Sterland: ER is a place to fear
leedsunited.com 14/8/13
Promotion winner Mel Sterland on why Elland Road is a place to be feared...
Mel Sterland may be sat firmly on the fence on Saturday – but he admits that Sheffield Wednesday won’t be relishing travelling to a potentially packed Elland Road.
Sterland, a man of divided loyalties who is a veteran of both clubs, was a member of our promotion winning side of 1989/90 when the Elland Road crowd was widely acknowledged as playing a major part in our success.
“The Elland Road crowd can be amazing,” said Mel. “It really is like having extra players on your side. No one wanted to come to Elland Road then, and no one wants to come now when they know there’s going to be a good crowd.
“Why don’t they want to come? Because they know the crowd can be loud and hostile, and they could get a real hiding if everything comes together. Teams can be scared of Elland Road, and it’s a massive advantage to have that support on your side.
“Leeds have started well and if they can win on Saturday…it’s a club that should be in the Premier League. Leeds are a big club, like Sheffield Wednesday, and when it all comes together it can unbelievable. The fans are missing out because Leeds are a big, big club, and should be back up there.”
Mel will be at the game on Saturday, but given his affinity with Sheffield Wednesday, the Leeds salute will be put on hold for the day, and his famous renditions of Marching On Together will be muted.
“I loved it at Leeds, but I loved it at Wednesday as well and I always look out for both clubs,” said Mel. “I’m looking forward to Saturday, but I’m sitting on the fence and going for a draw.
“Leeds won 2-1 last season and it was a typical derby. It was 100 miles an hour, tackles were flying in, and it was a good game. I think Saturday will be the same.
“Wednesday have started poorly in terms of results. They had two definite penalties turned down at QPR and Dave Jones was quite rightly disappointed, but if you don’t get them, you don’t get them, and you have to get on.”
Promotion winner Mel Sterland on why Elland Road is a place to be feared...
Mel Sterland may be sat firmly on the fence on Saturday – but he admits that Sheffield Wednesday won’t be relishing travelling to a potentially packed Elland Road.
Sterland, a man of divided loyalties who is a veteran of both clubs, was a member of our promotion winning side of 1989/90 when the Elland Road crowd was widely acknowledged as playing a major part in our success.
“The Elland Road crowd can be amazing,” said Mel. “It really is like having extra players on your side. No one wanted to come to Elland Road then, and no one wants to come now when they know there’s going to be a good crowd.
“Why don’t they want to come? Because they know the crowd can be loud and hostile, and they could get a real hiding if everything comes together. Teams can be scared of Elland Road, and it’s a massive advantage to have that support on your side.
“Leeds have started well and if they can win on Saturday…it’s a club that should be in the Premier League. Leeds are a big club, like Sheffield Wednesday, and when it all comes together it can unbelievable. The fans are missing out because Leeds are a big, big club, and should be back up there.”
Mel will be at the game on Saturday, but given his affinity with Sheffield Wednesday, the Leeds salute will be put on hold for the day, and his famous renditions of Marching On Together will be muted.
“I loved it at Leeds, but I loved it at Wednesday as well and I always look out for both clubs,” said Mel. “I’m looking forward to Saturday, but I’m sitting on the fence and going for a draw.
“Leeds won 2-1 last season and it was a typical derby. It was 100 miles an hour, tackles were flying in, and it was a good game. I think Saturday will be the same.
“Wednesday have started poorly in terms of results. They had two definite penalties turned down at QPR and Dave Jones was quite rightly disappointed, but if you don’t get them, you don’t get them, and you have to get on.”