Gary Kelly on stepping out of the Leeds United bubble, Elland Road's scare factor and his career highlight

Ex-Leeds United defender Gary Kelly has revealed his belief that the club has got even bigger since he hung up his boots.

The former Whites right-back made an incredible 531 appearances for the club during a 15-year professional stay in West Yorkshire.

Kelly joined the United ranks as a schoolboy in 1991 having made the move over from Ireland and became a one-club man after he called time on his career in 2007 still a Leeds player.

The former Republic of Ireland international also earned over 50 caps for his country, and has now said that he is outside the LS11 bubble he has realised just how big the team really is.

“I think the club has got even bigger since I left," Kelly told the official club website.

"Leeds should be in the Premier League. It was always a massive club, but now from the outside looking in you actually realise how big the club is.

"I love the fan base and I’m still Leeds through and through. It was home from home for me. I loved Ireland, I was there for 15/16 years, but when you move over to Leeds there’s no point going anywhere else really.

"I was comfortable, my wife was happy, the kids were happy, we had kids over there and we made loads of new friends.

"I wouldn’t swap a thing, I’ll always have Leeds in me.

"I’m always thankful for what the club has done for me. From being on trial at 15, at 16 when I signed a semi-professional contract and then 17 when it kicked into a professional contract.

"I have so many highlights, it’s hard to pick one. Of course you always remember your debut, for me against Scunthorpe at home in the League Cup and then Nottingham Forest away in the league.

"I would like to say a big thank you to Howard Wilkinson for giving me my opportunity and the five or six managers after him as well."

Asked about what it was like to run out and play on the Elland Road pitch, he added: "It was brilliant.

"The supporters were great, it really is some support, it's amazing and I'll never forget it.

"Off the pitch, the supporters were our 12th man, especially at home. Even when things weren’t going great, when teams came to Elland Road there was always a scare factor."