LUFC Woodgate - Fans will be key to Leeds chances

Former Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur defender Jonathan Woodgate is expecting a tight game when the sides meet in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Woodgate, now at Middlesbrough, feels the Leeds crowd will have a massive part to play, saying they are like a twelfth man. Speaking on Yorkshire Radio, Woodgate said, "It is a massive FA Cup game for both teams.

"It will be a full house and I know Tottenham won`t fancy going there because it will be hostile and Leeds are a good side, so it should be a good game.

"Leeds and Spurs as always been a good game and I am sure Sunday will be no different.

"I think it will be a really tight game and probably go to a replay.

"When you play at Elland Road, the fans are the twelfth man and they are very hostile and they really help the players."

Woodgate starting his career at Elland Road, coming through the clubs academy and he helped the Youth team win the FA Youth Cup in 1997.

The defender came into the Leeds first team under David O`Leary and he was one of many up and coming youngsters who were given their chance in the first team by the Leeds boss, making his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest in 1998 when just 18-year-old.

He quickly established himself in the first team and after an impressive first season in the side, he earned his first England cap the following summer.

Woodgate went on to make almost 150 appearances for Leeds in five years at Elland Road and he was part of the squad that reached two European semi-finals in both the UEFA Cup and Champions League.

He eventually left Leeds in January 2003 as the financial situation at Elland Road worsened and Woodgate still looks back on his time at Elland Road fondly. "It only seems like yesterday that I was at Leeds. To think I was playing at Leeds fifteen years ago is unbelievable. I made my debut there, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and I got a great reception when I came back with Middlesbrough and it is a fantastic club," continued Woodgate.

Injuries have cost Woodgate any chance of reaching his full potential and he has also had spells at Spanish giants Real Madrid, Middlesbrough and Stoke City as well as Sunday`s opponents Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham fans will also fondly remember Woodgate. It was his goal in the 2008 Carling Cup final against Chelsea, which helped the club win their only trophy in the past fourteen years.

Woodgate is now enjoying a second spell with Middlesbrough.





Vital Leeds are the proud sponsors of the Thames Valley Whites Regional Supporters club

The fastest growing Leeds United supporters club in the South of England, with over 200 members since its formation in April 2009, travel to all games home and away.

The branch has pick up points at Basingstoke, Reading, Didcot, Abingdon, Oxford, Bicester and Banbury and will consider other pick up points on request.


Vital Leeds offers everything that a Leeds United supporter could wish for. If you can think of something and suggest it, we`ll put it on the website!
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!

You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.

Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.

So why not join Vital today?

It's easy to register here and enjoy getting involved

Message Board

To visit the message board, click here.

Get involved

This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital Leeds .









Vital Leeds is now available on both facebook and twitter, so if you are that way inclined and more importantly understand all this new fangled dangled stuff, feel free to watch us, poke us or whatever else you are meant to do there!

Vital Leeds on:



Vital Leeds on:


Join Vital Leeds

It's easy to REGISTER HERE, simply click the link and enjoy getting involved!

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.