Thames Valley - All set for 2021-22 Season

paul keat • July 29, 2021
Thames Valley Whites are now back up and running after going into forced hibernation since the 2020 Huddersfield game at Elland Road when attending matches ceased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their membership is now looking forward to the new season.  

No doubt, it has been a long and arduous 18-month of no live football for this Southern-based Supporters branch of the 'Network'. As a founder member of the LUSN, the branch committee has been preparing for the upcoming season. The Government have lifted all legal requirements of social distancing and attending Elland Road to watch Leeds United in the Premier League now has its members counting down the days.

Adey Curd, the branch Chairperson, reflects on the missed promotion matches towards the end of the 2019-20 season. 
''It was such a shame that this pandemic took away what would have been a great day in the history of our football club. We would have had a Party at Swansea City when we clinched promotion as we would have played those rounds of games on the same day as the other Championship fixtures''.

With Leeds United making a remarkable first season impact back in the top flight, branch members had to watch the Whites play on Television or dodgy links.

The Thames Valley members began the first part of the 2020-21 season social distancing at Didcot Town FC large function room with a hired giant Television screen. With sold-out signs displayed, the membership tried to recreate that Elland Road atmosphere. One bonus was they were back home a lot earlier than they would have been if they had attended the games. One member stated that the venue was the next best thing to being at the game, and with around 100 members, it made for a great day and atmosphere. Sadly with the impeding second lock-down, the venue had to be shut down. 

The membership has stayed in contact with each other through the Branch Whatsapp group, which became very popular during the live games. The banter was good, and it also became a source of contact for those having to 'Stay at Home'.

As the country edges towards normality, TVW has identified Loughborough as the test for travelling to games on the coaches. With the first games of the season being Old Trafford, followed by Elland Road, the membership will need to re-acclimatise those long trips up the M1 motorway and almost 8-hour round trip journeys, usually broken up with a pub stop here and there. 

New member Michael Jones told us that he had recently joined the branch after moving to Reading, Berkshire, from Wakefield. He was surprised to see a fully organised Supporters Club in the area and that they regularly travelled to every home and away game by coach.

 ''I was thinking of giving up my Season Ticket at the time as I thought driving up and down to Leeds would be too much so when I saw the details of the branch, I gave them a call''. 

One of the fundamental advantages of joining the Thames Valley Whites is that new friendships are formed. Travelling alone by car or train can be pretty lonely, but the branch members are friendly and make new members very welcome on the bus. There is never a dull moment with all the banter.

So while Marcelo Bielsa prepares his team for the season, the TVW's also join him with a practice run to Loughborough. 
March 30, 2026
The results of the recent Football Supporters' Association (FSA) survey , conducted between February and March 2026, make for stark reading. Over 75% of Premier League supporters do not support VAR, while an overwhelming 91.7% believe it has removed the spontaneous joy of goal celebrations. These findings reinforce what many Leeds United F.C. supporters have been experiencing first-hand throughout the current campaign. For Leeds fans, the debate around VAR is not theoretical — it is deeply personal. Recent fixtures have seen contentious decisions, delays, and moments of uncertainty that have directly impacted results, performances and ultimately the club’s standing in the Premier League. Whether it is decisions not reviewed, inconsistencies in application, or prolonged stoppages disrupting momentum, the sense among supporters is clear: VAR is not delivering fairness, and in many cases, it is doing the opposite. The FSA survey highlights that only a tiny minority of fans believe VAR improves the matchday experience, with many citing delays, confusion, and lack of transparency as key concerns. This is echoed widely across football discourse. Supporters responding to national coverage have voiced frustration, with sentiments such as “it’s taken the emotion out of the game” and “you can’t celebrate a goal properly anymore” becoming increasingly common. These are not isolated views — they represent a growing consensus across the game, including among Leeds supporters both home and away. From a Leeds United perspective, the stakes are even higher. Marginal calls, missed interventions, and inconsistent thresholds have the potential to influence league position, financial outcomes and the long-term trajectory of the club. When supporters see similar incidents judged differently week-to-week, confidence in the system erodes further. The argument that VAR improves accuracy is increasingly overshadowed by the reality that fans do not feel the game is fairer, clearer or more enjoyable. Dean Pearson, Chairman of LUSN, commented on the findings: “These results simply confirm what Leeds United supporters — and fans across the country — have been saying for some time. VAR, in its current form, is failing the game. It’s not just about decisions for or against; it’s about the experience, the emotion, and the integrity of football. When supporters lose trust in what they’re watching, whether in the stadium or at home, something has gone fundamentally wrong.” The message from supporters is clear. While technology has a place in modern football, its current implementation is not working. LUSN supports continued dialogue with governing bodies, the Premier League and the FSA to ensure that the voices of supporters — including those of Leeds United F.C. — are heard loud and clear. Whether that leads to revision, refinement, or a more fundamental rethink, the priority must always be restoring trust, fairness and enjoyment in the game. We would like to thank LUSN members who took the time to participate in the recent Football Supporters' Association (FSA) survey , helping ensure that the voices of Leeds fans were reflected in these important findings. #LUFC #LUSN #MOT #ALAW #VAR #FootballFans #PremierLeague #FSA LUSN Committee Board
March 16, 2026
The Leeds United Supporters’ Network (LUSN) strongly condemns the Jimmy Savile chanting heard from sections of the crowd during yesterday’s fixture between Crystal Palace vs Leeds United at Selhurst Park yesterday, Sunday 15th March 2026. Like with previous matches for many seasons, Home or Away, these chants are offensive, harmful and have no place in football or wider society. Beyond the obvious offence caused, the impact of these chants is far deeper. Research and testimony highlighted by LUSN ( see here - https://lusn.co.uk/jimmy-savile-chants ) shows that references to Savile can act as powerful triggers for survivors of sexual abuse, bringing back traumatic memories and causing genuine psychological distress. As charity leader Gabrielle Shaw (CEO of NAPAC ) explained, what may appear to some as “banter” can “hit with the force of a physical blow” for survivors hearing it in a packed stadium or while watching the match at home. We have consistently supported the call for Savile-related chants to be formally recognised within the scope of tragedy chanting legislation. We strongly urge football’s authorities, clubs and supporters — alongside the Football Supporters' Association — to support this effort and implement measures that ensure this abuse is addressed with the seriousness it demands. LUSN Committee Board
March 6, 2026
The Leeds United Supporters’ Network (LUSN) The Leeds United Supporters Network (LUSN) welcomes the statement issued by Leeds United F.C. ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fixture with Norwich City F.C. - LINK We appreciate the club acknowledging that greater communication prior to the Manchester City fixture would have helped supporters better understand the circumstances around the pause in play. This recognition reflects a key point raised in our statement earlier this week regarding the role that insufficient communication contributed to confusion inside Elland Road. We also welcome the club’s reflection on several mitigating factors which may have influenced supporters’ reactions, including stadium messaging limitations and the context of previous fixtures. Recognising these elements is an important step toward ensuring situations such as this are better managed and understood in the future. Our full statement outlining our position and concerns can be read here - https://lusn.co.uk/lusn-statement-040326a LUSN looks forward to working more closely with the club, the Leeds United Supporters Trust, and Leeds supporters everywhere to strengthen communication, representation and collaboration, as we collectively strive to restore both the club and its reputation to where we all believe it should be. LUSN Committee Board
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