Leeds United Supporters Trust: Angus Kinnear, Elland Road Safe Standing and a look to the future with a nod to the past

"I'm not sure something like this would have happened three years ago," declared Angus Kinnear at the opening of the Leeds United Supporters' Trust centenary exhibition.

He's probably right.

It is testament to how far both the football club and the Trust have come as separate entities in recent seasons.

During Ken Bates' ownership of United, the Trust gained popularity by campaigning against the regime at Elland Road, its membership soaring over the 8,000 mark.

Whites fans won't have to cast their minds back far to a muddier, more divided time in LS11 both on and off the pitch. Owners come and go, investment comes in flurries but one thing remains as a constant at football clubs; the supporters.

Now, though, following an injection of new blood, ideas and a board level reform, the Trust represents a little over 1,500 members and speak to managing director Kinnear on a weekly basis as a go-between for fans and the club.

The two are united in more ways than one. A far cry from the days of placard waving and marching on matchdays.

"I think in the past there has been an air of suspicion about the Trust and wanting to keep the fans at arms length," admits Adam Willerton, the Trust secretary.

"The current regime are certainly open to it. I think what the Trust has going for it at the moment is that we try and offer solutions to the club.

"They're open to listening providing that you've got ideas of how things can be better. In the past I think there has been a lot of standing outside and shouting. But if you go with solutions, they're more than happy to have a discussion."

Vice-chair Pete Emmerson agrees: "We probably speak to Angus on a weekly basis and then formally we meet with him every quarter.

"Anything we ever get from members to pitch in they typically answer or let us do.

"I think they see us a vehicle of keeping tabs on what the fanbase are thinking in more of a productive tone instead of standing outside and calling them names."

That unity has been important. The Trust has implemented a lot in a short space of time in its new form. Their centenary exhibition, which runs until November 24, is a prime example.

A fundraiser was set up to paint a mural, a nod to the club's history, by the M621 underpass on Lowfields Road in 2017, while the group also sponsored and played a leading role in the unveiling of a plaque in honour of former player Albert Johanneson - the first black player to play in an FA Cup final and an important figure in United's history.

The Trust have lead regular foodbank collections at Elland Road for the past two seasons and have worked closely with the club to provide free sanitary items in the women's toilets on matchdays.

They also recently announced a charity walk, in partnership with The Square Ball fanzine, to the Huddersfield Town fixture on December 7 to generate funds for the foodbanks.

A host of honorary members have been invited to join the group - including Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

The Trust, perhaps most importantly, struck a deal two years ago which secured the Asset of Community Value (AoCV) of Elland Road, meaning supporters must be notified and given first refusal to purchase the Whites home ground if it was to be put up for sale again.

The implementation of Safe Standing is another area the Trust have focused on in recent times, having held a roadshow at Elland Road which gave supporters a chance to view and test the rail seating on offer.

The Trust say they have passed figures to the club for the cost of an overhaul to the Don Revie stand - or the Kop as it is more commonly known - and it is an area they are keen to keep highlighting to the LS11 hierarchy.

"The club's stance is that when there is a change in legislation they'll look at implementing it," Willerton added.

"I think one of the worries is that putting in safe standing would change the dynamic or atmosphere at Elland Road.

"Everyone loves standing at Elland Road and being able to do that safely is extremely important and it's not something we'll drop."

The Trust's centenary exhibition in the Merrion Centre - which has already hosted well over 1000 visitors ahead of its final week - is another tip of the hat to a new age at Leeds United and could well lead to a more permanent arrangement in future.

The supporters group isn't content to stop there, though.

Away ticket allocations, matchday travel, Sky Sports fixture amendments, engagement with youth in the city and boosting their young membership with children's president Ben Shires are all high on the agenda, along with a desire to reduce CO2 emissions and plastic waste at Elland Road.

The Trust will gather again in the coming months to outline more plans and ambitions, after they bring the curtain down on a month-long salute to the club's past with an exhibition to remember.

They are fans at heart, and it is that love that fills the board members and those involved with the group with pride in what can be a challenging role at times.

"It's obviously a privilege to represent Leeds fans," Willerton continued.

"I think for me the most rewarding thing is being able to run projects like the foodbank outside Elland Road and see that be a success.

"A lot of people see us meeting with the club and think it's a great deal but mainly what we want to do it give something back to the fans who are willing to be proactive."

Emmerson concluded: "We're all volunteers at the end of the day.

"In times like this we need to remain relevant. We're really pushing the community aspect and what good we can do with the Leeds brand for the benefit of everyone.

"We always need to be strong and ready in case Andrea does decide to sell up one day and suddenly we have some owners who aren't as good as the current ones.

"It's about keeping the Trust alive and keeping it relevant. It can be a thankless task at times, but it's an important one."