Ex-Spiller: Shaun Derry

Started by Tom S, December 08, 2007, 14:20:25

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Bør Wisey satse på Derry når han er tilbake frå utlånet?

JA
25 (49%)
NEI, SELG HAN
20 (39.2%)
VEIT IKKJE
6 (11.8%)

Total Members Voted: 49

Voting closed: December 10, 2007, 14:20:25

McMidjo

Da ser det ut til at den første forelskelsen mellom Shaun Derry og Crystal Palace er over.  Laget har scoret ett stakkarslig mål og og tatt kun ett poeng de siste fire kampene â€" som alle har vært mot svært ordinære CCC-lag (ser ut som Palace er like avhengig av målene til Clinton Morrison, som Leeds er av målene til Beckford).

Derrys rating (fra Your Local Guardian) i disse fire kampene er som følger â€" i kronologisk rekkefølge.

Leicester 0-1
Worked hard, tackled hard and displayed all the attributes that prompted Neil Warnock signed him on a permanent deal 7

Southampton 1-1
Awful mistake for their goal but the rest of his game was flawless. 6

Charlton 0-2
Did not get into game and gave the ball away too often. 5

Ipswich 0-1
Not his usual imposing presence and gave the ball away a lot. 5

Regner med at Derry henter seg raskt inn igjen, men allikevel interessant å se hvor raskt prestasjonsnivået hans faller faller når langtidskontrakten med Palace er i boks….

Etter det flaue tapet for bortesvake Ipswich i går, kommer Warnock med følgende raseriutbrudd til lokalavisa i Croydon:

WARNOCK SET TO AXE STARS

Eagles chief furious with his senior players
Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock will axe his senior stars after revealing he wants to give his fringe players a chance to shine over the next couple of weeks.
Palace slumped to a 1-0 home defeat to Ipswich Town last night, their third defeat in four games.
Midfielder Ben Watson was replaced by Carl Fletcher at half-time, while James Scowcroft and Shaun Derry were replaced in the second half.
The Eagles chief was highly critical of some of his senior players after last night's defeat.
And speaking to the Advertiser this morning, the Yorkshireman has revealed he could be ready to dump one or two of his more experienced stars when his side travel to Bristol City on Monday.
"With Bristol City and Wolves coming up it gives me an opportunity to test one or two other players as I look to fine tune my squad, meaning the fringe players will get a chance."


So-called Leedsfans, so-called Leedsfans, so-called Leedsfans - We are here....

sportcarl1

kan ju bero på att CP spelat dåligt och förlorat de sista matcherna, då sjunker ratingen,
 

fmtj

Det er jo litt betryggende at han ikke slår skikkelig til og blir stjerne etter at han forlot oss!
Yeboahs vitne

Dennis

#123
Interessante betraktninger dette, midjo!

Allikevel, dette kommer nok til å gå hus forbi hos Derry-fansen, så lenge Crystal Palaces form er dårlig.  ;)

Og så tilbake til 'Vi skulle beholdt Shaun Derry, vår klart beste midtbanespiller. Høy lønn og skadeplager, til tross!" når de begynner å vinne igjen.  :)
Marching on together!

Jon R

Heldigvis har våre gjenværende midtbanespillere briljert de siste månedene og vår formkurve har jo også vært langt bedre enn Palace sin. Divisjonenforskjellen spiller heller ingen rolle: Konklusjonen må utvilsomt være at Shaun Derry hadde vært helt overflødig i dagens Leeds United.   :)
Jon R.

Dennis

Quote from: Jon R on February 14, 2008, 17:05:43
Heldigvis har våre gjenværende midtbanespillere briljert de siste månedene og vår formkurve har jo også vært langt bedre enn Palace sin. Divisjonenforskjellen spiller heller ingen rolle: Konklusjonen må utvilsomt være at Shaun Derry hadde vært helt overflødig i dagens Leeds United.   :)

Det måtte jo komme!  ;)
Marching on together!

