The "White Rose" bar is still bustling even on home match days.
But before this season, that wasn't the case here.
This neighborhood is the home base of the "White Rose", one of the most die-hard fan organizations of the Leeds City football team, and almost every Leeds City fan here is a season ticket holder for many years.
Whenever the team plays a home game, they go to the stands of Flanders Stadium to watch the game and cheer for their team. They enjoy the joy of fighting side by side with the team, and they also bear the bitterness of failure with the team.
Within three hours before and after the game, the bar business was relatively normal, because everyone went to the venue and no one came to the bar to drink.
But at that time, the bartenders probably didn't want business to be too good, because it would disturb them from watching the live game on the pay TV in the bar.
After the game is over, the bar will come back to life and become lively.
After winning the game, the fans returned to their neighborhoods and celebrated the victory with beer in the "White Rose" bar.
If they lose, they drink to drown their sorrows in the bar, curse and vent their emotions.
They named their fan organization "White Rose" because of this bar they loved.
This is like their base camp, base, safe haven, and home.
Whether it is joy or pain, you can bring it here to share or resolve it.
But since the beginning of this season, even during home games, the place has been overcrowded. People crowded into the small bar and cheered for the team through TV.
So they couldn't stand it when John said that watching the game in this way seemed indifferent to the team.
Aren’t we supporting the team by doing this?
In this way, we not only support the team, but also slap the club management in the face!
We were in the bar just like we were in the stands, cheering, singing, and cheering rhythmically for every good performance of the team.
It's just that the place has changed, but our love for the team has never faded!
"White Rose" fans have always said this to themselves.
They treat every game with the strongest enthusiasm, even if they are watching the game in a bar.
But the atmosphere is a little weird today.
After someone looked around, they complained in a low voice: "John really didn't come...and not only him, but Stone and Eric didn't come either..."
"Old Qiao said something happened at home and he couldn't come... But I think he most likely went to watch the game..."
"Damn, these traitors!"
"We have persisted for half a year. Seeing victory right in front of us, every one of us has deserted. It is simply shameful!"
Those who stayed in the bar to watch the game were filled with indignation and cursed their companions.
"If you ask me, it's all John's fault. After what he said, it must have made many people think..." The person who said this also looked at other companions.
But his eyes aroused dissatisfaction from others: "Hey, Harry, what do you think I am doing? I have nothing wrong with me!"
"If there's no ghost, what are you yelling about, Jamie?"
The two of them were about to quarrel.
David Miller quickly took action to separate them: "Okay! Okay! We are obviously fighting against the capitalists, why did we start fighting among ourselves first? Don't make it so ugly!"
When he came out to speak, the two people who were arguing stopped saying anything, but it was obvious that they were still unhappy with each other, were far apart, and were unwilling to look at each other more.
David Miller also knew that it was impossible for two people to reconcile just because of his words.
Once a crack appears, it cannot disappear again. The best result is to keep the crack from expanding...
He sighed inwardly - why did it end up like this?
He turned his attention to the television screen.
There do seem to be more people in the stands at Flanders Stadium today than usual...
"It's just two consecutive victories, have they forgotten how unreliable Clark is?"
Apparently there were others, like David Miller, who noticed the growing number of people in the stands and sneered at those who had betrayed them.
"Hey, Clark has never led his team to two consecutive victories before!" A hoarse voice said next to him, but it was hard to tell whether his tone was mocking Clark or the person who just spoke.
※※※
Urge Hodge sat on the podium, flanked by the club's general manager Eric Duffy and two directors - commercial director Harry Bradley and football director Nevin Ball.
There is already a row of new LOGOs on the roof of the stand facing the four of them, which is the trademark of a Chinese company.
After Hulay made his league debut and scored his first goal, the club quickly signed an advertising sponsorship contract with this company.
The company obtained the advertising space on the roof of the East Stand of Flanders Stadium for three years at a price of 500,000 pounds per year.
When Bradley saw the Chinese company logos covering the roofs and eaves, he remembered what Tony Clark had said to him.
He said he would regret signing the contract with the other party too early because they could have sold it at a higher price.
He admitted that Tony was right, but he still signed it and had no regrets.
Because this is a test of the waters, through this sponsorship, we can test the fans' acceptance of the introduction of Chinese brands, and at the same time show their advertising effectiveness to more Chinese companies.
This is the first appearance of a sponsor-branded stand roof.
If the results are outstanding, more Chinese companies will flock to them, and even if they sell at a higher price, someone will rob them.
Of course, the premise is that Hu Lai must be able to perform well in home games, perform well enough, and preferably score a goal. This will be considered a breakthrough point and attract everyone's attention.
Advertising effects can be maximized.
Now there is no need for him to go to Clark, who has automatically put Hu Lai into the starting lineup for today's game.
He came on as a substitute in the first two games and scored three goals. With such performance, he deserves to be the starter.
He now expects Hulay to have a wonderful performance in his first Premier League start, score a goal or something...
If Hulay can score a goal, he will go to the William Daly Company, which is responsible for representing the pitchside LED billboards for Premier League broadcasts, to re-discuss the sharing of the pitchside LED billboards.
