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Leeds United: Rod Wallace will wear the white shirt with pride
It's fair to say the upcoming Screwfix Yorkshire Masters won't quite compare to lifting the 1991-92 first division championship, back in the days when Leeds United were top-drawer.
But that won't stop former favourite Rod Wallace wearing the White shirt with pride next weekend.
Wallace, now 39, will join twin brother Ray plus Tony O'Dowd, Neil Aspin, Dylan Kerr, Godwin Douglas, Scott Sellers, John Pearson and Clyde Wijnhard in representing United at Sheffield Arena.
And Leeds should certainly not be lacking in firepower, with hotshot Wallace netting 65 times for United between 1991 and 1998.
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Signed for 1.6m from Southampton, Wallace's pace and predatory instincts made him a big hit with the Elland Road faithful. The forward was an integral part of the championship-winning side and also netted the goal of the season in 1993-94, following a mazy dribble against Tottenham Hotspur.
Some 15 years on, Wallace is again representing Leeds in the slightly less prestigious Masters tournament but he has vowed to give his all for a shirt he will always wear with the utmost pride.
"Wherever I have been, I have always tried to wear the shirt with a lot of pride," Wallace told Yorkshire Sport.
"I was with Leeds for six or seven years and I have got a lot of memories, a lot of good memories.
"Whenever I go there I always put the shirt on with pride and just enjoy myself.
"I will work as hard as I can to get us a result.
"It's not the first time I've been in it – I have been in the Masters a couple of times, once with Southampton and once with Leeds.
"It's great, it's great to get back with all the lads again, to get that competitive edge again and just to enjoy yourself. It's nice to be involved."
Titles
Born in Lewisham and bursting on to the scene at first club Southampton, Wallace made 259 appearances during his seven years at Leeds before leaving to join Rangers under the Bosman rule.
Two league titles and three cups followed at Ibrox before Wallace returned to England for a year at Bolton Wanderers and then a two-year spell at last club Gillingham before retirement.
Now reunited with the Whites, Wallace and Leeds will lock horns with Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City, Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers next weekend, with only the winners qualifying for the Masters Grand Final, set to played at Liverpool's Echo Arena on Sunday, September 6.
The former United hitman is optimistic his side, jam packed with guile and knowhow, have a realistic chance of going through.
"This year it's much of the same really and some of the boys are experienced blokes!" said Wallace.
"We will just go out there and try our best to hopefully win the competition.
"Hopefully, we can give a good account of ourselves and get through.
"With Leeds, we made it through to the finals in Sheffield two years ago and we did quite well.
"Dylan Kerr was captain and we had a couple of other guys there. Jon Newsome was there and we had a good old team.
“Hopefully, we can do the same again this year.”
Wallace certainly hopes he will prove fit enough to do himself justice – the striker revealing he maintains a reasonable fitness level in playing charity games for the Southampton ex-players’ side.
Now living in Surrey, and currently undertaking his coaching badges with a view to returning to the game in that capacity, the marksman also became assistant manager of Kingstonian’s under-18s side in January last year.
“I just play really for charity and that’s about it,” revealed Wallace.
“I am quite close to the Southampton ex-pros circuit and we always get invites to go and play in charity games.
“I basically play three or four games in a year regarding that team and that’s how I keep fit.”
Fit enough to last next weekend’s Masters? Time will tell.
“I don’t know what shape I’m in – people will have to watch the Masters and then you can judge for yourself!” joked Wallace.
“I’m all right, I try and keep on top of diet and whatever but you’ll have to wait and see!”
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