Asbjørn

Quote from: Jon R on February 14, 2008, 17:05:43
Heldigvis har våre gjenværende midtbanespillere briljert de siste månedene og vår formkurve har jo også vært langt bedre enn Palace sin. Divisjonenforskjellen spiller heller ingen rolle: Konklusjonen må utvilsomt være at Shaun Derry hadde vært helt overflødig i dagens Leeds United.   :)

Altså, her har du klaget i det vide & brede om at vi har stor nok stall, og så vil du ha tilbake enda en spiller, slik at stallen blir enda større.

Videre har du synset om at ungdommen ikke slipper til siden Macca heller vil låne inn oldinger. Og så sier du jatakk til nok en olding...

Har herren omsider mistet oversikten over sine egne meninger??    ;D


Tell me - I've got to know
Tell me - Tell me before I go
Does that flame still burn, does that fire still glow
Or has it died out and melted like the snow
Tell me  Tell me

Dylan

lojosang

Når man nærmer seg hundretusen innlegg er vel ikke det så rart, Asbjørn.  ;D
- Leif Olav

Jon R

Quote from: Asbjørn on February 14, 2008, 23:41:33
Quote from: Jon R on February 14, 2008, 17:05:43
Heldigvis har våre gjenværende midtbanespillere briljert de siste månedene og vår formkurve har jo også vært langt bedre enn Palace sin. Divisjonenforskjellen spiller heller ingen rolle: Konklusjonen må utvilsomt være at Shaun Derry hadde vært helt overflødig i dagens Leeds United.   :)

Altså, her har du klaget i det vide & brede om at vi har stor nok stall, og så vil du ha tilbake enda en spiller, slik at stallen blir enda større.

Videre har du synset om at ungdommen ikke slipper til siden Macca heller vil låne inn oldinger. Og så sier du jatakk til nok en olding...

Har herren omsider mistet oversikten over sine egne meninger??    ;D


Nå må du lese det jeg skriver, Asbjørn. Derry er overflødig i dagens Leeds United.  ::)

Både Derry (og Wise/ Bassett)  er far gone. Saken er ikke så interessant lenger.  :)

Siden du spør: Ville jeg heller beholdt Derry fremfor å bringe inn spillere som  Johnson, Sweeney og Sorsa? Jessørr.  8)
Jon R.

Masinga

Quote from: fmtj on February 14, 2008, 10:55:43
Det er jo litt betryggende at han ikke slår skikkelig til og blir stjerne etter at han forlot oss!
Ingen blir stjerne etter å ha forlatt oss!
Masinga, medl.nr. 1250

pale

QuoteIngen blir stjerne etter å ha forlatt oss!

Nei, det stemmer det...
Hilsen Milner, Lennon, Keane, Ferdinand, Dacourt..... ;)

Dennis

Quote from: pale on February 15, 2008, 12:05:51
QuoteIngen blir stjerne etter å ha forlatt oss!

Nei, det stemmer det...
Hilsen Milner, Lennon, Keane, Ferdinand, Dacourt..... ;)

...og hvor mange av disse forlot oss av frivillig grunn fra managerens\styrets side? Olly Dacourt? Han hadde uansett forsvunnet litt lenger borti veien, han også.
Marching on together!

Bites Yer Legs

SAVNER denne mannen, tror vi hadde vært oppe forlengst med han på laget, var en 'legend in the making'!!
KEEP FIGHTING!!

Runar

utrolig svak og treig spiller
 

Kickthemdown

Akkurat typen vi hadde trengt. Howson eller Derry... Mohahahaha  :D

Kickthemdown

Quote from: Alta-White on January 02, 2008, 18:50:52
Quote from: Runar on January 02, 2008, 17:31:34
CP kjøper han iløpe av måneden så er vi kvitt problemet. Wise er bommet hittil i forhold til Derry slik d ser ut for meg. At Derry ikke kommer tilbake på stående fot er til en viss grad forståelig. Han er ettertraktet av klubber som er mye bedre enn oss for øyeblikket
Wise blir vel fremdeles i Leeds selv om Derry drar?  :o Redd problemet her er Wise og bare Wise.. Viser bare at han er urutinert som manager og at han fremdeles gjør dumme ting ..  :-\ Latterlig og flau oppførsel av lederne i klubben vår...

