The British Gas cards ?

I always went to home games in the 80s with my mate and his dad and his dads mate, they were in their 70s and I gave them a lift and dropped them off home, both had played for Leeds prior to WW2. Unbeknown to me and my mate both the old lads were collecting the British Gas cards for us right through that season because at that time my mate and I both had very young children.

At the end of the season you could get a book from the ground and stick your cards in it - both of the old lads did this (they used to queue up with all the kids to get the cards every home game), and after the last game they gave them to us both for our kids, nice gesture - but there's more.

They also entered both of our childrens names into a draw for a childrens "meet the players" evening and my eldest who was about three at the time was one of the kids who got an invite, so along we all went to an event that was held in what became the "Rhinos 2000" bar along with about 20 other kids and their parents, all the kids got a British Gas kitbag full of British Gas junk but the main prize for most of the young kids there was to meet their hero's and have their photos taken with them.

I'll add here that this was the Schofield clique era and prior to the idea that PR work would be part of a players contract and quite frankly the "meet the players" part was a complete farce and an embarrassment to the club and the poor fool who was running around trying to organise things. After numerous promises that "they've been training but they are on their way now" and a delay of around an hour (try explaining that to kids who are bored now) the first team players finally turned up and without stopping to say hello just strode to the bar and congregated there with their backs to the audience, when asked if one of them would come and award prizes to the kids they (almost literally) threw John Gallagher out of the huddle and then proceeded to laugh at him the whole time he stood in total embarrassment handing out prizes to 20 kids and having his photo taken.

Only two players came out of that evening with any sort of kudos from me - Roy Powell and Colin Maskill, only those two actually made an effort to go around the crowd and do the "meet and greet" bit and get down on the floor and talk to the young kids, there was a board game in the kitbag (a British Gas boardgame) and Roy ended up laying on the floor with my daughter and half a dozen other kids playing with the game for 20 mins or so, when he turned around the rest of the team had buggered off to a pub somewhere leaving the organiser to let everyone know that the evening was over.

If you had been there and then been in the Long Room after a game these days you'll appreciate what a bit of PR awareness and training has done for the game.

Started off going to Headingley in early 80s in North Stand with my father before going into South Stand with pals when independence hit. Given the amount of dross we sometimes had to sit through in those years, some of main memories are from off the field. The *smell* of the North Stand for one: 10% wood veneer, 30% pipe tobacco, 60% cheap cigars. Transported right back there on the rare occasion nowadays when I get the waft of a pipe.

My uncle was connected with the club at that time and sometimes I'd go to games with him and be sat in the central section, his seat being directly behind Arthur Clues, who was an old man by then but still very much larger than life and when he was talking about the game you'd listen.

Also as a young boy if with my uncle would go into the post-game hospitality in the old pavilion (chicken legs, vol-au-vents, top spread) and see the players. I clearly remember after one cold midweek night game leaving the pavilion through the small cricket stand that was then at the back of it and through the dark seeing Terry Webb in the cricket seats literally with a fag hanging from his mouth and a miniskirted girl hanging from each arm. "Mind you don't get injured Webbo!"..."I'll be alright, mate".

I started going to games in 93 but one of my favourite memories has to be against Castleford in 96. England were playing Spain in Euro 96 and the game was shown on Sky's big screen and as a rather tense Academy game ground to an end England won the penalty shoot out and I remember the Loiners and Cas first teams watching that rather than warming up with the South Stand cheering very loudly before continuing their disgust at the state of the club

Seen my fair share of wins and losses at Headingley, in league, cup, and Tests, although the ledger is in favour of wins.

I, too, made the trip like Rogues in 1991, and paid for it the next day with a thumping hangover.
I think my favourite was the following season, 1991-92. You had niled us at Central Park, in scoring 19 yourselves, in the November. A very rare occurence.
The return was the following March, and Wigan returned the compliment by scoring 24 themselves, leaving me with, I'm afraid, a smug grin on leaving the Western Terrace.
The highlight that day for me was Dean Bell, either taking a tap 20, or first pass from it (can't remember exactly now), and racing down the South Stand side on a curving run, scoring in the corner without a finger being laid on him.

Always enjoyed my trips to yours.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPdkL8w_QogThanks for not mentioning the Premiership Trophy Semi in the same season at Central Park![/url

Hi, long time lurker, first time poster. As it's the 42nd anniversary of my first game, I thought this would be the ideal time and topic to jump in.

Like a lot of people on here, I tagged along with my dad and got bitten by the bug at an early age. My earliest memories are of the sound of the crowd and the smell of embrocation, rather than any specific action on the field. I have been lucky to see some fantastic players over the years but I just missed out on seeing the legendary Mick Shoebottom, though I went to his testimonial game against Gt Britain. I made my first trip to Wembley that season but missed out on the championship win, thus setting the tone for the next 32 years!!

