I really tried to belt out the โHe comes from Cookstownโฆโ tune alongside the rest of Elland Road at half-time versus Blackburn, but I just couldnโt bring myself to do it. Hell, I couldnโt even manage the far more lyrically succinct โOne Stuart Dallasโ. I was too busy choking back tears. And Iโd wager that a fair few of you were too.
Tears? Football? Leeds? Isnโt that all a bit Alan Smith? A bit 2004?
Weirdly, the first time I remember crying for reasons tied to the football was also in 2004, but not because of anything Leeds had done (or failed to do). England were playing France in their opening game of Euro 2004 and led 1-0 going into stoppage time. And then Zinedine Zidane scored a free-kick on 90+1, and then Zinedine Zidane scored a penalty to win it on 90+3, and then ten-year-old me ran upstairs and cried. Crying over England? Pathetic. Iโve had a word with ten-year-old me.
โฌข
To read the rest of this article, you need to join TSB+ โ members get access to this plus extra podcast and video episodes, all podcasts advert-free, can read every issue of our magazine online and much more. You can join or log in below.
Join TSB+
Support TSB and get all this:
- PODCASTS โ
- All podcasts ad-free in one feed
- Members only podcast & video episodes
- The Match Ball live video & early access podcast
- Your voice on the show
- EXTRAS โ
- Members Daily Email
- Discounts on merch
- MAGAZINE โ
- Digital subscription
- 8 x 80-page magazines a season
- Read as PDFs or web posts
- YEARLY ONLY โ
- Add paper mag subscription any time for just ยฃ8 (+p&p)
- Or select TSB+ Mag to add paper subscription now
TSB+ Mag
ยฃ5.66 p/m
- Billed yearly at ยฃ67.88 plus postage
- First month free trial
- Adds 12 month TSB Mag subscription
- ยฃ8 instead of ยฃ18 - ยฃ1 per issue (+p&p)
Other options
TSB Magazine
ยฃ1.50 p/m
- Billed yearly at ยฃ18 plus postage
- 12 month TSB mag subscription
- 80 page print magazine
- 8 issues of TSB per season
- Delivered worldwide
- Discount on special issues
Gift Memberships
- Give the gift of The Square Ball
- Send a magazine subscription
- Give a TSB+ membership
- Send a gift card