Alta-White
*Host-Host*

Asbjørn

Nice one, Derry :)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1353855/Its-secret-Shaun-Derry.html

Career highlight?
I've got two. One is helping Crystal Palace stay in the Championship last season after going into administration.
The second is playing for Leeds United. Pulling on that white shirt and playing at Elland Road is something I can't put into words. Purely magical.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1353855/Its-secret-Shaun-Derry.html#ixzz1D5NIwIwJ
Tell me - I've got to know
Tell me - Tell me before I go
Does that flame still burn, does that fire still glow
Or has it died out and melted like the snow
Tell me  Tell me

Dylan

Bites Yer Legs

Dette er det verste salget etter Martyn og Cantona  :(
KEEP FIGHTING!!

asLeeds

DALHEIM WHITES

bwirum

Er vel ingen tvil om at han hadde vært velkommen tilbake?
Best post ever:
Quote from: DenHviteYeboah on August 18, 2009, 23:07:40
min attr søt kaff på min atamaskin- virkr ikk bra- rfr han jg ikk skrvt så my i t sist

Grattis m  1-2 ikv
MT :) :) :)

Leedsfan

Må gjerne komme tilbake igjen, 34 år er ingen alder hvis innstillingen er rett....

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds_united_warnock_s_appointment_best_possible_decision_derry_interview_1_4271689

QuoteBy Phil Hay
Published on Wednesday 22 February 2012 10:40

Leeds United’s chance of promotion this season is alive and well with Neil Warnock as manager, according to former vice-captain Shaun Derry.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post, Derry described Warnock’s appointment as “the best possible decision” and warned Championship clubs against writing Leeds out of the fight for a play-off position.

Derry, 34, was a central figure in the Queens Park Rangers squad who won the Championship title during Warnock’s one full season as manager at Loftus Road, and he said the 63-year-old’s track record in England’s second tier made him an obvious target for Leeds chairman Ken Bates in the aftermath of Simon Grayson’s sacking.

“It’s the best possible decision Ken Bates could have made,” Derry told the YEP. “Not just in the long-term but for this season as well.

“He’ll do big things over time but don’t underestimate the difference he’ll make here and now. His ability to lift a flat dressing room and do it overnight is amazing. Sometimes that’s all you need.”

Derry worked under Warnock at Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, and he followed him to Loftus Road after Warnock left Palace to become QPR boss in 2010.

The midfielder was ever-present in Championship fixtures last season as QPR won the division by four points and he claimed Warnock would be “tailor-made” for the job at Elland Road, where Derry played between 2005 and 2008.

“Leeds are more than just a football club,” Derry said. “There’s the history and the expectation of the supporters, which is more than just a cliche.

“How well you do at Leeds depends on how well you deal with the pressure of wearing the white shirt.

“I’ve gone on record as saying that many players have played exceptional football before and after going to Leeds but struggled for as long as they’ve been there. It’s not the right club for everybody and it’s easy to underestimate the pressure involved.

“The same is probably true of managers. A lot of guys who succeed elsewhere would struggle at Elland Road and that’s the way it’ll always be.

“You need the right man for the situation as it stands and right now Leeds need someone with Neil’s experience and authority. Whenever I see a manager going into Leeds, I’d always ask ‘is the job too big for him?’ With Neil, that thought doesn’t even cross my mind.”

QPR’s run to the Championship title was dominant and comprehensive but not without its complications. Unbeaten until December and permanently clear of the rest of the field, their season was threatened in the closing stages by allegations that the signing of Argentine midfielder Alejandro Faurlin had breached rules on third-party ownership.

The club were threatened with a points deduction and their fate remained in doubt until the morning of their last league game at home to Leeds when the Football Association limited their punishment to a fine. After weeks of rumour and speculation, Warnock said: “When I looked at the coverage, it destroyed us. The place was like a morgue.”