I did have the pleasure and privilege of watching John Holmes, a true rugby league magician, the most unselfish player I've ever seen and we've always been lucky at Leeds to have had exciting backs on the books. Of the large number of games I've seen, a few stand out; the two 70 nil games against Saints and Wigan in an atmosphere I'd never felt before at Headingley, the World Club Challenge against Manly, a game possibly also against Saints which Leeds won despite Schoey being sin binned and then sent off after talking back to the referee on his way off the field and yet another Saints game (the same game, even?) in which Bobbie Goulding missed an easy last minute conversion which would have won the game. It was always fun watching Graham Murray's '99 team and who wouldn't go back in time to relive the 2004 season again?

So many memories, the good ones just about managing to dim the bad ones!

That was in 97, after schoey's time. Fantastic game that. Week before we lost by a point to wigan at home 16-17. Gouldings kick was just to the right of the posts, still can't believe he missed it.

Ah, thanks for the memory jog. I almost felt sorry for Bobbie but I got over it.

This explains a lot as to why you are so defensive of the coaching set up. That's not a put down by the way, I just mean it explains a lot.

As for the thread. I have been going since the challenge cup final of 78, and do have a memory of being picked up on to the pitch by David Ward at the end of the game. As for other memories, I can honestly say I rarely remember matches at all. Always being one to look to the future rather than the past. I remember the odd moments, such as what an other posted about Ford catching Offia. I also remember fondly the performance of Craig Izzard against Widnes at Headingley, or Sam Backo's kick and chase agains Hull in Yorkshire cup (I think). But I rarely ponder on past moments.

Yes i did.Was around the time i first started going on a regular basis.Still got a load somewhere signed by the players.

I think my best memory of Headingley pre SL was when we beat Wigan 33-28 in late 94.A real see-saw battle in front of a packed out 20k crowd,brilliant atmosphere.quality on display was high class with Hanley,Cummins,Schofield,Robinson,Offiah,Betts and Tuigamala all scoring points. Probably my last good memory of the Dougie Laughton era too as we went on to get a stuffing in the CC final in 95 and then went into decline.

Strangely 2 of my strongest memories are of games we didn't win.

1994 - 46 all draw with Sheffield...I'm still not convinced i've felt such frustration at a game in all my life. Even as a 13 year old, i spent a long time with my head in my hands!!

2003 - Losing 16-18 to Bradford. The game where for the first time i genuinely felt like we were ready to challenge with the exciting young team we had. Cracking game, great atmosphere and oh so close to a win.

Probably the most notable victory in my head is the challenge cup win over Wigan after Barrie Mac had been sent off early doors. I can still sense the deathly silence that greeted the red card, and the noise that greeted the final whistle.

My first Leeds game was actually an away fixture, CC tie at Wakefield, 81/82 season. Memorable only because I got jumped by 8 or 9 Wakey "fans" on the way back to the train station and got the crap kicked out of me. The chip in my front tooth continues to remind me of the experience.

All good fun.

So many. Weirdly most of them are when we weren't so good! Colin Maskill taking over the kickng duties and slotting them Sinny style, to be roundly booed by the South Stand when missing one. Supersub Paul Medley, ET (he just looked like a superhero!), Craig Izzard finally a Leeds prop that could break a tackle/offload, Creasser looking like a world beater til his shoulder always packed up and Gary Spencers mum telling an eleven yr old me off for shouting to get ET on!! Happy days...

Good thread this. I always enjoyed going to Headingley, my first regular trips coincided with Bradford Northern having a pack of nutcases who regularly pummelled the overpaid and overrated Leeds forwards. I often used to go to Headingley to support the opposition when Northern didn’t have a game too such was my dislike of Leeds back then. I remember some great days watching Leeds lose 0-38 to Widnes in the late 80s and a 0-17 reverse to a Geoff Bagnall inspired Wakey was a good un too. I was at the 26k crowd for the Widnes game in the cup mentioned earlier. That was the cup FFS and 26k there! Those were the days!

Despite my partisan roots I really loved the atmosphere, the “green green grass of headingley”, changing ends at half time, walking across the pitch at full time, that seems like another age. I used to enjoy the southstand or sitting on the wall in the paddock by the dugouts, especially if Peter Fox or Alex Murphy were coaching, it was like a pantomime. I remember when the electronic scoreboard was put in, that was hi tech! A big improvement on that Youngers sponsored one at the Eastern end that you could only read from directly in front!

