By Matthew Jones
June 20 2003

Former Leeds United pair, Jonathon Woodgate and Lee Bowyer have been asked to play against their former club on the opening day of the season. Any fears of a supporters "backlash" have been played down by the chairman of the Leeds supporters trust. Newcastle United have been urged to pick Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer to play against their old club Leeds at Elland Road on first game of the season.

The two clubs agreed that Newcastle should ban Woodgate from playing when they clashed at Leeds last February, as they were keen to protect him from a possible supporters' demonstration.

The England defender was told to stay well away from the ground during the sensitive situation.

Now Bowyer is in the same position and is due to play his league debut for Newcastle on 16 August at Elland Road.

Some fans remain angry after he refused to sign a new contract last January before he joined West Ham.

John Boocock, chairman of the Leeds United Supporters Trust, believes that any fears of a big anti Bowyer and Woodgate demonstration are exaggerated.

He said: "All eyes will be on Leeds supporters to see how they react to Bowyer and Woodgate, and it will be interesting to see if Newcastle play both players.

"Bowyer had a poor end to the season at West Ham where he didn't seem to contribute much at all.

"He may struggle to get into Newcastle's starting line-up and could be among the substitutes, but I'd like to see both men play.

"I thought Newcastle were wrong to leave Woody out against us last season. They were being over cautious."

Boocock added: "I honestly don't think there will be the 'Judas' chants we had when Gary McAllister came back to play against us.

"Woody was very popular at Leeds and didn't really want to leave. He was sold because Leeds needed the money.

"I suppose if anyone has a go at Bowyer it will be the politically correct mob, but more people will have sympathy for him over the way the club handled his situation after the court case.

"He fell out with the chairman at the time, Peter Ridsdale, and many of the fans were on Lee's side in that argument.

"We remember his great performances for us when we were in Europe and the true fans admire what he and Woody did for the team."

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