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Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Partying Leeds United set up last-day Championship title shootout and close in on 100 points after 4-0 thrashing of Bristol City
This was a performance of champions. Leeds United aren't quite there yet but they will travel to Plymouth on Saturday in charge of their own destiny and with the chance to finish the campaign on 100 points for the first time in their history. Daniel Farke 's side outclassed a Bristol City side in play-off contention on Monday night and lived up to their promise that winning the Championship, rather than just promotion, is the aim. 'We're proud. And the performance made it even more special,' said Leeds skipper, Ethan Ampadu. 'That was for the squad and the fans.' With their 28th league win of the season, Leeds went back ahead of Burnley on goal difference thanks to goals from Ao Tanaka, Wilfried Gnonto and a late brace from substitute Largie Ramazani. For Liam Manning's side, this was a schooling. They failed to have a shot on target until the 93rd minute. The Robins will need to secure their play-off spot when relegation-battling Preston travel to Ashton Gate this weekend. For Leeds, it was party central in the spring sunshine long before kick off with the stadium DJ playing Gold by Spandau Ballet and The Only Way Is Up by Yazz pre-match. At The Old Peacock, opposite Elland Road, Patrick Bamford put £5,000 behind the bar for punters and inside, yellow scarves were placed on every seat. On a day where proposed images of a redeveloped Elland Road were released, the raucous rendition of 'Marching on Together' was an ample reminder that any modernisation must not come at the expense of the atmosphere this old school ground can provide. This was Leeds at their very best. Even Erling Haaland took to Snapchat to share that he was watching the Whites. Paraag Marathe, the Leeds chairman, had flown in from San Francisco to spend the week here, with the club insisting that this was for the celebrations rather than fuelling any speculation surrounding the future of Farke. What he witnessed on the pitch and in the stands was nothing but appreciation for the Leeds manager. On the pitch, he named an unchanged eleven from the team who demolished Stoke and any idea that Leeds may have taken their foot off was dispelled as they raced out of the blocks. Manor Solomon's lofted delivery found Tanaka, who finished brilliantly on the half volley to give Leeds the lead. Farke's men were relentless, as they have been for most of the season, and Gnonto doubled the lead after he was played through by Joel Piroe before Ramazani came off the bench and scored with his first touch from Junior Firpo's cross. The Belgian added another in injury time. As the players came back out to celebrate promotion with the fans, the loudest roar was saved for Farke. 'I don't need public backing (from the chairman). This is one of the most important days in our history. I wanted to bring this club back to the Premier League. The next step is to establish us there.' Farke told Sky Sports. The next time this place holds a competitive fixture, it will be in the Premier League. That much is for sure but still it remains unclear whether the man who took them back to The Promised Land will be leading them come August. Either way, he deserves immense credit for giving these fans a season that they will never forget.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Leeds close in on title after Tanaka and Ramazani's double crushes Bristol City
As the home supporters launched into a chorus of 'Daniel, Daniel Farke,' a little smile played across the face of the Leeds manager as he offered a polite wave in return. Up in the directors' box, Paraag Marathe looked on inscrutably. If, and it remains quite a big if, he really is considering sacking Farke, the club's chairman – who, perhaps significantly pulled out of a planned pre-match television interview at the last minute – must surely be having second thoughts after this. Advertisement Related: Leeds chairman flying to UK for talks with Daniel Farke over manager's future Win at Plymouth on Saturday and Farke's impressive Leeds will finish the season on 100 points and, due to their superior goal difference, clinch the Championship title. All kaleidoscopic passing and movement, they simply steamrollered Bristol City into submission here and the visiting manager Liam Manning can only hope that a defeat that could have been considerably heavier does not exert too much psychological damage at a vital moment. Although City are well placed to finish in the top six they may still need to beat Preston at Ashton Gate on Saturday in order to secure a semi-final against Sheffield United or, more probably, Sunderland. Ominously, they did not have a shot of any description until the 75th minute here. The shine has been stripped from the promotion celebrations inside Elland Road by suggestions that Leeds could be about to dismiss Farke. Given the manager's achievement in securing a top-two place last week despite losing three of his best players in a £140m fire sale last summer, such suggestions seem absurd. Advertisement Although Farke is due to meet with Marathe, this week to 'discuss the future', club sources claim it is all part of a routine end of season review and nothing out of the ordinary. Whatever the precise truth – given that the stories have not emerged from thin air, it seems someone, somewhere clearly has an agenda –the club's owners, the San Francisco-based 49ers Enterprises, are surely misguided if they really believe they can get a better manager? Perhaps significantly Angus Kinnear, the outgoing Everton-bound Leeds chief executive, penned an ode to the German in Monday's match programme. 'I want to congratulate Daniel on an almost immaculate season,' he wrote. 