“It was a strange time,” Derry said. “On paper you thought the title was in the bag but we were all waiting to see what the FA would do.

“You need good management at times like that and Neil was brilliant. He basically said it was someone else’s responsibility, not ours. Don’t worry about it and don’t think about it. That wasn’t easy but he shielded us from the attention. He was the one answering the questions and defending the club. It’s one of the reasons we were able to hold it together.

“Obviously there are problems that need sorting at Leeds. If there weren’t problems then they wouldn’t have gone looking for a new manager.

“But the last thing they needed was an average joe. Neil’s track record in the Championship speaks for himself and, to be honest, I’d have been amazed if they hadn’t gone for him. He was the obvious choice.”

Warnock watched Leeds beat Doncaster Rovers at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon and, with that performance to ponder, admitted that there were “areas (of the squad) we have to improve if we’re not to write this season off.”

He is looking to make one emergency loan signing before Saturday’s game against Portsmouth and claimed more were required to give Leeds a realistic chance of raising themselves up from 10th and into the play-offs.

As a player who Warnock has relied on many times in the past, and someone whose pride in representing Leeds has never been a secret, Derry was bound to be viewed as a possible target. But he has played 21 times for QPR this season and does not appear to be peripheral in the plans of current Rangers manager Mark Hughes.

“My full attention is on QPR,” said Derry, who along with Rangers’ squad spent last week training in Portugal. “We’re in a dog fight and we’re all determined to get out of it.

“But Neil will do big things at Leeds. I’m certain of that. I was really pleased to hear he’d got the job because I’ve always said that pulling on the Leeds United shirt was one of the proudest moments of my career. I want them to have bigger and better days ahead and I’d fancy him to give them that.

“Neil’s a Marmite character, the old love-him or hate-him routine, but I think that’s only because you don’t really get to know his true character until he’s at your club. He’s insightful and very open.

“The fans will get a good understanding of what he’s doing and why he’s doing it. They’ll see loads of passion in him too. As for the players, they’ll get structure and discipline.

“If there are divisions up there then you’ll find that they become a strong unit in no time.

“You need unity at Leeds because people are always looking to get at you and beat you. They look for problems and weaknesses. But Neil’s record in the Championship shows that his squads don’t have many. You’d be crazy to write Leeds off now.”

Akkurat dette tror jeg han har helt rett i:

“Leeds are more than just a football club,” Derry said. “There’s the history and the expectation of the supporters, which is more than just a cliche.

“How well you do at Leeds depends on how well you deal with the pressure of wearing the white shirt.

“I’ve gone on record as saying that many players have played exceptional football before and after going to Leeds but struggled for as long as they’ve been there. It’s not the right club for everybody and it’s easy to underestimate the pressure involved.

“The same is probably true of managers. A lot of guys who succeed elsewhere would struggle at Elland Road and that’s the way it’ll always be.

“You need the right man for the situation as it stands and right now Leeds need someone with Neil’s experience and authority. Whenever I see a manager going into Leeds, I’d always ask ‘is the job too big for him?’ With Neil, that thought doesn’t even cross my mind.”

I scored 24 goals helping my side win promotion back to the Premier League aged just 22. Then in my first season in the top flight I had bagged an impressive 15 goals by the end of January. My form earned me an England call-up. Am I a £35m striker? No. I am Michael Ricketts, February 2002.

4ever arcticwhite

Quote from: Leedsfan on February 22, 2012, 13:27:40
Må gjerne komme tilbake igjen, 34 år er ingen alder hvis innstillingen er rett....

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds_united_warnock_s_appointment_best_possible_decision_derry_interview_1_4271689

QuoteBy Phil Hay
Published on Wednesday 22 February 2012 10:40

Leeds United’s chance of promotion this season is alive and well with Neil Warnock as manager, according to former vice-captain Shaun Derry.
......

Akkurat dette tror jeg han har helt rett i:

“Leeds are more than just a football club,” Derry said. “There’s the history and the expectation of the supporters, which is more than just a cliche.
.....

