Oh my, oh my, oh my. I am having the week of my life.

Managed to track down the Leeds training camp and decided to book into the hotel the players are staying. I made it to the first session which was officially 'behind closed doors', but when they saw me outside in my Leeds shirt (crutches and all) I got invited in.

I have spent the last two days watching them train close up, I have met several of the players and officials, all of whom have been very welcoming and even got to have a chat with the manager, Jesse Marsch who invited me back for the next couple of days. Victor Otra was asking about my injury.

Then in the bar this afternoon, I am watching the World Cup on the big screen, with El Mago himself (Pablo Hernandez) sitting a few feet away with his family, as one by one all the Leeds players from his era come in and embrace him.

Managed to get myself in a photo with the old guard from the Bielsa days - myself, Pablo Hernandez, Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling and Mateusz Klich.

Wow.

Edit:  And now I'm famous.

https://twitter.com/BerenCross/status/1599802913869729793

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Monday 5th of December 2022 06:00:12 PM

Bob in Spain wrote:

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Oh my, oh my, oh my. I am having the week of my life.

Managed to track down the Leeds training camp and decided to book into the hotel the players are staying. I made it to the first session which was officially 'behind closed doors', but when they saw me outside in my Leeds shirt (crutches and all) I got invited in.

I have spent the last two days watching them train close up, I have met several of the players and officials, all of whom have been very welcoming and even got to have a chat with the manager, Jesse Marsch who invited me back for the next couple of days. Victor Otra was asking about my injury.

Then in the bar this afternoon, I am watching the World Cup on the big screen, with El Mago himself (Pablo Hernandez) sitting a few feet away with his family, as one by one all the Leeds players from his era come in and embrace him.

Managed to get myself in a photo with the old guard from the Bielsa days - myself, Pablo Hernandez, Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling and Mateusz Klich.

Wow.

Edit:  And now I'm famous.

https://twitter.com/BerenCross/status/1599802913869729793

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Monday 5th of December 2022 06:00:12 PM

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 When do they play in the Elche event? 

Going to treasure this one.

the addict wrote:

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Well done on making the trip. Have you met up with the physios yet ? 

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Given our current injury list, I think they're a bit busy

My Leeds themed week continued last night with a visit to a local town of Orihuela (20 mins for me) to watch them play the Leeds U21 side. Orihuela are in the equivalent of the 5th tier of Spanish football, so roughly National League standard. But despite the absence of the majority of Leeds' usual U21 squad who were training with the first team, we still managed to get the win 1-0 with a 2nd half header from the prolific young Max Dean - a real potential star of the future.

But what I really liked about last night was the tweet from Orihuela after the game. Clearly in our Leeds culture, being a potential star footballer of the future, doesn't stop you from fulfilling your other duties and still requires you to respect others, as young Max showed last night.

twitter.com/Orihuela_CF/status/1600256804209901568

Proud of my club.

Brilliant hour long documentary this evening on Sky Sports Premier League all about their training camp in Spain. Brought back such great memories.

Being repeated tomorrow (Friday) at 19.00 hrs under the title of 'Premier League Stories. Well worth a watch for Leeds fans.

Hey Bob - my daughter works (during Uni holidays time ie now and over Xmas etc) at a tea rooms in Harrogate called Betty's , quite well known place, as a waitress.

Yesterday she had the pleasure of serving Luke Ayling and his wife and child. She had no idea who he was but someone told her - apparently he was a really nice guy, nice family . Not sure if Luke lives in Harrogate, quite a few players, managers do - Gareth Southgate, Michah Richards, George Graham, David O'Leary all do and probably a fair few more as well