They’re a Great Bunch of Lads
It became a tediously tiring tirade by Neil Warnock somehow justifying the shortcomings of his footballing sons Kenny, Tongey, Browneh, Luke Varney, David Norris and co.
But as well as being pretty damn good footballers in their own right, a great bunch of lads is the perfect way to describe the current set representing Leeds United Football Club.
The biggest talking point in football this week is many of the ‘elite’ clubs already benefiting from a share of billions in TV revenue putting their non playing staff on unpaid leave whilst their millionaire prima donna footballers collect their lofty wages via the government pay scheme, designed to help the hard working people of the country help put food on the table during this most uncertain of times.
Greed in football and debates of whether footballers should be paid as much as they do have been about for years and also if people such as doctors, paramedics, soldiers etc are more deserving of the riches. Arguably, never has the NHS been more appreciated than it has now and the work of the frontline workers battling the coronavirus pales football into insignificance but thats a debate for another site.
What is so pleasing about this sorry topic is we can be extremely proud of our Leeds United players. They set the tone and precedent of how football players can remove that overpaid celebrity tag and work together for the greater good when they deferred their wages indefinently so the 272 non-playing staff at Elland Road and Thorp Arch will recieve their full pay during the crisis.
Some will argue it is only a deferral and they will get it back but like any profession footballers live to their means and it is a sacrifice and although the United players don’t earn anywhere near as much as Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United players (whose immoral owners at the best of times) have exploited tax payers system it is a gesture to be applauded.
The football club and the city of Leeds’s community was neglected during previous ownership regimes but this is just one in a long line of strong links between team and city. Think of the club’s efforts to raise money for treatment for the late Toby Nye, the food bank donation stand found outside Elland Road, Kalvin Phillip’s relationship with the family of six-year-old Sarah Emmott who has Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome and the whole clubs ‘ campaign last season raising money for the Leeds based Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
So the rest of football take note, Leeds United have a team to be proud of on and off the pitch. They really are “a great bunch of lads!”.
By Lawrence O’Sullivan
