Leeds United moments of 2020 - When Whites and legion of fans could finally open the bubbly

Bought for a wedding present, circa July 2011.

Don’t ask what vintage it was. I just knew it was expensive.

For a special occasion only. After 16 years of trying, for Leeds United finally returning to the Premier League perhaps. Perfect.

As the Whites moved closer to sealing an automatic promotion place, it became a running joke during weekly chats with YEP columnist David Prutton just how close we were to ‘cracking open the bubbly.’

Out of the cupboard after the 3-0 win at home to Fulham, pushed back in following the draw against Luton Town.

Back out of the cupboard after a 3-1 triumph at Blackburn Rovers and in the fridge following the 5-0 romp at home to Stoke City.

Once Pablo Hernandez had struck his 88th-minute winner at Swansea City, the champagne really was on ice.

Yet it wasn’t until Friday, July 17 that the expensive fizz could finally be cracked open for good as Huddersfield Town put the final nail in the coffin of West Brom’s automatic promotion bid with a 2-1 triumph at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Leeds were up, the Moet could be downed - and the party then continued as part of a perfect weekend for the Whites.

Hernandez’s strike at Swansea was clearly the pivotal moment in United’s successful promotion bid with the triumph leaving Leeds needing just four points from their final three games to seal the deal.

Thursday’s hosting of Barnsley was next in which the Whites survived a barrage of Tykes pressure to seal the most nervy of 1-0 victories.

You could almost taste the Moet with Leeds needing just one point from their last two games to seal a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

Almost there. But anyone who has been following the Whites for a decent amount of time knows never to take anything for granted. Just 24 hours later it actually was.

Emile Smith Rowe’s 86th-minute winner for Huddersfield against the Baggies sparked wild celebrations not just in Leeds but in Whites’s fans across the globe.

Personally speaking, there was still a job to do in writing about the enormity of the feat just achieved and it was long gone midnight on that Friday night before any drinks started flowing as part of a night when texts, emails and What’sApp messages went into overdrive.

Incredibly, the Whites then sealed the title the following day and again without playing as this time Brentford were beaten at Stoke City.

Then came the guard of honour at Derby County led by Rams captain Wayne Rooney the following day.

Carlsberg don’t do weekends, but if they did....

But, on this occasion, the toast was a Moet one, with the full-time whistle at Huddersfield on a Friday night in July the true moment of the year.

It was the moment Leeds United were back.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/you-must-understand-marcelo-bielsa-will-not-be-weakened-questions-leeds-uniteds-style-3078731

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins