The South Stand

Everyday, we're all gonna say,
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
Everywhere, we're gonna be there,
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!

Marching On Together!
We're gonna see you win
na na na na na na
We are so proud,
We shout it out loud
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!

We've been through it all together,
And we've had our ups and downs (UPS AND DOWNS!)
We're gonna stay with you forever,
At least until the world stops going round

na na na

Everyday, we're all gonna say
We love you Leeds!Leeds!Leeds!
Everywhere, we're gonna be there,
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!

Marching On Together!
We're gonna see you win
na na na na na na
We are so proud,
We shout it out loud
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
We are so proud,
We shout it out loud,
We love you LEEDS! LEEDS! LEEDS!

The words above are sung with great passion as Leeds Rhinos take to the pitch at Headingley.
Today it was a Challenge Cup game against one of the other top clubs St Helens. In lovely sunny spring conditions we ran out 32-12 winners and move into the Quarter Finals.
I only took my little compact camera today rather than the SLR, but I was quite happy with some of the shots that I managed to get. I had a pretty good seat actually, just two seats away from the St Helens dugout, and I managed to see the Challenge Cup up close. I thought about blipping one of the action shots, possibly this one which seemed to capture the essence of the speed and angility of this great game, but I decided to go with this picture of a section of the South Stand crowd.

Sometimes, despite the athleticism and dedication of the players, a team needs a lift and a little 'extra' to help it over the line, and this often comes from the supporters willing the team over the line. The South Stand often provides this with a shout of encouragement or a song about a player, they also have the ability to put off the opposition with a funny comment or a witty song (we can see you sneaking out, we can see you sneaking out....).

I can remember one evening at Headingley when we had an opera singer for pre match entertainment (yes we are cultured up in Yorkshire) and the whole South Stand started chanting Opera Man! Opera Man! He came out and sang Nessum Dorma and then part way through just left it to the crowd to sing the melody, and it was a bit of hair on end moment as the whole South Stand worbbled wailed its way through the melody.

All in all an enjoyable afternoon out and a good result. I wonder who we'll get in the quarter final? Could this be Leeds' year to win the cup at last? It's a long time since 1999.

We are so proud,
We shout it out loud,
We love you LEEDS! LEEDS! LEEDS!