Jeg står langt framme i køen over de vil ønske han hjertelig velkommen tilbake.
The future's so White I've got to wear shades 8)

Jon R

Få han tilbake! Kanskje QPR viktigste og mest konsistente spiller ifjor! Jeg så noen kamper på Visast hvor han bandt sammen lagdelene til Super Hoops på imponerende "David Batty vis".  :)

Derry skulle naturligvis aldri vært frosset ut av klubben vår, slik han ble av radarparet Wise/ Bassett i 2007-2008 sesongen. Han har vel omtrent ikke stått over en kamp etter at Wise erklærte han for "unfit" og lånte han ut til Crystal P, som på det tidspunktet spilte i divisjonen over oss.  :-[

Jeg tror Clayton og Derry på sentral midt ville vært en super kombinasjon på et veikart til suksess!  :)
Jon R.

Asbjørn

#143
Quote from: Jon R on February 22, 2012, 17:50:15
Få han tilbake!

Han kommer nok ikke nå:
QuoteBut he has played 21 times for QPR this season and does not appear to be peripheral in the plans of current Rangers manager Mark Hughes.

For øvrig et glimrende intervju med Derry i dagens YEP

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds_united_warnock_s_appointment_best_possible_decision_derry_interview_1_4271689


Tell me - I've got to know
Tell me - Tell me before I go
Does that flame still burn, does that fire still glow
Or has it died out and melted like the snow
Tell me  Tell me

Dylan

kongsmo

Quote from: Asbjørn on February 22, 2012, 18:30:24
Quote from: Jon R on February 22, 2012, 17:50:15
Få han tilbake!

Han kommer nok ikke nå:
QuoteBut he has played 21 times for QPR this season and does not appear to be peripheral in the plans of current Rangers manager Mark Hughes.

For øvrig et glimrende intervju med Derry i dagens YEP

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds_united_warnock_s_appointment_best_possible_decision_derry_interview_1_4271689


Published on Wednesday 22 February 2012 10:40



Leeds United’s chance of promotion this season is alive and well with Neil Warnock as manager, according to former vice-captain Shaun Derry.


In an interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post, Derry described Warnock’s appointment as “the best possible decision” and warned Championship clubs against writing Leeds out of the fight for a play-off position.

Derry, 34, was a central figure in the Queens Park Rangers squad who won the Championship title during Warnock’s one full season as manager at Loftus Road, and he said the 63-year-old’s track record in England’s second tier made him an obvious target for Leeds chairman Ken Bates in the aftermath of Simon Grayson’s sacking.

“It’s the best possible decision Ken Bates could have made,” Derry told the YEP. “Not just in the long-term but for this season as well.

“He’ll do big things over time but don’t underestimate the difference he’ll make here and now. His ability to lift a flat dressing room and do it overnight is amazing. Sometimes that’s all you need.”

Derry worked under Warnock at Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, and he followed him to Loftus Road after Warnock left Palace to become QPR boss in 2010.

The midfielder was ever-present in Championship fixtures last season as QPR won the division by four points and he claimed Warnock would be “tailor-made” for the job at Elland Road, where Derry played between 2005 and 2008.

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“Leeds are more than just a football club,” Derry said. “There’s the history and the expectation of the supporters, which is more than just a cliche.

“How well you do at Leeds depends on how well you deal with the pressure of wearing the white shirt.

“I’ve gone on record as saying that many players have played exceptional football before and after going to Leeds but struggled for as long as they’ve been there. It’s not the right club for everybody and it’s easy to underestimate the pressure involved.

“The same is probably true of managers. A lot of guys who succeed elsewhere would struggle at Elland Road and that’s the way it’ll always be.

“You need the right man for the situation as it stands and right now Leeds need someone with Neil’s experience and authority. Whenever I see a manager going into Leeds, I’d always ask ‘is the job too big for him?’ With Neil, that thought doesn’t even cross my mind.”

