Transcending years though clinging on to its heritage, Elland Road, regardless of however the scoreline finishes up on Saturday, is a fortress. A safe house for treasured memories from a time when Leeds United dominated the English game, our latest 'Residance' comes West Riding from Yorkshire.
Leeds United have an incredible history. From title topping teams to European highs and catastrophic lows, they've seen it all. Showing signs of change from decade to decade, Elland Road is reflective of the character of the club. Like a living entity that sleeps in the shadows and signs under the sun light, there's a huge sense of atmosphere. A titanic structure that houses 39,000 fans, this is a club not shy of support, so long as they're allowed to sing.
The East Stand towers over the pitch with authority while the magnitude of this stadium is met with old and new. The rich blue painted seats live long in the tooth and are joined in and around the stadium with hints of yellow. Most seats are plastic though there's a scent of history on every corner. The Damned United told the story of Brian Clough and his time at Leeds in incredible style. Most telling for this stadium is that they were able to use parts of the place to shoot a film that was set in 1974 and it looked every in keeping with the timezone. Treasured charm all over.
For a stadium of this size and with gathering fans in their masses, it deserves to live in the top flight. Surrounded by clubs from every direction too, the level of football fandom in Yorkshire is unquestionably huge. Noisey neighbours, delightfully tasty rivalries, they better start marching on together.
Photography by Robbie Jay Barratt for SoccerBible.
