Rare Elland Road opportunity offered to Leeds United support after Europe's best claim

Years of being stuck outside Elland Road on a matchday can finally end for Leeds United fans this weekend. A perfect opportunity has been handed to those waiting for a first match in LS11 with Leeds United Women.

Captain Olivia Smart, now in her 19th season with the club and beyond 300 appearances, is hoping their derby date with York City Ladies can give others that Elland Road buzz she still gets, even when the stadium is empty. The 2pm kick-off on Sunday will allow many United fans that first chance to see the hallowed turf and a team they can get close to.

“Recently, there's been plans to make it a bigger stadium,” Smart told LeedsLive. “Leeds is over-subscribed as a club anyway. We can get 37,000 fans into Elland Road, but, equally, it could sell 60[,000] every week.

“So for people to just have access, to go into Elland Road, there will be people that have been lifelong Leeds fans and they’ve never been because they can’t get a ticket. So women's football also provides that opportunity for you to do that.

“It's a lot more personal than men's football because the access to it is easier, it's cheaper, it's usually more local. Kids can have access to us, so they can come and see us when we finish a game, we’re in touching distance and that's really important for kids as well, to inspire them to want to be part of something.”

Sales for Sunday’s match are understood to have already gone beyond the 3,500 mark. The size of the attendance is not on Smart’s mind. She would be as happy playing in front of one person as she would 30,000. It’s the importance of putting on a performance which keeps people coming back, on her mind.

“If I turned around and I had one fan in the room, that's enough for me, playing on the pitch is the occasion for me, but the importance is we open up Elland Road as an opportunity for people to come in,” she said. “Then we've got to put on a performance for people to encourage them to come.

“The standard of women's football has grown so big, so now we want to encourage that to keep growing. We have to encourage people to keep coming to watch by putting on a performance.

“For me, it doesn't matter who's there. Two, 22, 57,000, I don't really care. That is not the importance for me, it's the people who want to be there, have access to it. That's really important.”

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The wider impact on women’s football is crucial too. England’s continued success, most recently at the 2022 Euros, has done wonders for the sport, but Smart sees a need to keep things moving in the north.

Opportunities for youngsters to see a competitive women’s match at Elland Road is critical in a city like Leeds, Smart feels.

“Lots of our family and friends come and watch each week, but being able to celebrate us as an occasion is very nice,” she said. “Playing at such a good stadium as well. I'm biased, but it’s one of the best stadiums probably in Europe for the atmosphere when you're in there, even when the place is empty.

“For everyone's friends and family it’s particularly important as well. It can showcase women's football as well. It's a massive thing. Leeds is a team in the north of England.

“Newcastle women have done it very well, but football in the north of England for women has suffered for years. Lucy Bronze is a prime example. She's from Alnwick.

“She had to move out of there if she wanted to succeed in playing football and she's done that excellently, but where did she come? She came to Leeds, such a big city.

“We've got loads of opportunities here and then the club are striving to drive us forward. That comes with results, but also occasions like playing at Elland Road.”