Leeds United legend to receive special honour on Elland Road pitch at half-time vs Chelsea — Leeds Live 3/12/25

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Fans who stay in the stadium bowl will see a club icon step out onto the hallowed turf

Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter

Leeds United are set to honour one of the club’s most iconic figures at half-time in tonight’s Premier League match against Chelsea.

Howard Wilkinson will be formally inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame for his influence on the domestic game, both at United and further afar. Wilkinson remains the last English manager to win the top flight having lifted the title with Leeds in the 1991/92 season.

His impact can be seen in the creation of the Thorp Arch academy while he also played a significant role in the establishment of St George’s Park in Burton-upon-Trent, the base for all national teams.

At the interval of this evening’s game at Elland Road, a presentation will be conducted that sees the former England caretaker manager officially enter into the Hall of Fame.

The club are meanwhile supporting a fan-led campaign to immortalise Wilkinson in bronze with the WILKO92 project raising funds for a statue. This Friday, a raft of Whites legends who played under Wilkinson are set to attend a tribute lunch hosted by the club at Elland Road.

As many as 20 former players will do a meet-and-greet in honour of the great man and to help raise funds for the statue project, which cost around £140,000 in total. The WILKO92 group started fundraising earlier this year, with Wilkinson himself in attendance at the famous Old Peacock pub, located adjacent to the stadium.

Speaking to Leeds Live at that launch event in June, Wilkinson said he was "honoured", "surprised" and "embarrassed”. Asked whether he was proud, he humbly replied: “Proud, maybe. Proud in the sense of just achieving goals that were very rewarding as moments.

“Forget money and everything else, it was just nice to work with other people in what depended on teamwork, what depended on individuals recognising that it's not ‘me’, it's 'we’. I’m just very lucky.”

Throwing its support behind the initiative last month, Leeds United said: “Launched earlier this year and having already made a fantastic start to fundraising efforts, the club will now actively work with The Wiko92 Campaign to ensure Howard’s legacy is truly remembered.”

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