...jeg bruker denne, siden det handler om Leeds United og gode blogger
A look at the Leeds United blogosphere http://theryanparrish.wordpress.com/2013/02/26/45/When it comes to unofficial stories, opinion and comment on Leeds United, the internet is awash, if perhaps sometimes overcrowded, with amateur bloggers, forum members and social network users clamouring to have their voices heard and their websites visited. The rise of Twitter has undoubtedly aided an increase in Leeds fans’ online presence, offering plenty of interesting, original and often humorous takes on the state of the Whites, past and present.
One blog that has particularly tapped into the upsurge of social media is relative newcomers Right in the Gary Kelly’s. Although they may not boast the largest Twitter following of their fellow bloggers on all things white, yellow and blue, RITGK have come into prominence in the last year or so after a number of high-profile interviews with various Leeds United figures. Last December following the culmination of the takeover of the club by GFH Capital, RITGK managed to bag themselves an interview the following day with GFH directors David Haigh and Salem Patel.
The interview was a significant step forward in rebuilding the bridges burnt between previous ownerships and independent Leeds United outlets. The case in point being Chairman Ken Bates’ dismissal of fanzine The Square Ball in his programme notes before a home game against Nottingham Forest in April 2011. It’s no coincidence that the GFH representatives allowed RITGK to conduct one of their first post-takeover interviews and in recent weeks they’ve managed to coup a number of high-profile interviews with the likes of Leeds legends Dominic Matteo and Michael Bridges, adding to their repertoire of original and innovative content.
Elsewhere, The Square Ball magazine is a name that is likely to resonate with most Leeds fans and over the last couple of years, they’ve also upped their game and become an integral part of the ever-growing independent Leeds United media world, with a podcast, social network accounts and a blog to boot. TSB can be forgiven for averaging around one post a month on their blog, they do have a magazine to publish after all, but when they do post, you can be sure to find eloquently written, well-informed and humorous content, often on topics away from the football pitch.
Another key player in the myriad of Leeds United focused websites is The Scratching Shed, who have established themselves as one of the go-to places for Leeds news and reviews in the last few years, amassing an impressive Twitter following along the way. They offer passionate match reports and opinion stories and they’re not afraid to drum up a bit of a debate.
There’s also an increasing number of blogs that offer match reports and stories from a more personal point of view. Travels of a Leeds Fan is a popular blog ran by Andrew Butterwick, who follows the Whites up and down the country, documenting the game and his day out in a unique way as he somehow manages to visualise proceedings for those who weren’t there. Another blog in a similar vein is Fear and Loathing in LS11, where Adam J recalls his adventures watching Leeds home and away, often opting to focus on some of the comical happenings of the actual day out, prior to and after the game. As he describes towards the end of his review of this weekend’s 0-0 draw at Blackburn:
Oh yes, there was something else wasn’t there? A game of football of sorts, almost inconveniently sandwiched in between the fun. I know it shouldn’t be like this, but people, this seems to be our lot once more.
Both blogs make for refreshing reading from the box-standard match reviews in a season which has been majorly forgettable for Leeds fans.
With a fan base as sizeable as the Elland Road club’s, you can be almost certain to find new places every week to get your Leeds United fix. Post-takeover, the club now seems to want to get involved and as well as the aforementioned interview with David Haigh and Salem Patel, they’ve also since introduced official Twitter and Facebook accounts, both of which have been greatly received by supporters. Anybody with internet access can set up a blog and write their thoughts about Leeds United, but with the club’s seemingly new welcoming approach, there could be an exciting new chapter lying ahead for the Leeds United blogosphere.
