LUSS arrive in Leeds

May 24, 2023

All roads lead to Elland Road for LUSS!

Finally, after 5 years, we managed a real Elland Road trip for the LUSS (Leeds United Supporters Sweden) group. The focal point of the trip was the game Leeds vs Crystal Palace. As usual, it was a very pleasant trip with lots of new faces joining us. It was typical English April weather, that is, we experienced everything besides hail!


It started with the LUDO dinner on Friday evening in the pavilion at Elland Road where we met many nice people, enjoyed good food and Leeds songs by Paul Wilson. We met a couple of legends, Mel Sterland and Tony Dorigo, who entertained us with funny anecdotes from their times at Leeds. Two of our board members had time to have an eye-to-eye meeting with Clive (Vice-chair of LUSN) and his charming wife - yes, Clive was charming too.


On Saturday some went to watch the football and others went shopping. On the itinerary we had a “running together session”, but only two people showed up, one of which was injured. We must discuss if we shall keep that part next year.


Later that day we had our traditional Bowling tournament. The participation was 22 Leeds fans. We played two rounds. The winner of the first round was the person with a scorecard closest to the sum of the shirt numbers of the Leeds players in the game Leeds vs Brighton. Just to make things clear, most of us didn’t know the total sum we needed to get to before the tournament. But our organizer said it was the lowest number he could find! What great confidence he had in us! The second round the winner was just the person with the highest scorecard. We ended up with three winners in total. It was tied in the first round with Jens Davisson and Jacob Wikström. In the second round we had a winner in Iwy Ungh. The evening was rounded off with a shared dinner and a night cap at the “Taps”.


On Sunday morning, we, 40 LUSS members, and a single Tottenham supporter, who sneaked into the herd at Clayton, had a few ‘swift pints’ and we all walked together to "ER". As there were some new ones on the trip, we passed by Peter Lorimer disused pub on the way. At Elland Road some of us hade time for a pint at “the Peacock”. There wasn't as much atmosphere as usual because it's was an early match. But when the match started, the arena really vibrated for the first 45 minutes. If someone can explain to us what then happened, we will surely listen. Things went from bad to worse and more than worse. I think we will stop the comments of the match here. It was not a jolly bunch who gathered at the The Holbeck after the game. The group become even more reduced when we went to Ciao Bella. The owner, a replica of Basil in Fawlty Towers, did a grouchy impersonation of Basil without even having that ambition! Despite it getting late our chairman and wife had a night club meeting planned. He is something our chairman!


Monday was for many the returning day. Since we cannot live on football alone, four of us did visit both Leeds Museum and the art museum. We were surprised that the Leeds Museum did not have any story of Leeds United but presented the rugby team. We are planning to send a petition to the board of the museum to ask them to alter that.


We are grateful to the network, LUSN, and Leeds United for enabling us to get these 30 tickets for the game. It means so much for our organization that we can offer some of the members this opportunity. We kindly ask Leeds United to maintain this and make it a tradition.