QPR’s run to the Championship title was dominant and comprehensive but not without its complications. Unbeaten until December and permanently clear of the rest of the field, their season was threatened in the closing stages by allegations that the signing of Argentine midfielder Alejandro Faurlin had breached rules on third-party ownership.

The club were threatened with a points deduction and their fate remained in doubt until the morning of their last league game at home to Leeds when the Football Association limited their punishment to a fine. After weeks of rumour and speculation, Warnock said: “When I looked at the coverage, it destroyed us. The place was like a morgue.”

“It was a strange time,” Derry said. “On paper you thought the title was in the bag but we were all waiting to see what the FA would do.

“You need good management at times like that and Neil was brilliant. He basically said it was someone else’s responsibility, not ours. Don’t worry about it and don’t think about it. That wasn’t easy but he shielded us from the attention. He was the one answering the questions and defending the club. It’s one of the reasons we were able to hold it together.

“Obviously there are problems that need sorting at Leeds. If there weren’t problems then they wouldn’t have gone looking for a new manager.

“But the last thing they needed was an average joe. Neil’s track record in the Championship speaks for himself and, to be honest, I’d have been amazed if they hadn’t gone for him. He was the obvious choice.”

Warnock watched Leeds beat Doncaster Rovers at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon and, with that performance to ponder, admitted that there were “areas (of the squad) we have to improve if we’re not to write this season off.”

He is looking to make one emergency loan signing before Saturday’s game against Portsmouth and claimed more were required to give Leeds a realistic chance of raising themselves up from 10th and into the play-offs.

As a player who Warnock has relied on many times in the past, and someone whose pride in representing Leeds has never been a secret, Derry was bound to be viewed as a possible target. But he has played 21 times for QPR this season and does not appear to be peripheral in the plans of current Rangers manager Mark Hughes.

“My full attention is on QPR,” said Derry, who along with Rangers’ squad spent last week training in Portugal. “We’re in a dog fight and we’re all determined to get out of it.

“But Neil will do big things at Leeds. I’m certain of that. I was really pleased to hear he’d got the job because I’ve always said that pulling on the Leeds United shirt was one of the proudest moments of my career. I want them to have bigger and better days ahead and I’d fancy him to give them that.

“Neil’s a Marmite character, the old love-him or hate-him routine, but I think that’s only because you don’t really get to know his true character until he’s at your club. He’s insightful and very open.

“The fans will get a good understanding of what he’s doing and why he’s doing it. They’ll see loads of passion in him too. As for the players, they’ll get structure and discipline.

“If there are divisions up there then you’ll find that they become a strong unit in no time.

“You need unity at Leeds because people are always looking to get at you and beat you. They look for problems and weaknesses. But Neil’s record in the Championship shows that his squads don’t have many. You’d be crazy to write Leeds off now.”

er ikke dette samme inervju som leedsfan postet litt lengre opp?
"SNIFFER"

Hallgeir *

Det lenger opp har veldig små bokstaver. Kan ikke være det samme vel?
Super Leeds since 1968

Asbjørn

Quote from: kongsmo on February 22, 2012, 18:36:02
er ikke dette samme inervju som leedsfan postet litt lengre opp?

Joda. Men det var jo hele tre innlegg siden ;)
Tell me - I've got to know
Tell me - Tell me before I go
Does that flame still burn, does that fire still glow
Or has it died out and melted like the snow
Tell me  Tell me

Dylan

Promotion 2010

Sheridan Dictates: Shaun Derry



Unfortunately, Shaun Derry's spell at Leeds United was all too brief and ended when the popular midfielder left Elland Road following what he describes as a "truly horrible situation".

Times were tough at Leeds following relegation from the Premier League in May 2004, and hampered by the financial meltdown, Kevin Blackwell had the task of assembling a squad to embark on a campaign in the newly named Championship.

Leeds' form was largely indifferent as the season progressed, although there were flashes that the players at the managers disposal were more than capable. None more so than when Queens Park Rangers were hammered 6-1 in West Yorkshire.

