Jim White compares Leeds United and Newcastle United [Credit: talkSPORT]

Jim White makes 'incredible' Leeds United admission in Newcastle debate

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

Published on:

06 Feb 2025, 7:10 am

Leeds United fans produce an "incredible" atmosphere at Elland Road in every minute of every game, Jim White has said.

Speaking on talkSPORT (6 February, 10:27am), White, Simon Jordan and a United fan discussed the best atmospheres of stadiums in the UK, with Elland Road and St. James' Park named as two of the best.

The Peacocks' home ground has sold out on a constant basis since current owners 49ers Enterprises first came on board, with the sheer demand leading to plans of expanding to 53,000 in LS11.

White said: "I've been to your place, and it is absolutely jumping all the time – the noise is incredible."

Elland Road a huge part of Leeds United identity

Much of the debate surrounding stadium atmospheres in recent days has been against the backdrop of plans to build Newcastle a new ground adjacent to St. James' Park [Telegraph, 4 February], which has divided opinion.

While Tottenham's finances have been transformed by their construction of an all-new ground to directly replace the old White Hart Lane by building on top of it, there are no such plans to do the same in LS11.

Elland Road has been left untouched by the atmopshere-killing progress of modern-day football

The 49ers' plans for Elland Road come in the form of redeveloping the John Charles West Stand – largely untouched since 1957 – which has enough free space behind it in order to mirror the much larger East.

As a result, United's fans will be going nowhere once promotion-depended construction begins on the West Stand, retaining Elland Road's atmosphere as one side of the stadium is completely transformed.

It remains to be seen if the decibels reverberating around LS11 – which has been a source of frustration at times this season – are affected by future plans for the stadium, but expect the atmopshere at a new-look Elland Road to retain its ferbrile qualities.

In other Leeds news, United have learned how much they'll have to pay to sign one of this season's loanees permanently.

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