It’s seven years since Jonny Howson left his boyhood club Leeds United , but he clearly still holds a lot of fond memories from his time at Elland Road.
The Morley-born academy graduate represented Leeds between 2006 and 2012, a prominent player during the club’s three-year spell in League One, featuring in some of the most memorable games of that era.
Despite playing for Leeds’ Championship rivals Middlesbrough, he was back in attendance at Elland Road as the club celebrated its centenary, with his current manager Jonathan Woodgate joining him.
And though he started and set up THAT goal in the famous victory away to Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, then Champions, he picks out a different highlight from his time at the club.
“Promotion,” he responded, when asked his favourite memory of his time at Leeds.
“Just because it actually achieved something, don’t get me wrong, beating Man U in the FA Cup was a tremendous achievement but actually getting promotion in the manner that we did, if I had to pick one. But a lot of great memories.”
Leeds sealed promotion to League One in a dramatic final day of the League One campaign.
Having suffered play-off heartbreak in each of their last two League One seasons, it looked as though history was destined to repeat itself as Leeds were losing 1-0 at home to Bristol Rovers, reduced to ten men after Max Gradel lost his temper and was shown a red card.
Howson was introduced from the bench shortly after half-time and equalised five minutes later, shortly before Jermaine Beckford added a second to send Elland Road into raptures.
“Funnily enough, I remember quite a lot of it,” Howson added.
“I remember being sat on the bench, Max gets sent off, go down to ten men, they scored just after half-time. I must admit sometimes when you’re sat there and you can’t affect it, you’re thinking it could be the play-offs again.
“But obviously, when you get the call, you’re just trying to affect the game, give a bit of a lift. Luckily I managed to do that, and Jermaine managed to do what he does best, puts the ball in the back of the net and gets us the win.”
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