Ready for ‘family feud’
Battlelines drawn for Leeds clash
FOOTBALL: Major family conflict is brewing for Jordan O’Doherty ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers’ mouthwatering clash with Leeds United.
While most parents would be delighted to see their son lining up against such a prestigious side, poor Jordan faces the prospect of seeing his mum Donna and numerous other relatives sitting in the Leeds United section roaring on the Whites.
Dad Billy, on the other hand, will be firmly backing his son’s side, due to the club he supports – London-based Millwall – hating Leeds with a passion.
O’Doherty, whose immediate challenge is the A-League clash at Melbourne Victory tonight, admits it makes for an ‘interesting’ build-up to the encounter at Wanderers’ new home on July 20.
“Mum is from Keighley in Yorkshire and her side of the family are all huge Leeds fans,” he said.
“Ever since I was little I’ve had them trying to make sure I was ‘Leeds’. I can remember sitting in the car once when they were visiting from England and my auntie was trying to get me to say, ‘Leeds, Leeds, Leeds’ (one of the Yorkshire side’s many chants).
“There would be a Leeds shirt for me to wear, which obviously did not go down well with Dad. He’d be saying, ‘Take it off.’
“Dad is originally from Bermondsey (in South London where Millwall are based) and it’s probably fair to say the two clubs don’t like each other and fans of other clubs don’t like Leeds and Millwall. “I’m piggy in the middle. “So, we’ll have to see what happens in terms of support for me on the night. There’s already been a big demand for tickets and my uncle in Perth will be going to watch the Leeds v Manchester United game over there.
“With both sets of fans, it should make for a really special occasion in the new stadium.”
Family dramas aside, the Wanderers midfielder believes the younger generation may not realise just how big Leeds are as a club.
Born in Mallorca, Spain, O’Doherty is aware two of Leeds’ biggest threats are both Spanish – Pablo Hernandez and Samu Saiz.
“I’ve already had a request for a Hernandez shirt,” he joked.
But there’s no question mum and dad will be united in their support for O’Doherty’s more immediate challenge, tonight’s clash at Victory.
Markus Babbel’s men need a lift after crashing to a 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle Jets last week.
“It will be a good test for us and it’s a chance for us to redeem ourselves (after last weekend’s loss),” O’Doherty said.
“We just need to be a bit more clinical. We respect them (Victory) and they have individual threats like (Keisuke) Honda, but we will work hard as a team to try and pose problems for them.”