Sir.Take a bow.

Absolutely spot on JC and a great one line description!

Who in their right mind calls their son Barnstoneworth?

He's got another name....

"United, what sort of name is that ?"

"Its a form of madness y'know, wearing yer scarf in bed, calling yer kid Barnstoneworth"

One of the funniest jokes ever told on screen, IMO.

Welcome to my world and I agree it is a form of madness. Never denied it.

The best line by far is well hidden in the scene in the clubhouse before the meeting between Gordon and the barman...

"Cyril ?"
"Gordon"
"Hows Vera?"
"Not bad, fartings stopped"

If his dad was the same Robin that played for Leeds he would also have had an uncle called Mick. I knew Robin's brother Mick who played in the "Hot Pot Belly Band" when I too was playing in a band. We often used to play in blues/jazz/jug band jam sessions in Leeds when sometimes Mark Knopler would drop by and join in.

Robin's dad used to have fish n chip shop in Burley not far from the ground.