Minutes made by an eye witness


March 30, 2026
The results of the recent Football Supporters' Association (FSA) survey , conducted between February and March 2026, make for stark reading. Over 75% of Premier League supporters do not support VAR, while an overwhelming 91.7% believe it has removed the spontaneous joy of goal celebrations. These findings reinforce what many Leeds United F.C. supporters have been experiencing first-hand throughout the current campaign. For Leeds fans, the debate around VAR is not theoretical — it is deeply personal. Recent fixtures have seen contentious decisions, delays, and moments of uncertainty that have directly impacted results, performances and ultimately the club’s standing in the Premier League. Whether it is decisions not reviewed, inconsistencies in application, or prolonged stoppages disrupting momentum, the sense among supporters is clear: VAR is not delivering fairness, and in many cases, it is doing the opposite. The FSA survey highlights that only a tiny minority of fans believe VAR improves the matchday experience, with many citing delays, confusion, and lack of transparency as key concerns. This is echoed widely across football discourse. Supporters responding to national coverage have voiced frustration, with sentiments such as “it’s taken the emotion out of the game” and “you can’t celebrate a goal properly anymore” becoming increasingly common. These are not isolated views — they represent a growing consensus across the game, including among Leeds supporters both home and away. From a Leeds United perspective, the stakes are even higher. Marginal calls, missed interventions, and inconsistent thresholds have the potential to influence league position, financial outcomes and the long-term trajectory of the club. When supporters see similar incidents judged differently week-to-week, confidence in the system erodes further. The argument that VAR improves accuracy is increasingly overshadowed by the reality that fans do not feel the game is fairer, clearer or more enjoyable. Dean Pearson, Chairman of LUSN, commented on the findings: “These results simply confirm what Leeds United supporters — and fans across the country — have been saying for some time. VAR, in its current form, is failing the game. It’s not just about decisions for or against; it’s about the experience, the emotion, and the integrity of football. When supporters lose trust in what they’re watching, whether in the stadium or at home, something has gone fundamentally wrong.” The message from supporters is clear. While technology has a place in modern football, its current implementation is not working. LUSN supports continued dialogue with governing bodies, the Premier League and the FSA to ensure that the voices of supporters — including those of Leeds United F.C. — are heard loud and clear. Whether that leads to revision, refinement, or a more fundamental rethink, the priority must always be restoring trust, fairness and enjoyment in the game. We would like to thank LUSN members who took the time to participate in the recent Football Supporters' Association (FSA) survey , helping ensure that the voices of Leeds fans were reflected in these important findings. #LUFC #LUSN #MOT #ALAW #VAR #FootballFans #PremierLeague #FSA LUSN Committee Board
March 16, 2026
The Leeds United Supporters’ Network (LUSN) strongly condemns the Jimmy Savile chanting heard from sections of the crowd during yesterday’s fixture between Crystal Palace vs Leeds United at Selhurst Park yesterday, Sunday 15th March 2026. Like with previous matches for many seasons, Home or Away, these chants are offensive, harmful and have no place in football or wider society. Beyond the obvious offence caused, the impact of these chants is far deeper. Research and testimony highlighted by LUSN ( see here - https://lusn.co.uk/jimmy-savile-chants ) shows that references to Savile can act as powerful triggers for survivors of sexual abuse, bringing back traumatic memories and causing genuine psychological distress. As charity leader Gabrielle Shaw (CEO of NAPAC ) explained, what may appear to some as “banter” can “hit with the force of a physical blow” for survivors hearing it in a packed stadium or while watching the match at home. We have consistently supported the call for Savile-related chants to be formally recognised within the scope of tragedy chanting legislation. We strongly urge football’s authorities, clubs and supporters — alongside the Football Supporters' Association — to support this effort and implement measures that ensure this abuse is addressed with the seriousness it demands. LUSN Committee Board
March 6, 2026
The Leeds United Supporters’ Network (LUSN) The Leeds United Supporters Network (LUSN) welcomes the statement issued by Leeds United F.C. ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fixture with Norwich City F.C. - LINK We appreciate the club acknowledging that greater communication prior to the Manchester City fixture would have helped supporters better understand the circumstances around the pause in play. This recognition reflects a key point raised in our statement earlier this week regarding the role that insufficient communication contributed to confusion inside Elland Road. We also welcome the club’s reflection on several mitigating factors which may have influenced supporters’ reactions, including stadium messaging limitations and the context of previous fixtures. Recognising these elements is an important step toward ensuring situations such as this are better managed and understood in the future. Our full statement outlining our position and concerns can be read here - https://lusn.co.uk/lusn-statement-040326a LUSN looks forward to working more closely with the club, the Leeds United Supporters Trust, and Leeds supporters everywhere to strengthen communication, representation and collaboration, as we collectively strive to restore both the club and its reputation to where we all believe it should be. LUSN Committee Board
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