Former Leeds United defender, now boss of Middlesbrough, Jonathan Woodgate has revealed the full story about the infamous yellow three wheeler that was driven by Leeds United players back in the Champions League era.
The player who had performed worst in training each week - known fittingly 'Plonker of the Week' - was forced to drive the yellow Reliant Robin as an incentive to perform better in training.
In a question and answer session for Four Four Two magazine, Woodgate was asked what possessed him to buy the three-wheeler.
He revealed: "On Fridays after training we’d give a yellow bib to the worst trainer but we put our minds to doing something different when I had a brainwave. I was in Joe Rigatoni’s restaurant in Middlesbrough and I noticed a yellow Robin Reliant. I asked the owner if I could buy it. He wanted £1,500 but accepted £1,300.
"I turned up to the training ground and the lads laughed their heads off. Ian Harte ended up driving it after me. We wanted to sign it and sell it for charity but it was vandalised so that didn’t happen."
In an article run by the BBC at the time, the Chairman at the time Peter Risdale is quoted as saying: "I thought it was Trotters Independent Trainers turning up!"
"But it demonstrates the fantastic team spirit that we have here."
Woodgate joined Leeds United's academy in 1997, going on to make 104 appearances for the club before signing for Newcastle in 2003. He will come up against his former club on November 30 when Middlesbrough travel to Elland Road.
