No fewer than four home games in the new year have been brought forward on Police advice. These are the matches against Millwall, Cardiff City, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town.
Obviously the WYP don’t want to take any chances, as this list include two clubs whose fans have been known to be a bit troublesome from time to time, and the other two are our biggest local rivals in the ‘Championship’. All four of these games are now scheduled to kick off at 12.30, but this could be changed again if any of these games are selected for live TV coverage.
According to the official site “The kick-off time changes are being implemented to reduce the potential for disorder at the fixtures which will reduce the overall policing costs at each game, which is consistent with the approach now required, arising out of the recent court judgment. Leeds United will work closely with West Yorkshire Police and the opposition to limit any further measures required for visiting fans in respect of the fixtures. “
Last season the ‘further measures’ for both Millwall and Cardiff fans were that they had to collect their tickets from motorway service stations before the game within a time period that ensured that they weren’t able to go drinking in Leeds before the match. According to one wag on the Millwall Online messageboard the arrangement will be “Tickets are to be collected between the hours of 0400 and 0730 from the international space station”.
Last time there were only two coachloads of visiting fans at the Millwall game, as they objected to getting up at the crack of dawn to get to Leeds on official club transport, and this season they’re getting their excuses in early. Another fan said on their messageboard “I don't know why people still rate this game. Leeds are just another club who won something 40 years ago and have a reputation for molesting ferrets”. Which is nice.
I suppose we ought to be thankful that these matches are still on a Saturday.