Jonathan Woodgate - Fans memories of a jewel in Leeds United's crown

Jonathan Woodgate was one of the greatest talents of the post-Revie era.

His career at the club started well having already helped Leeds to win the FA Youth Cup in 1997 before making his first team debut in October the following year.

He was quickly dubbed the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ proving to be a consistent and impressive performer for manager David O'Leary.

His first four years in the team saw the Whites finish in the Premier League’s top five each season and European nights were also back on the calendar as he helped the club launch an assault on the Champions League, rubbing shoulders with giants of the game like Real Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan.

Your YEP has asked the Elland Road faithful to share memories of the talented teenager from Teeside whose time at Elland Road, both on and off the pitch, proved to be full of ups and downs.

Responses included:

Mark Hoff Hansard - "Simply world class. Deceptively rapid effortless control. Near perfect distribution. And dominant in the air. Such a shame about his injuries post Leeds. One of the greatest ever central defenders. "

Steve Hughff - "One of the finest centre back's ever to play for Leeds. Had he stayed fit, John Terry would never have played for England!!!"

Peter Young - "One of THE most promising young central defenders I've ever seen; his early performances were astonishing - he marked Michael Owen out of a game at Elland Road to the point where Owen got frustrated and kicked out at this young upstart. The 1998 Boxing Day visit to Newcastle saw him and Wetherall keep Shearer and Ferguson quiet while we notched up a very satisfying 3-0 win, in horrible windy, wet conditions and brilliantly officiated by Gareth Willard, who just let the teams get on with it. He was very, very talented."

Baz Walker - "Only player I've seen in the modern game be able to tackle from behind and not get booked for it. His potential was unreal, he had a good career, but its not what it could have been."

Ray Ashworth - "He was a great player, excellent reading of the game. My favourite memory is an interview after Roma away in the UEFA Cup when he said “I’ve now got to go home & tell my girlfriend I’ve been chasing Totti round the pitch.'"

Stephen Bennett - "For me, the best centre halfs to have played for Leeds in my lifetime. I am 56."

Mark Sweeney - "Brilliant reader of the game, towering at the back."

Wayne Hicken - "Woody is the best centre back I've seen at Elland Road. Been watching since 1984. Naturally gifted and but for injuries I'm convinced he would have 50+ caps for England."

Neil Sheard - "Absolute class for us. Best defender of the modern era."

Lee Rudd - "Hell of a player, if he hadn’t been injury prone I reckon he should have had 100 caps and would have been a modern day great. He was that good."

Tony Woodgate - "Top defender gave his all for LUFC."

Keith Ho - "My first Leeds shirt, I was 15 at that time. Woodgate could have been the best defender in England if he was not so injury-prone."

Andrew Wragge - "One of the best footballing defenders I've seen in watching Leeds since 1967."

Karl Scott - "Shared a plane with him while on way to Portugal, just after 2002 season finished. Then when we landed he went to a quiet corner and I asked for his autograph and he signed my passport. Great lad had a little chat with him about the season."

Jinder Jade - "Very good defender, very calm player. Always liked him."

Alex Hetherington (@ARH281) - "In my first seven Leeds games they failed to score before he put us in the lead against Chelsea in 02. He ended the painful run in an excellent victory."

Steve A. Akers (@stephenakeroyd) - "After David Batty he was my favourite ever Leeds player for a period of time. I always said Rio was a better footballer, but Woody was the better defender."

Tiddy (@PureLeeds) - "He was the closest player to Maldini I’ve ever seen in a Leeds shirt. One thing that always stood out was his ability to stay clam on the ball when under pressure. He could chest a ball down to his feet and distribute the ball, with an attacker all over him."

Tommy McGuinness (@luscbradford) - Woody came to our branch occasion as an unknown youngster and what a nice person he was. And he went on to be just below #RIP Paul Madeley. Was a great player in my eyes."

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Laura Collins