A note from the manager.
In 1978 the young adult members of the Crossgates and Halton branch of the Leeds United Supporters Club approached me as branch Secretary and asked if they could have a team to play on Sundays. In those days, before Sky, Leeds United had a proper fixture list and played on Saturdays.
Crossgates LUSC FC was formed and joined the Leeds Sunday League in Division 7A. There were 17 divisions, counting the Premier, Senior A and Senior B, with over 200 teams in the Sunday League, and the Combination League had at least 5 divisions.
The team was based at the Brown Cow in Whitkirk where the Supporters Club branch held its meetings. The branch of the Supporters Club folded in the early 80’s but the football club remained.
We changed the name for one season when the Casablanca restaurant in Leeds sponsored us, but then changed again to Brown Cow (Whitkirk) FC which was the name for many seasons.
During the Brown Cow (Whitkirk) years we were promoted many times but never managed to win any division. We were runners up in the Jubilee Cup in 1989, losing 1:0 to Midland Bank FC in the final at Whitkirk Wanderers ground.
As the Brown Cow ceased to be the thriving pub it once was, we failed to gain any sponsorship from Tetley Brewery for 3 seasons and changed our name to AFC Dynamos for one season, during which we were invited to play out of East Leeds Cricket Club.
We became East Leeds Dynamos the following season, and then just East Leeds FC. However, in the 2005/2006 season we were one of three Clubs called East Leeds FC and it was decided to become East Leeds Celtic FC.
Throughout the previous 28 seasons there has never been a wholesale change in the squad. It has continued to evolve year by year with new players joining and others hanging up their boots, or just drifting away. Although we have changed name several times we have remained the same Club with 7 or 8 players in the regular starting line-up who were in their 4th or 5th season with the Club.
In the 2005/06 season we had one of the best ever squads potentially, but players had a bad attitude and did not perform. We did have some bad luck and suffered some very dodgy refereeing decisions but, overall, it was the general attitude and failure to perform to anything like our potential that left us at the wrong end of Division 1. We were relegated for the first time in the Club’s history.
This season we have retained most of the squad and added some new, young, players with excellent potential. Last season’s intake of young players are now starting to reach their potential and the general attitude has been very good.
We had an excellent pre-season against Clubs from higher divisions. We had key players missing for the first 4 games of the season but are now at almost full strength, and it looks like we should have a very productive season.
Mick Goodwin
Manager/Secretary since 1978.