Throughout the season, Blackwell was always looking to strengthen. Players continued to come and go and at the end of November 2004 he moved for Crystal Palace's Shaun Derry, in what would initially be a loan deal.

Derry travelled to Leeds for talks and personal terms were quickly agreed. The new man was handed his training kit and went to see his parents to break the news:

"I left Yorkshire having put pen to paper on the deal and visited my parents in Nottingham to tell them I had just signed for Leeds United. Whilst sat having a cup of tea, my agent telephoned to tell me the move had fallen through due to the fact that Gerald Krasner was negotiating a deal to sell the club.

"I had said farewell to everyone at Palace and had to return with my tail between my legs. I was gutted with the whole situation and ended up going on loan to Nottingham Forest."

Shaun Derry made seven league appearances for the club in the City of his birth and he admits he was more than happy there:

"I was ready to sign an extension to the loan and there would be a three year contract at the end of it. However, the takeover at Leeds had been completed and Blackwell came back in for me. I signed for Leeds in the February without any hesitation.

"I made my debut away at Wigan Athletic and we were well beaten on the day. They had a good side which won promotion that season. However, when we ran out to warm up, I could not believe the size of the Leeds support behind the goal."

The following week was "Roy of the Rovers" stuff as Derry made his home debut against West Ham United, another side who would end the season with promotion after winning the Play Off Final.

Rob Hulse put Leeds ahead early in the second half and the game was heading for a draw after Gavin Williams' equaliser. There were just four minutes remaining when Derry latched onto a David Healy header to slide the ball into the net at the Kop end:

"That moment will live with me for the rest of my life. There were over 34,000 in the ground and the vast majority were going wild. I was never renowned for scoring goals so I was determined to enjoy that one."

Derry scored again in the next home game, a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers but after his sending off away at Queens Park Rangers in the middle of April, the subsequent suspension brought an end to his season.

"I will always remember the last home game against Rotherham, I went into the dressing room where Neil Sullivan was telling everyone that finishing 14th in the Championship was unacceptable for Leeds United, despite all what had gone on.

"I would say that during the first half of the 2005-06 season, I played the best football of my career. There was a good feeling about the place and all season we were in and around the top six.

"I thought that, at times, some players had been frightened by the size of the club and could not handle the pressure of wearing the badge. I embraced it and it helped take my game to a new level.

"We had a fantastic spirit and it showed on many occasions. Who can forget that day at St Mary's when we won 4-3 after being 3-0 down with 19 minutes to go?"

Leeds ended the season in fifth place and qualified for the end of season Play Offs, where they faced a two legged Semi-Final against Preston North End. The first leg, at Elland Road, ended in a 1-1 draw but within minutes of the game ending, the Preston manager's comments ensured that Kevin Blackwell did not need to deliver a team talk before the return fixture at Deepdale:

"We were immediately fired up when Billy Davies made his 'job done' comment to the media. Kevin Blackwell pinned the press-cuttings to the walls of the dressing room at Preston and no words were needed as we went out and got the result to take us to the Final.

"There were no crazy celebrations, our feet were firmly on the ground and we returned to the hotel, not far from the ground, knowing that we still had a job to do."

Everyone knows what happened against Watford at the Millennium Stadium and the whole experience left Shaun Derry feeling numb:

"I desperately wanted to help take Leeds back up and after the Play Off Final I was lost for words for weeks. However, during the summer, my daughter was born which put life into perspective and gave me a focus."

During the later part of the season, Derry had played with a broken toe. Painkilling injections were getting him through games and he spent pre-season training doing cardio sessions in the pool:

"I never put a boot on during the summer but was picked in the side that started the season at home to Norwich City. We won 1-0 but during and after the game I had a feeling that something was not quite right in and around the club."

