Leeds United fan Moyles pays tribute to retiring NI footballer Dallas
LEEDS United fan and radio presenter Chris Moyles has thanked Stuart Dallas for everything he did for the Championship club after the footballer announced his retirement last week.
Northern Ireland international Dallas was forced to quit the game at the age of 32 after suffering a serious injury while playing for Leeds against Manchester City in April 2022. The Cookstown-born midfielder has not played football since the horror injury.
Dallas was capped 62 times by Northern Ireland and was a hero for club and country.
After signing for Leeds United in 2015 from Brentford for £1.3m, he made 248 appearances for the Yorkshire club, scoring 25 goals.
Dallas became an integral part of Marcelo Bielsa’s exciting Leeds side that went on to win the Championship in 2020 and gain promotion to the Premier League.
Speaking on his breakfast show on Radio X yesterday, Moyles said he was always a “big fan” of Dallas, who “always put in 110%”.
Leeds fans also paid tribute to Dallas on Saturday during the club’s home defeat to Blackburn Rovers, which Moyles said was “very emotional”.
“He [sustained] a horrible injury,” Moyles said.
“He’s just not back to full playing fitness, from what I believe, and he’s gone: ‘You know what? That’s time then. Thanks very much, everyone.
“It was a very emotional exit. He was at the game at the weekend and everyone started singing and chanting his name, which I thought was lovely.
“I know he’s a big fan of the Chris Moyles Show, so if he is listening or if this gets back to him, thank you, Stuart Dallas. Bless you for everything you have done for our little team.”
Speaking on Saturday, Dallas revealed he has had discussions with Leeds about staying on with the club in some capacity.
He also said it was a “bit of a relief” to finally announce he was walking away from football, although found it difficult to tell his team-mates: “It’s been very emotional... I tried not to make eye contact with them because it was going to set me off again.”