Ellis

Quote: The Dentist Wilf "Well once again we play tribute to one of the 2016 immortals as Gareth Ellis leaves the Club. These are certainly changing times but what a legacy he leaves and what an incredible amount every FC fan who has supported the club since the start of the 2013 season owes to his example setting and leadership, his professionalism, his endeavour and his amazing ability to raise the team when times were hard. we are all privileged to have watched him play because true leaders come along so rarely. That is a very rare commadity in any sport, for we have struggled to replace him at the club since he has retired, but perhaps that is a futile quest for any club would have the same difficulty as he was one of a kind. He just pushes all the buttons every time. Want proof?

Well Kirk Yeaman once told me that when he was playing for the FC to see Gareth leading the team out in front of him, made him feel a foot taller before he even got out there to play. He set a standard and everyone else followed. That's the sign of someone who had that rare commodity of the one who could inspire others and what a leader he was. When he lifted that cup that sunny August afternoon in 2016, he created the second best moment of my life (the best being the final hooter going) and I'll remember him forever for that. And I bet I'm not on my own with that one!!!!

In bad times he was great too. He kicked the coach out of the changing rooms on at least two occasions to sort the players out and it was he who locked the dressing room door at widnes that night after the game when as captain, with the imports he sorted the players out, an action that ensured what followed created one of the best seasons, I have ever experienced in 64 years of supporting the club. So good I even wrote a book about it. (after Saturdays game I read a few extracts from it just to remind me what a great FC team was all about and just how far we have fallen)

And all that and he was a brilliant uncompromising forward as well.

Peter Gentle persuaded the club to pursue him and break the bank to get him and it was an on line meeting with Peter, Adam and Tony Sutton in Adams old office at the Kcom that persuaded him to come to us rather than rejoining Leeds, the rest as they say is history! He will be a loss to the club but he lives on through some amazing memories! I can guarantee his biography will be worth reading. Good luck Gareth and thanks!!!'"

A truly fantastic post Wilf