US fan makes his first pilgrimage to Elland Road to see favourite team

A football fan who lives in America has made his first trip to Leeds United’s Elland Road after more than 40 years of supporting the team.

Simon Butlin managed to squeeze in the pilgrimage to his team’s home ground to watch them play Swansea City during a business trip to Britain.

The 48-year-old accountant, who lives in Orlando, said: “It was fantastic, everything I hoped it would be. I’m not going to wait another 40 years before coming back.” Mr Butlin began supporting Leeds when he was growing up in Surrey during the late 1960s. But as an amateur and semi-professional footballer, he had never managed to find a spare Saturday to watch his team at Elland Road.

He was also hampered by work commitments during the week which stopped him travelling north for mid-week matches, although he occasionally saw Leeds at away games in London.

When Mr Butlin’s job took him to America in the 1990s, his hopes of watching Leeds United on home turf seemed even remoter. But in spite of the distance, his love affair with Leeds has never faded.

Mr Butlin said: “The closet in my bedroom is full of them. All my suits for work are in the spare room.” He is also encouraging his 10-year-old son, Carter, to back the side.