Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v Emma-Jean Thackray
Thackeray, who was born in Leeds, said she had no choice about who to support.
“My family are crazy about Leeds. I came out of the womb and was given a Leeds United shirt,” she told BBC Sport.
“My first proper memories of football are from the late 1990s and early 2000s, so my favorite players were Lucas Radebe, Alan Smith, Lee Bowyer and Mark Viduka et al. The David O’Leary era was a time where I bonded with the players and with the team we played some of the best football of my life.
“I have to see us Beat AC Milan at Elland Road Things like that, so it was a good introduction to football. Let’s just say that things went downhill after that.
“People describe what happened next as Leeds was in a slump but we still had a few players who stood out, the majority of whom were probably players from our academy.
“My heroes in those years were guys like Sam Byram and Jonny Howson – Howson’s parents lived near me, in the supermarket and stuff like that It’s always strange to see him somewhere.
“Sadly we can’t seem to retain homegrown talent, with Archie Gray recently leaving for Tottenham Hotspur. This is another reason why we need to get back to the Premier League.”
Leeds missed out on promotion last year when they lost to Southampton in the play-off final, but they currently sit top of the Championship table.
So will they return to the top flight next season?
“We really have to be,” Thackeray added. “It feels like a matter of life and death because if we don’t get promoted this time, the club could collapse and we could be facing another chance of exiting the Premier League in 20 years.”
“I think we’ll do it, although I’m not sure we’ll keep top spot because Sheffield United look really strong.
“But finishing second is good. Our improvement is the most important thing, really.”
Chris Sutton and Emma-Jean Thackray speak to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
