A heartwarming video of a 98-year-old Leeds fan has gone viral on social media platform, X after football fans united in admiration for the elderly supporter.
The video was published by a BBC journalist, Bek Homer, who had been sent it by the fan's son. The video depicts 98-year-old Leslie, who suffers from Dementia, standing up to belt out Leeds United's famous anthem, Marching on Together, after their recent victory over Leicester City at Elland Road.
Homer's post read: “Whatever team you support you can't deny that this is a wonderful moment Leslie is 98 and has dementia. He struggles to remember those closest to him but remembers this song. His son Steve shared this with me with permission.”
At the time of writing, the post has racked up hundreds of comments and quotes, in addition to over 1,000 retweets and 4,500 likes.
Whatever team you support you can't deny that this is a wonderful moment Leslie is 98 and has dementia. He struggles to remember those closest to him but remembers this song. His son Steve shared this with me with permission #dementia @BBCYorkshire @dementiaforward @DementiaUK pic.twitter.com/eebZIkgy4e
— Bek Homer (@bekbythesea) February 27, 2024
Football fans unite to celebrate Leslie
Unlike the majority of football-related posts on social media, there was no tribalism or point scoring to be found anywhere. Instead, fans from all over the country took the time to acknowledge Leslie.
One fan said: “That is beautiful. The power of football and a community” while another posted “This actually brought a tear to my eye. Such a beautiful moment to treasure for his family, and for Leslie, a wonderful lucid moment in his confused world.”
Another fan did well to summarise why the post had resonated with the wider football community. They said: “To those who think football is just 22 men kicking a ball around. It's far more. It's about identity, shared experiences, and memories.
Other fans were quick to share similar stories of their own. One said: “My Dad is exactly the same. He’s 84 this year, has Alzheimer’s, and forgets most things, but remembers all the words to Marching On Together. It’s just so lovely.”