Resident RamZone bard and part time match reporter 'I.Saw', has inked his quill and come up with a very special treat for our readers before our opening day clash at Elland Road.
"DO YOU REMEMBER LEEDS"
You remember growing up. Everything is Black and White.
You remember a white panel on the first leg Semi Final programme normally black. A loss, 1-0.
You remember the second leg glued to the radio, 2-3, a better game but we LOST.
You begin to hate Leeds.
You remember regular defeats. Again in the League Cup after a replay.
You remember cynical football, timewasting, snarling Yorkshire Terriers in midfield.
You remember the 6th round of the FA Cup, Derby in Blue, Leeds in Red, Peter Lorimer broken hearts.
You truly hate Leeds.
You remember a penalty. A miniature windmill flailing as a hard man backs off.
You remember wishing you were Frannie Lee in your dreams and Hunter was in front of you.
You wouldn’t have stopped. Bremner, Giles, and a fuzzy perm with pearly white teeth. Targets. Targets.
You want justice, you hate Dirty Dirty Leeds.
You remember vaguely a New Years Day. Hours after the Market Place, a purple Marina to Elland Road.
You remember the South Stand, a massive concourse compared to the Baseball. Mixed fans seated.
You remember a flag down the Derby left. Play on. The flag is in your favour. Overruled. The goal isn’t.
Another one nil defeat. Justice is a whore.
You remember promotion. Gee from the half way line against the run of play. Against Leeds it’s sweet.
You remember Elland Road three up, a firecracker let off as Asanovic converts a penalty.
You remember injury time, the final fourth goal a damp squib, defeat from the jaws…
You are numb, the time was yours, it was snatched away.
You hate Leeds and Leeds.
You remember corporate at Pride Park. Roast fillet of Beef, Red Wine, turned sour.
You remember Carbonari, a leg outstretched, a yard away Kewell is a supermarination puppet with strings cut.
You remember because it’s on the monitors. Again and again. A clear dive. Nowhere near.
You hate those cheating diving barstewards.
You hate Leeds and Leeds and Leeds.
You remember our first victory at Elland Road since Frannie Lee scored in 1974.
You remember Giles Barnes losing his man in 2006. Stead crossed, a header. a goal
You remember the pent up emotion of thirty two years, released.
You celebrate again and again. And again when Leeds are relegated too.
It’s a joy short lived.
You remember again, the Damned United, fiction written from fact
You remember the Damned United, United dammed less than Clough.
You remember , it’s impossible to forget.
You remember this morning.
You hope to remember this afternoon.
You believe we’ll have our another victory, this time live on TV.
You believe. And We believe. We are Derby
And We All F****** Hate Leeds......!
And for those who are wondering...the word that was edited out in the final line was "Forever".
Anyone who believes that will also believe that we also do not actually hate Leeds - Ed.