YORKSHIRE PUDDINGS

I thought the Leeds-Barnsley derby would be a cracking game, 15,000 fans also thought the same. Leeds needing to get some pride back into their famous club and Barnsley fighting for survival in the Championship; this was an awful contest which did the reputation of the Championship no favours. The Leeds goal was a clever piece of skill and an adept finish, early on in the game, but the rest of it lacked quality. If the managers insisted on not watering the pitch before the game to make it slick, and took some air out of the ball then the players might have half a chance of getting the ball down and passing quickly. as it was balls were launched into the channels or crashed at a centre-forward, in Barnsley's case O'Grady (beaten on most counts in the air) and Leed's Smith, who looked as though he had lost his way on the M1 and should have been at a rugby league ground. Barnsley lost, they must be doomed and Leeds? Well, they got three points but it was like pulling teeth. The bonus was, No7 in the town centre and a decent pint of Blonde, then some cricket at Scholes on a hillside afterwards. Goodness knows what Norman Rimmington, long serving Barnsley man, thought of it all? He looks cheery enough though! By the way, The FA closed down Leeds City (the original club formed in 1904) following accusations of illegal payments to players! No change there then? A local solicitor, Alf Masser reformed the club as United. Barnsley on the other hand are squeaky clean, of course; originally known as Barnsley St Peter's, having been founded in 1897 by the Reverend T Preedy, curate to the local church.