Leeds City's current influence in the distant and huge Chinese market is no worse than that of London Bridge, Tramed, Manchester Athletic, Stanley Park Rangers and other established Premier League giants. He has enough confidence to go to William Daley
Let’s talk about the courtside advertising share ratio starting next season.
※※※
John stood in the north stand and looked around.
This was supposed to be the busiest area, and everything was packed.
Now, there are large areas vacant, as if a dog has a skin disease, which makes people feel uncomfortable at first glance.
But John knew that this was much better than the previous situation. At the beginning, it was really like a blank sheet of paper, with nothing and not a single person.
Those are the same fans who, like him, went on strike to protest the club's sale of Sean Barnett and sacking of Lauren Galli and to embarrass the club.
Later, as the league progressed, some fans gradually returned to the stands, but there were still not many people.
There are far more people here today than he imagined...
Just as John was looking at the empty seats beside him, a hesitant voice sounded behind him.
"Uncle John?"
John looked back and saw a somewhat surprised Matthew Taylor, as well as Andrew Thurman beside him.
"Aha, little Matthew, it's you!" John looked very happy.
"Uncle John, why are you here?" As the son of David Miller and the common pride of the "White Rose" fan organization, Matthew Miller is familiar with everyone in this fan organization and naturally recognizes the person in front of him.
A balding middle-aged man, John Falkingham, whom he called "Uncle John."
In addition, there are many uncles in this fan organization.
These uncles have a very good relationship with him, and they can be said to have watched him grow up.
It was not until the beginning of this season that they collectively withdrew from the North Stand and broke with them.
"That's what you asked, little Matthew. Let's watch the game."
Uncle John didn't answer him, but a new voice came from behind him.
Matthew Miller looked back and saw Uncle Stone, Uncle Eric, and Uncle Joe. He was even more surprised: "Uncle Stone, Uncle Eric, Uncle Joe...are you here too?
"
"What for? Can't we come?" Stone, who arrived later, held two disposable plastic cups filled with beer. He handed one of them to John.
"No, no..." Matthew waved his hand, "You are not..."
John took the beer and took a sip first, then wiped the water droplets from his beard with the back of his hand: "I still prefer to watch the game in the North Stand. It is closer to the goal and I can see our goal more clearly."
"So are we." The three uncles said to Matthew, and then Eric added: "But your father didn't come."
Hearing this, Matthew's expression darkened.
Seeing this, John patted his shoulder gently: "Don't worry, little Matthew. Your father will come back sooner or later. He loves Leeds City more than anyone else."
"Thank you, Uncle John." Matthew Miller forced a smile.
"Come on! Let's get ready to cheer the players!" Stone yelled from the side.
At the same time, the DJ's voice came from the live broadcast: "Ladies and gentlemen, the players from both sides are about to appear next. Glamorgan from Cardiff! Welcome them to Flanders!"
Leeds City fans in the stands looked at the stadium with their arms folded and did not respond to DJ's words.
John Falkingham took a deep breath and sighed: "Ah, what a nostalgic air... Yes, this is the correct way to watch the game!"
The companions around him all laughed when they heard what he said.
Matthew and Andrew looked at each other and laughed too.
Yes, this is the correct way they have watched football countless times before.
Leeds City fans reacted coldly to Glamorgan as a guest, which was considered polite behavior, after all, they hadn't booed yet.
DJ naturally knew this, so when he introduced Glen Morgan, his tone was very dull, even deliberately listless.
When it was his turn to introduce the Leeds City players, his voice rose an octave and became passionate: "Now it's our main goalkeeper Mikay——!"
Leeds City fans in the stands followed suit by chanting: "Van de Ven!!"
Along with such roars, a picture of Mikael van de Ven appeared on the big screen at the scene.
The Leeds City players who started the game were called out one by one.
Matthew Miller and Andrew Thurman, along with Uncle John and the others, were also cheering in the North Stand, just like before.
Nothing has changed except that the surrounding stands are slightly empty.
When Williams was called, Andrew next to Matthew roared very loudly.
Not only Andrew, but the cheers in the stands of the entire stadium were loud.
After Sean Barnett left the team, Pete Williams was the pride and treasure of all Leeds City fans.
He has performed well in the last two games, and everyone is happy for him to see him break out of his sluggish state.
Captain Lorenzo Esposito also got a big shout-out.
The last name reported was Hu Lai.
He started this game for the first time and enjoyed such treatment for the first time in Leeds City.
"The last one, the striker from China, LAI——"
"HUU!!"
The fans in the stands shouted Hu Lai's last name loudly.
Here, Matthew shouted the loudest.
Hu Lai's photo appeared on the big screen at the same time, with his name, location and number next to the photo.
Leeds City's No. 14 player, forward.
※※※
Wang Haoxi looked at Hu Lai's photo on the big screen and grinned.
He remembered that when he and his roommates went to attend Hu Lai's signing ceremony, almost all the people who came to welcome him at this stadium were Chinese students and there were not many local Leeds City fans.
Now there are so many people shouting his name at the same time.
It only took two games.
But it's not enough. One day, you will make everyone in this stadium shout your name loudly and become the hero of this city!
