Pre-Season Week Archives • The Square Ball

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Pre-Season Week

Cottbusted

Third Tier European Tour: Dennis Wise Taking Leeds Continental

If Dennis Wise wanted to create a siege mentality ahead of Leeds United’s first ever season in the third tier, the summer of 2007 went a long way to fostering that spirit.

By Rob Conlon

Cold Water

Cross In The Stream: Dom Poleon on Leeds, Italy & Dave Hockaday

Dom Poleon, folding his arms and frowning in a stream, summing up the mood of a club in its first summer of being Cellino’d.

By Rob Conlon

Strikerate

Picturing a Lost Goal From 1992, The Summer of Batty

I'm counting this goal because his 1991-93 goals are served with a joyful side of characteristic Batty rebellion, so I can.

By Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman

Laughing Offence

Power, Corruption & Peter Barnes: Leeds Against The World, Summer 1981

From ref Emilio Guruceta Muro giving out red cards in Spain, to Ecuador's version of Barcelona going mad in Toronto, Leeds' transfer business was the least of 1981's worries.

By Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman

What's This? Where Am I?

Simon Walton on a Red Card & a Round of Applause Against Valencia, 2004

He was just some little kid with dodgy hair and a tracksuit, says Simon Walton, but his Elland Road debut has never been forgotten.

By Rob Conlon

A Critic of Leeds

Trying to Walk Through a Brick Wall: Philip Naviasky Making Art in Leeds

The coverage given to Philip Naviasky is typical: Leeds fuming that know-it-alls don't recognise Leeds, but giving most column inches to one of the best artists in the city only after he dared to criticise his home town.

By Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman

Settle Down

Exactly What Batty is Paid For: Roberto Mancini’s Hard-Fought Makita Trophy, 1992

David Batty's famous afternoon of fun at Roberto Mancini's expense started with a Sampdoria assault on Nigel Clough, and ended with a ball bouncing off Batty's head.

By Rob Conlon

Big John, John

Inside Gordon Strachan’s Mind at the Makita Tournament, 1992

"The boss is trying a new system," captain Gordon Strachan says to John Helm.

By Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman

Years & Years

Wilko Summer Vibe, Leeds in South Africa, 1995

Let's follow a very relaxed Howard Wilkinson on his busman's holiday, aviator shades fixed to his face as the team coach speeds from the hotel to training.

By Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman

4 x 4

Goals, Gulls, Urinals: Harte & Ribeiro Go Mad by The Swedish Sea

This might be unprecedented. I've never heard of anything like it. It's also upside down.

By Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman

He Must Be Decent!

As Good as he Looks: Rodrigo Beckham (not Peter Reid)

Peter Reid had a plan to cheer up worried Leeds fans: sign a Brazilian. But which Brazilian? That didn’t seem to matter.

By Rob Conlon

Jollying Up Interest

The Sheer Joy of Living: Pre-Season With Major Buckley

The United players "sweated it out of themselves". Major Buckley's command was going to mean one thing above all: work. And monkey serum injections.

By Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman

Up Hills & Down Dales

Bleep Test: Pre-Season Week at TSB

Welcome to Pre-Season Week at The Square Ball. We're going to publish a bunch of stories about Leeds United's pre-seasons gone by.

By Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman

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Latest

Shop

Pre-Season Week

Cottbusted

Third Tier European Tour: Dennis Wise Taking Leeds Continental

Cold Water

Cross In The Stream: Dom Poleon on Leeds, Italy & Dave Hockaday

Strikerate

Picturing a Lost Goal From 1992, The Summer of Batty

Laughing Offence

Power, Corruption & Peter Barnes: Leeds Against The World, Summer 1981

What's This? Where Am I?

Simon Walton on a Red Card & a Round of Applause Against Valencia, 2004

A Critic of Leeds

Trying to Walk Through a Brick Wall: Philip Naviasky Making Art in Leeds

Settle Down

Exactly What Batty is Paid For: Roberto Mancini’s Hard-Fought Makita Trophy, 1992

Big John, John

Inside Gordon Strachan’s Mind at the Makita Tournament, 1992

Years & Years

Wilko Summer Vibe, Leeds in South Africa, 1995

4 x 4

Goals, Gulls, Urinals: Harte & Ribeiro Go Mad by The Swedish Sea

He Must Be Decent!

As Good as he Looks: Rodrigo Beckham (not Peter Reid)

Jollying Up Interest

The Sheer Joy of Living: Pre-Season With Major Buckley

Up Hills & Down Dales

Bleep Test: Pre-Season Week at TSB

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