Getting to know - Richard Ewen
1. Full Name - Richard David Ewen
1.2. AKA - Rich, Ewey, Ewen, Filthy, Dicky
2. Age - 28
3. Place of Birth - Leeds
4. Position - Centre-mid, but have played pretty much everywhere over the years.
5. Boots - Umbros
6. Playing History - Old Mods, Lawnswood Rangers, Bramhope Fox, Headingley Fusion, Hull University, Cookridge Bulldogs (Juniors), Adel Juniors.
7. Best Player/s you have played with - Dave Horsman (played with him at Lawnswood Rangers). Rumour has it that Brian Clough signed him as a youth player, only then to sack him after he punched someone in a reserve match - I can believe both stories! For the Mods, Steve Pyle was a fine player and Zac Brown is the best centre-half I've played with.
8. Best Player you have played against - Don't know his name, but his nickname was "Mellow" and he played for Shoulder of Mutton on a Sunday. Big, powerful striker who had played a decent semi-pro standard and just didn't lose headers.
9. Football Idol - Gary Speed - fantastic professional.
10. Favourite supporting football memory - I was at the 2008 League 1 play-off 2nd leg at Carlisle when Jonny Howson scored in the last minute to send Leeds through to Wembley. That was the most celebrated goal I've ever been involved with, and the fact that the Carlisle away end is terracing meant that it was a proper old-fashioned celebration, where you end up 20 metres away from where you started.
11. Worst supporting football Memory - 2001, when Rivaldo equalised at Elland Road in the Champions League for Barcelona in the 94th minute. Up to that point, Leeds were going through to the next round, but Rivaldo's goal meant that we had to go to Milan and get a point. One of the only times I've seen grown men crying at a football match - there shouldn't have even been 4 minutes injury time, and it felt like all Leeds' efforts in that campaign were going to waste. Fortunately, we got a point in the San Siro and went through anyway.
12. Greatest playing memory/achievment - Had some great cup runs with Lawnswood Rangers (Sunday side) over the years, and beat teams that we had no right to beat. Have also played for various representative sides - scored a late equaliser against the YOBL side a few years ago, which was quite nice.
13. Worst Mods or previous club memory - Losing at Roundhegians 3 years ago, having battered them for 90 mins. I think they only had one chance and scored two goals! It condemned us to relegation, which was an awful feeling.
14. Mods Hero - Gary Lovelace. Not sure everyone always appreciates just how much he does/has done for the club.
15. Best ground you've played at - University of Central Lancashire's facilities and pitch were probably the best.
16. Favourite Band - The Killers.
17. Pre-match preperation routine - Light lunch, followed by lots of tonic water (reduces likelihood of getting cramp I'm told!). I have this strange looking stick too, which loosens up hamstrings and calves, so have a go on that when I'm in the changing room.
18. What do you do on a Saturday when not playing football - In the summer, play cricket. In the winter (if I'm not playing), I'll try attend as many Leeds United games as I can.
19. Best Friend/s at the club - Too many good people at the club to mention.
20. If you could change 1 thing about the club what would it be - Start winning trophies!