Turning the January
Blues White
Welcome to January. I write this on a miserable, grey Monday
morning. The wind is lashing rain against my office window and normally
motivation would at an all-time low. January is traditionally the longest month
of the year, not simply in the number of days of course, but in the
energy-sapping way in which it drags interminably. December fair skips by in
comparison and there is always real momentum going in to the end of the year,
but that hits you hard like a Pontus Jansson sliding tackle at the turn of the
New Year, and January appears on your doorstep knocking rather too loudly and carrying
a suitcase full of bills, work, bad health and a mountain of other problems.
Is it the third Monday in January that is cited as the ‘most
depressing day of the year’? When people have lost the zest of all the
festivities over Christmas and New Year and can only see a very long road ahead,
even though the mornings are getting ever-so-slightly brighter each day. Well
in 2017 that Monday falls three days after Leeds United play Derby County at
home in a vital fixture that could further cement our place in the play-off
places, and may even see us close the gap further on a spluttering Newcastle
United in second place. For that reason, it is perfectly possible that Leeds
United fans will continue sailing through January on the crest of a wave,
fighting off the traditional January Blues with a vim and vigour borne from a
superb string of displays over the festive period and a surge of optimism that
doesn’t appear to be ending any time soon.
Not this year are we worrying about our ‘New Year, New Me’
diets, or boycotting our favourite pub in a misguided and fatally flawed
attempt at a ‘Dry January’, and no longer are we looking forward with dread at
the endless treadmill of work, sleep, work, sleep. Instead, Leeds United fans
are looking forward with a beaming smile even Lucas Radebe would take inspiration
from.
Two wins and a draw out of three games over Christmas and
New Year was a far better return than Leeds fans usually expect, from a busy
period that traditionally saps the festive spirit like a lump of coal on
Christmas morning. Add to that the 50% ownership change at the club, with
Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani finally concluding his deal last week,
and arriving with a flawless track record in every sense, and there have been
few better times to be a Leeds United fan since we were marauding fearlessly
across Europe at the turn of the Millennium. The sea change in commercial activity, media
output and stability in management this season has brought its own rewards
which are clear for all to see. And we are hopeful the strength and solidity of
the club will only improve with this latest change in the boardroom. Being
honest, we don’t expect Mr Radrizzani to pop over and join us for a drink at
the Old Peacock, we think he is more likely to keep a lower profile than our
previous owner, but he is definitely welcome, and indeed we will certainly be
toasting the new ownership regime if results continue as they are.
It is true that previous ownership changes have come about
at a time when they have been absolutely necessary, and they have found Leeds
United on the floor and picked it off the canvass looking bloodied and beaten.
Right now, the club is in great health and everything is in place to take it on
and make it work. This ownership change has come as a boost, at a time when
momentum is taking Leeds United forward like an un-manned bread van hurtling
down Wesley Street, and it could be just the tonic we need to carry us over the
line.
And ‘boost’ is the operative word in January. Rather than
looking ahead with fear and dread, we are taking everything in our stride. That
goes for us at the Old Peacock too. We aren’t changing too much in 2017, we are
maintaining our high standards, happy to keep serving the hordes of happy,
smiling Leeds fans that turn up on a match day, and delighted to be seeing and
feeling the general buzz around Elland Road all through the week at the moment.
Of course we have already navigated one hectic match day at
Elland Road this year. January 2nd saw one final blowout before we
all returned to work, and there was certainly no evidence of a Dry January
pre-match in the Peacock for the Rotherham United game. A 33,000 crowd ensured
the festive spirit kept flowing for a few more hours, and the lads did the
business on the pitch too, with a fine 3-0 victory setting 2017 off on the
right foot.
Friday 13th will be unlucky for Derby County if
Leeds continue this rich vein of form. We have seen some major occasions at
Elland Road in recent weeks, with 30,000 plus crowds for the visits of
Newcastle, Aston Villa and Rotherham. But in terms of vital points and
administering psychological blows to near challengers, the visit of Derby is
arguably the most important home game since our promotion from League One. We
are expecting another busy evening behind the bar but after that, January could
return to being a bit of a long one, with the team’s progress in the FA Cup
meaning there are no more home games this month.
Our weekly food events are still proving extremely popular.
After our Christmas Day service sold out in record time, we also enjoyed a busy
run-up to Christmas with lots of you taking advantage of our Christmas Fayre
menu to host your parties with friends, family and work colleagues. Our Curry
Night, Steak Night and Sunday Lunch menus will continue in 2017 and of course
we have our general menu available all week as well. We are always keen to hear feedback from our
customers and we have been really honoured to have received some lovely reviews
from people who have visited us in recent weeks. These can be viewed on our Facebook
page, where, along with our Twitter
account, you can also keep up to date with all our events and any information
about match days.
For now, keep your chin up, enjoy January and confront the
things that get you down with the gusto of Chris Wood fending off that
Rotherham defender to turn and smash the ball into the roof the net; eat my
goal. We’ve been through it all together, as the song goes, and we will beat
January together.
All the best.