'Recent history has shown that this club needs a leader with broad shoulders, strong principles and unshakeable belief if it is to be successful. I don't believe we could have a better leader.' Advertisement Farke himself remained characteristically poised before kick-off, telling a television interviewer: 'It's not my topic … I just recommend you don't believe everything you read in a newspaper.' Dressed in his trademark black parka, Farke took his place in the home dugout on an unusually warm late April evening, the ground turned into a sea of twirling yellow scarves as a raucously rousing rendition of the club anthem Marching on Together echoed in the balmy evening air. Five years ago when Leeds were last promoted to the Premier League the Covid pandemic dictated that matches were played in eerily empty stadiums and locals were denied their party. They made up for it here and with Bristol City penned largely into their own half and struggling to string two passes together, it seemed only a matter of time until Leeds scored. Advertisement With the once again excellent Jayden Bogle rampaging forward from right-back and the outstanding Japan central midfielder Ao Tanaka integral to some glorious passing and movement, Manor Solomon soon swept the ball into the back of Bristol City net. Although that effort was disallowed as Joël Piroe had strayed offside, Tanaka soon half-volleyed Solomon's clever looping cross beyond Max O'Leary. Bristol City could end up facing Sunderland in the playoff semi-final and, as they watched from their training camp in Portugal, Régis Le Bris and his players may have been encouraged to note that Tanaka had been left unmarked. O'Leary was keeping City in the game, with the best of several important saves denying Solomon. Advertisement Leeds were enjoying around 75 per cent of possession and doubled their lead when Wilfried Gnonto ran onto Piroe's superb through ball and expertly lifted his shot over the advancing O'Leary. It was all too easy to see why 30 points now separate these sides. By way of emphasising the gulf in class substitute Largie Ramazani scored the third with his first touch after meeting a ball from Junior Firpo's as perfectly calibrated as Leeds performance. Ramazani then scored a last-gasp fourth. Small wonder that, as the final whistle beckoned, Elland Road echoed to 'Daniel, Daniel Farke.'
The Guardian
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Leeds close in on title after Tanaka and Ramazani's double crushes Bristol City
As the home supporters launched into a chorus of 'Daniel, Daniel Farke,' a little smile played across the face of the Leeds manager as he offered a polite wave in return. Up in the directors' box, Paraag Marathe looked on inscrutably. If, and it remains quite a big if, he really is considering sacking Farke, the club's chairman – who, perhaps significantly pulled out of a planned pre-match television interview at the last minute – must surely be having second thoughts after this. Win at Plymouth on Saturday and Farke's impressive Leeds will finish the season on 100 points and, due to their superior goal difference, clinch the Championship title. All kaleidoscopic passing and movement, they simply steamrollered Bristol City into submission here and the visiting manager Liam Manning can only hope that a defeat that could have been considerably heavier does not exert too much psychological damage at a vital moment. Although City are well placed to finish in the top six they may still need to beat Preston at Ashton Gate on Saturday in order to secure a semi-final against Sheffield United or, more probably, Sunderland. Ominously, they did not have a shot of any description until the 75th minute here. The shine has been stripped from the promotion celebrations inside Elland Road by suggestions that Leeds could be about to dismiss Farke. Given the manager's achievement in securing a top-two place last week despite losing three of his best players in a £140m fire sale last summer, such suggestions seem absurd. Although Farke is due to meet with Marathe, this week to 'discuss the future', club sources claim it is all part of a routine end of season review and nothing out of the ordinary. Whatever the precise truth – given that the stories have not emerged from thin air, it seems someone, somewhere clearly has an agenda –the club's owners, the San Francisco-based 49ers Enterprises, are surely misguided if they really believe they can get a better manager? Perhaps significantly Angus Kinnear, the outgoing Everton-bound Leeds chief executive, penned an ode to the German in Monday's match programme. 'I want to congratulate Daniel on an almost immaculate season,' he wrote. 'Recent history has shown that this club needs a leader with broad shoulders, strong principles and unshakeable belief if it is to be successful. I don't believe we could have a better leader.' Farke himself remained characteristically poised before kick-off, telling a television interviewer: 'It's not my topic … I just recommend you don't believe everything you read in a newspaper.' Dressed in his trademark black parka, Farke took his place in the home dugout on an unusually warm late April evening, the ground turned into a sea of twirling yellow scarves as a raucously rousing rendition of the club anthem Marching on Together echoed in the balmy evening air. Five years ago when Leeds were last promoted to the Premier League the Covid pandemic dictated that matches were played in eerily empty stadiums and locals were denied their party. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion They made up for it here and with Bristol City penned largely into their own half and struggling to string two passes together, it seemed only a matter of time until Leeds scored. With the once again excellent Jayden Bogle rampaging forward from right-back and the outstanding Japan central midfielder Ao Tanaka integral to some glorious passing and movement, Manor Solomon soon swept the ball into the back of Bristol City net. Although that effort was disallowed as Joël Piroe had strayed offside, Tanaka soon half-volleyed Solomon's clever looping cross beyond Max O'Leary. Bristol City could end up facing Sunderland in the playoff semi-final and, as they watched from their training camp in Portugal, Régis Le Bris and his players may have been encouraged to note that Tanaka had been left unmarked. O'Leary was keeping City in the game, with the best of several important saves denying Solomon. Leeds were enjoying around 75 per cent of possession and doubled their lead when Wilfried Gnonto ran onto Piroe's superb through ball and expertly lifted his shot over the advancing O'Leary. It was all too easy to see why 30 points now separate these sides. By way of emphasising the gulf in class substitute Largie Ramazani scored the third with his first touch after meeting a ball from Junior Firpo's as perfectly calibrated as Leeds performance. Ramazani then scored a last-gasp fourth. Small wonder that, as the final whistle beckoned, Elland Road echoed to 'Daniel, Daniel Farke.'
