MATCH 2078 - Wednesday 12 August 2026

SEASON 2026/27

FRIENDLY

Venue:  CROKE PARK

MANCHESTER UNITED  1  LEEDS UNITED  1

Scorers: Zirkzee;  Aaronson

Attendance: 82,300

I travelled to Dublin purely to see a football match at the iconic Croke Park which traditionally is exclusive to GAA games of hurling and Gaelic football.

The chance to see it with Manchester United was too good an opportunity not to and it didn't disappoint.

Not much to look at outside ground but inside its presence is breathe taking.  It's a monster of a stadium, holding 82,000 which was full for this pre-season friendly between two of England's top clubs.

The 82,000 crowd mainly made up of Irish Man U fans but on every leg of my journey from Glasgow Airport on Wednesday morning to Dublin Airport on Thursday morning all I encountered were groups of Leeds fans heading to and from Ireland's capital.

The Leeds/Man Utd rivalry is one of the most fierce in football but there was absolutely no trouble as the game was played in a wonderfully friendly atmosphere.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My 10th match in Ireland in Dublin,(7) Cork, Dundalk, Derry
• My 87th time seeing Man United
• My 6th time seeing Leeds United

My pictures from Croke Park:

Leeds legend, Eddie Gray

My first view

MATCH 2046 - Sunday 28 December 2025

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH FA PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  STADIUM OF LIGHT 

SUNDERLAND  1  LEEDS UNITED  1

Scorers: Adingra; Calvert-Lewin

Attendance:  46,675

My second trip to Sunderland this season and the first time seeing Leeds since 2007!

As the kick off was 2pm, it meant an early start leaving just after 8am to make it down from central Scotland in plenty of time.

Another bumper crowd with the away fans in fine voice from kick off and throughout the match.

Leeds had most of the possession and majority of the chances especially in the second half, however Sunderland created the best of the chances in the first 45 minutes plus the five minutes added on. They took the lead midway through the half and could and should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time but the effort only hit the top of the bar. 

They soon rued the miss as Leeds scored a super equaliser at the start of the second half. A great passing move that involved the whole team.  Leeds controlled the remainder of the match but couldn't convert their dominance into any more goals.

Overall a draw was just about the right result.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• A new fixture to add to the list and now totals 435
• Second visit to Stadium of Light this season and no. 33 in total
• Overall the 51st time seeing Sunderland and the 5th time seeing Leeds 

Post-match - Mass at St Mary's RC Church