Former Leeds Bradford Airport traffic controller gets Niagara Falls illuminated in Leeds United colours to celebrate promotion

A Leeds United fan living in Qatar managed to get Niagara Falls lit up in white, yellow and blue - with help from a Canadian White.
By Joe Cooper
Published 25th Aug 2020, 12:04 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2020, 12:08 BST
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Former Leeds Bradford Airport traffic controller Andrew Bowden, who now works in Doha, was inspired by an image online showing Storey Bridge in Brisbane lit up in blue and yellow.

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Andrew, 51, said: "I made a joke saying that we could announce the return of Leeds on the world stage and blow all of the other teams out of the water if we could illuminate the Niagara Falls in Leeds colours.

Kenny Donnison in front of Niagara Falls, which he helped make yellow, white and blue to celebrate Leeds United's promotion to the Premier League (all photos and video: Kenny Donnison).Kenny Donnison in front of Niagara Falls, which he helped make yellow, white and blue to celebrate Leeds United's promotion to the Premier League (all photos and video: Kenny Donnison).
Kenny Donnison in front of Niagara Falls, which he helped make yellow, white and blue to celebrate Leeds United's promotion to the Premier League (all photos and video: Kenny Donnison).
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"It started off as a joke however my colleague knows the Mayor of Niagara so he decided to make contact.

"We sold it to him by demonstrating to him the large worldwide fan base on social media and the coverage that Niagara could get if the pictures went viral from a tourism point of view.

"He went for it straight away, he wasn’t a football fan at the time but I believe that he is Leeds through and through now!"

Andrew's colleague Kenny Donnison is the Canadian Leeds fan from Niagara.

Niagara Falls lit up in Leeds United's colours.Niagara Falls lit up in Leeds United's colours.
Niagara Falls lit up in Leeds United's colours.
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Andrew added: "I’m a life long Leeds fan from Yorkshire. I was a season ticket holder for 20-odd years during the early eighties until I came out here so I’d witnessed the good and bad times.

"My colleague Kenny is Canadian and has worked around the world prior to moving to Qatar at around the same time.

"We’ve also done a stint in Hong Kong. You can imagine my surprise when I walked into work there on day one to sit next to a local controller on Hong Kong approach wearing a Leeds top!

"That’s the point we got over to the Mayor - no matter where you are in the world you only only a few feet away from a Leeds fan."

Kenny, right, and Andrew in Hong Kong.Kenny, right, and Andrew in Hong Kong.
Kenny, right, and Andrew in Hong Kong.
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The famous spot, a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, was lit up in yellow, blue and white last night (Monday), with Kenny in attendance.

Andrew added: "It has been a fantastic season, we get the majority of Leeds games live over here on Bein sports so it was great to watch and full credit to the guys for seeing it through.

"For next season, I can only think back to the last return to the big time and an away trip to Goodison Park.

"I seem to remember they were very similar circumstances to our start this season - here’s hoping for the same outcome."

Related topics:Leeds Bradford AirportQatarMayor