Leeds United super fan from New Zealand on his 'dream' visit that saw him 'in tears' during game at Elland Road

Paul Smith, 61, is visiting Leeds for the seventh time in his life after becoming a huge fan of The Whites in 1973 when he watched them play in the FA Cup final against Sunderland – the first English football match to be broadcast live in his native country.

Since speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post upon his arrival three weeks ago Paul has been to watch the two home games against West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday, saying that he was “in tears” when the club anthem ‘Marching On Together’ was played ahead of kick off.

He has also done the stadium tour at Elland Road, which he said was “brilliant”, and forked out £600 on gear at the club shop.

Paul, who went as far as to give his son the middle name ‘Leeds’, has also caught up with the former staff members at the club that gave him exclusive tours and meet-and-greets with the players and managers when he first visited in the 1980s.

Paul, who lives in Christchurch, said: “It’s been my seventh and my best time. I’ve got so much in.”

That was no small compliment from Paul, who had met and had a kickaround with the team of 1982 when he first visited as a 17-year-old and later had a meal with club legend Billy Bremner in 1987.

Speaking with Paul at a café on Kirkstall Road, he added: “It’s been wonderful. I’ve had everything pre-planned and it’s all gone smoothly.

"The hardest thing I’ve had to do was figure out how to get the bus from Leeds city centre to here!”

Paul attended his first game in seven years when he watched Leeds United draw 1-1 against West Bromwich Albion the other week. And though the result wasn’t the one he’d hoped for, he said the experience was well worth the wait.

Paul said: “It was surreal because it’s been so long since I’ve been there.

"When the players came out and they played ‘Marching On Together’ I was singing my heart out and I was crying because of that emotional attachment.”

He said he was happy with the performance as well, adding: "When you look back at our previous history against Albion it’s not good for Leeds. They are a bogie team so when I went I was thinking ‘here we go’.

"But then the boys got into it and I was thinking ‘we can do this’ and it was like ‘bang, bang, bang’.