Nowadays it’s lost some of its magic but I guess that’s just me getting on and the rose tinted specs coming out. Also the hatred of Leeds has totally gone. I must be going soft.

Some nice flashbacks there.I almost forgot about the changing ends at HT and walking over the pitch.It Just reminded me that we as kids used to play on the pitch with a mini rugby ball for ages after the game had finished and nobody really bothered.Cant see the kids of today being allowed to do that!

Does it really? Do explain, how seeing Andy Hay score a hat trick and Iestyn Harris destroying a woeful Huddersfield team in 1999 made me so apparently "defensive" of Brian McDermott in 2013.

I said it wasn't a put down and I meant. It just explained a lot.

You started watching in 1999, coincidentally a very good side, who the previous year played in the first Grand Final, and the year you went won the challenge cup final. A year later another challenge cup final, and just three years later challenging at the top, and another challenge cup final, the start of the dominant era.

You had none of the 80's and times of the 90's, waiting years and years for success. That's why I have no time for McDermott, as I don't want to go back to those days, I want the success to continue. So desperate, that my eyes are open in seeing how we are regressing.

Like I said nothing was a go at you, but you just can't have that same desperation. Consider yourself a lucky charm that the success came with you.

Oh and my favourite game, winding me dad up saying John Basnett will have a good game this weekend... Followed by a lecture about John Atkinson and Alan Smith.

1999 was the first time I got to Headingley as a 12 year old. Before that I remember watching the 94 & 95 CC Finals defeats, Wigan putting 60 plus on us in a Premiership final. The woeful 1996 season, Bradford knocking us out at the semis in 96 & 97 and Murray's term being bookended with disappointing defeats at home against Cas in knockout rugby. I also had two more CC final defeats to watch. Three playoff campaigns (2000-2002) where we were a clear level behind Saints, Bradford, Wigan at the time and dispatched without ever truly looking like contenders.. Saw us become the first team in 2003 to finish in the top 2 in SL playoffs and NOT make the GF and also consecutive CC semi defeats to Saints in '01 & '02.

Even after the 2004 success I witness double final defeats in 2005 and poor exits from both competitions in 2006.

Whilst I might've seen a few good moments, up until 2007 I'd mostly seen disappointments too.

Even after 2007 we've kept a nice stock of defeat and dissapointment with plenty of WCC and CC final defeats to counteract the grand final success. We can't just win most of the finals we play in like wigan, or saints up until october 2007, we have to lose plenty as well.

No doubt we'll get another healthy dose of CC final defeat over the next 5 years, just to keep us ticking over.

Last 8 CC finals: LLWLLLLLL

Apart from 99 they've all merged into one for me.

Remember seeing Izzard's debut against I think Salford, it was Gary Divorty's debut also, and they came off the bench before half-time and Izzard dropped a pass, missed a tackle and gave away a try. All the talk at half-time was what a lemon we'd got again, and then...

Favourite Headingley games from that era were the Widnes punch-up game (it's on YouTube), a game against the all-conquering Wigan side that we actually WON with David Creasser and Mark Wilson(!) outstanding leading to another feeling of hope that finally, FINALLY we might be turning into a team that wins things. We weren't. Schoey's debut in an Auckland tour match that would have finished 2-a-side if it was played today. 50-14 with 12 men vs Saints. 5-0 in a cup replay vs Widnes on a Wednesday night.

Among the worst would be an absolute hammering against Warrington that finally saw the end of Peter Fox, and a very similar performance from a much better squad against Wigan last year.

The Widnes game you are referring to is one of my favourite memories. Joe Grima had had basically mullered our soft c*** forwards for the previous two seasons and finally, along comes Craig Izzard to provide a healthy dose of his own medicine.

The interesting thing about Izzard is that he wasn't that highly respected in the ARL, possibly because he was over shadowed by his brother. For us, he was a revelation.

That entire Widnes pack beat Leeds by looking at them. Sorensen, Koloto, Mckenzie and Eyres (who turned into another waste of time when he signed for us)

I started going to watch Leeds in 1982. I think a lot of my memories have already been mentioned, but a few others include :

ET's "chip" that didn't quite come off against Widnes
Going 10 nil up against the Aussies, I think in 1990 ?, was so exciting. But losing 22-10 in the end.
Going back to the cup game against Widnes when there was 26k there and being mesmerised, for some reason, by a massive Skull and Crossbones flag the Widnes fans had.
Schoey's 4 tries versus Wigan.
Carl Gibson's side step, Roy Powell swallowing his tongue (what a true gentleman he was by the way), David Ward and "The Wall" from a tap penalty, and finally the 50-14 victory versus St Helens after losing David Cruickshank to an early sending off, John Bentley and Phil Ford were on fire !!!