Leeds threw away a victory in the next game at Loftus Road by conceding a last minute goal to Queens Park Rangers in a 2-2 draw. Another last minute goal saw Palace beat Leeds, who had battled on with ten men after Geoff Horsfield received his marching orders, 1-0 at Selhurst Park and things rapidly got worse:

"Talk of further financial problems started to materialise, we couldn't get a result on the pitch and there were problems in the camp. Looking back, it was clear that some of the squad did not realise what it meant to be a part of Leeds United. The poor run resulted in Blackwell being sacked and John Carver was put in temporary charge.

"I remember us going to Luton Town and getting hammered 5-1. The fans, despite the performance on the pitch, stayed with us - they were incredible and did not stop singing all afternoon.

"I had a good relationship with Blackwell. He was the man who gave me the opportunity to play for Leeds and for that I will always be grateful to him.

Ken Bates turned to Denis Wise and Gus Poyet in an attempt to change the clubs fortunes and although the new management team got off to a winning start, at home to Southend United, things failed to improve:

"Gus was class, a naturally good guy who was consistent in his methods and his approach. He and Denis got on very well and they bounced off each other but never underestimate how important Gus was to the football club."

Over the Christmas period, the Whites were beaten at Stoke City, it would be the last time that Shaun Derry started a game for Leeds United:

"During that match, I was caught by Mamady Sidibe who clipped the side of my foot. There was a lot of bleeding and the foot was badly swollen.

"Things would get worse as the bone started to calcify. I felt completely useless as I could not be out there helping the lads to get out of the mess we had found ourselves in. I knew the injury was long term and after three operations I would be out for ten months. To make matters worse, Leeds made me an offer of a retirement package."

On the 10th February 2007, Leeds faced Crystal Palace at Elland Road with Shaun Derry sidelined. Matt Heath and Robbie Blake scored vital goals as three valuable points were gained in a 2-1 win but immediately afterwards, Denis Wise turned the attention away from the victory.

In a furious post-match rant, Wise claimed that one of his Leeds United players had leaked his team sheet to the Crystal Palace management prior to the game and the culprit would never play for Leeds again. Fingers were unfairly pointed at Shaun Derry, largely down to his previous connections with the London club:

"To this day it still sticks in my throat. Wise claimed he never pointed the finger at me or mention my name - he didn't need to, everything stacked up against me. I would never dream of pulling a stunt like that and people wrongly assumed I was to blame.

"By November 2007 I had battled my way back to fitness and returned to Selhurst Park on loan. A couple of months later, Wise contacted me to say he had injury problems and he needed me back at Leeds, I simply told him that I would not be returning.

"He asked me if I was saying 'no' to Leeds United to which I replied, and made it clear, that I was saying 'no' to Denis Wise. As much as I had loved life at Leeds and wanted to play for the club again, I did not want to play for Wise and could never forgive him for the 'mole in the camp' episode.

"I was married in the area and my kids were born up there. Leeds was our home but it all came to an end when a cloud engulfed me for no reason. It was a truly horrible situation. Everyone around me, away from the club, knew how happy I'd been there.

"After a couple of decent seasons at Palace I joined QPR but I always wanted to return to Leeds. I felt there was unfinished business but unfortunately the chance never materialised.

When I asked Shaun who he rated as the best player that he played alongside at Elland Road, he did not  hesitate in telling me:

"Gary Kelly. A Leeds United legend. He was a real character and a class act with true ability. Unfortunately, his Leeds career also came to an abrupt end, and after all the years of quality service he had given the club, that must haunt him."

Despite his own sticky ending, Shaun Derry, who is now the first team coach at Oxford United, still considers himself lucky enough to have pulled a Leeds shirt on:

"The harsh reality is this. Had Leeds not been relegated in 2004, I would say that 90% of the players who have pulled that shirt on between then and now, would never have done so if the club had remained in the top flight. I was privileged and the problems we encountered during my time there were hard to stomach.

"When Leeds United come calling, you don't turn the opportunity down and I wish them all the best in the promotion run-in this season. It would be great to see them back where they belong, the fans deserve it."

Thank you to Shaun Derry for giving me his time and the opportunity to write this article.

Min første Leeds-kamp:
Strømsgodset vs Leeds, 19.september 1973