‘Drop ten, turn and Face.’ Quilty’s Football Yarns 9 Away at University in Leeds: The Cold harsh North.

‘Drop ten, turn and Face.’ Quilty’s Football Yarns 9

Away at University in Leeds: 

The Cold harsh North. 

While I enjoyed my four years up at Leeds University playing twice a week, we did play in two distinct competitions. On Saturdays we travelled all across the north of England playing other Universities in the UAAC competition. Newcastle, Leicester, Manchester, Hull, Sheffield and Lancaster to name but a few. Midweek we played in what was quaintly called the Half Holliday League. Knottingley Miners, Leeds Post Office, St James Hospital and Leeds Asylum, at High Royds House, were some of the sides in this competition. This latter side were interesting if only because they played their home games in the magnificent Asylum grounds. As our coach drove in, residents could be seen in their pyjamas strolling around. One game we arrived to find ourselves a linesman short. The referee was an officious type and the game was delayed. Then, along the touchline one of the patients appeared, picked up the flag and stood ready to do the job. Quickly the captains approached the referee to chat. In a minute it was decided that this bloke would hopefully be as impartial as anyone and thankfully we got to play the game.

We had a fantastic ground out at Westwood but I never got on with the Groundsman, a gruff Yorkshireman. He once called our home matches off two weeks in a row when the pitches were playable. On the third week the pitch was under six inches of snow but he left the game on. The following week we turned up only to hear the game was off. Pissed off we put the nets up and played anyway. After 15 minutes he suddenly appeared in his car and drove on the pitch as we were playing. Scottish Brian reached the car before I did, insisting the groundsman wind down his car window. Not sure he understood every word but basically he told him, “Move your f’in car or we will roll it over”. He moved it.

As a follow up, by chance I was in the Student Union office one day. I wrote for Leeds Student and just happened be standing by the Union Administrators desk when I saw a file on his desk with my name on it! Full of 26 year old indignation I demanded an explanation. Apparently the groundsman had reported me! I got a full apology.

Being a team of University players in 1980 did not always go down well in the Half Holiday League, especially when we went to play against the coal mining sides like Knottingley. Set on a bleak snow swept hill off the M1, the pitch was decidedly more welcoming than the team itself. Being ignorant, I was convinced that the grunting right back who marked me was wearing eye liner. Only to be told that these guys only worked half a day on the Wednesday, before showering and coming straight to the game. The eye liner was in fact coal dust that had ingrained itself.

One of my last ever games up in Leeds was in 1983 and was the Cup Final of the Half Holliday League itself, we were playing a red hot Leeds Post Office side containing at least five West Indian super athletes in the team. Everything was set up right for disappointment. It was their home ground and they had hundreds of supporters out at Waddington Stadium. True to expectation they were running riot, just twelve minutes left and they were leading 5-2. We were shot. Then, one by one their superstars were withdrawn to a virtual standing ovation from the crowd. I personally came off the field at this point to be quietly replaced by a certain Paul Large, the son of Leicester player Frank Large. Paul had played a few earlier round games for us but insisted that we all enjoy our final and he would only come on if needed. Boy did we need him! First touch, Paul shoots and in off the cross bar, 5-3. Upon the restart Paul wins possession going the length of the field to score, 5-4. By now the Leeds Post Office crowd had ceased the celebration party and the subbed super-stars were demanding to be let back on again. Then just as time was running out Paul went wide, pulled the ball back for an easy tap in by a Leeds player, 5-5 and the end of normal time.

The unbelievable had happened and we went to extra time. With the momentum we had there was only to be one winner and sure enough Paul Large scored again to complete a most unlikely hat-trick and lift us the Cup. A great way to finish my four years in the cold harsh north!