New Statesman
23-04-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Educating Bridget
Photo by Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images The big talking point as MPs return from their Easter hols is whether Bridget Phillipson has been given a makeover and instructed to smile brightly on TV. Labour colleagues noticed the Education Secretary has started beaming in front of the cameras after previously appearing stern. The warmer tone comes after class troublemakers briefed she could be permanently excluded in a summer reshuffle. A sympathetic colleague who read Roald Dahl's Matilda to his children observed that Phillipson, when looking less like a tyrannical Miss Trunchbull and more like an engaging Miss Honey, complied with new No 10 tuition for ministers to be happy and confident after their glumness at the Tory legacy had backfired. Few hunts are, thankfully, likely to prove as inconclusive as the search for who leaked Labour MPs' LGBT+ group WhatsApp messages after the UK Supreme Court transgender ruling. A suspect, growled an angry member, was identified and flatly denied involvement in the comments reaching public eyes. Of course they did. Long live informants! There was unbridled joy across the political spectrum in the WhatsApp team managed for Leeds United fans by peer John Mann following their promotion to the Premier League. Lord John Mann of the People, as the baron styles himself, plays the club's anthem 'Marching on Together' on his mobile at meetings. To keep onside, a group including Theresa May's old mouthpiece Robbie Gibb and DUP ex-MP Ian 'Baby Doc' Paisley Jr must require united support. It's all kicking off in Worcestershire where two one-time Conservative MPs now in rival parties go head-to-head for a county council seat in next week's local elections. Stephen Dorrell, a minister during the Thatcher and Major eras, is standing for the Lib Dems against Alan Amos, a single-term Tory MP for Hexham who later jumped ship to Labour before returning to the Cons and in this contest wears a Reform rosette. The national disintegration of Kemi Badenoch's party is played out locally in Bedwardine. There was a full house for a mobile prostate-testing clinic on the Westminster estate, with parliament's male members queuing in droves to be checked. The awareness campaign was championed by the former London black-cab driver Clive Efford, Labour MP for Eltham and Chislehurst. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with 52,000 cases annually in the UK, and the former shadow minister, 66, is an evangeliser for earlier and regular examinations. He judged doctors to be initially dismissive before his own diagnosis in November 2023 despite a family history. Efford has since had the all-clear. One or more queuers may live because of his efforts. [See also: Labour is at war over the Treasury] Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tributes to singing LUFC fan, 99, who became viral star
Tributes have been paid to Leeds United's oldest season ticket holder, who has died a year after a video of him singing the club's anthem went viral. Leslie Bray, who was 99, could remember every word of 'Marching on Together' despite being diagnosed with advanced dementia. A heartwarming clip of him singing the song with fellow fans at the club's Elland Road ground was viewed several million times online in early 2024. Mr Bray's daughter-in-law, Dawn, said the "unexpected" coverage had made him him a "bit of a local celebrity" and "loved by football fans who had never even met him." In a tribute posted on Leeds United's website, Dawn said: "Les passed away peacefully at home surrounded by the love of his family. "Dad was a lifelong supporter and season ticket holder at Leeds United and, despite his significant years, was still attending home games with his son. "Not all LUFC legends are on the pitch!" A former RAF navigator, Mr Bray had been going to Leeds games since 1969. Following his moment of fame last year, he was invited to Wembley with his son Steve to cheer on the Whites in their play-off final against Southampton in May. The club said it would encourage fans to take part in a round of applause for Mr Bray 10 minutes before Leeds' home game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Fan, 98, remembers club chant despite dementia Leeds United
