MISFIT MOLENAAR A DUTCH OF CLASS
released by the club and appeared to have put paid to his dream.
He added: “I’m just a kid from a council estate in west London who was playing non-league and fitting windscreens for a living.
“It was real life, so to then end up playing for a club as big as Leeds United was incredible really.
“I knew they had a huge history, but you don’t realise the true extent of it until you become immersed in the Leeds United culture, which I quickly did.
“You soon realise what is demanded from every single Leeds United fan because you become one yourself and it stays with you – I even met my wife in a Leeds nightclub.
“And to then score the goal which got them promoted at a packed Elland Road was the highlight of my career.”
Never afraid to show his affiliation to the Whites, Beckford wore a Leeds jersey and a club tie during appearances on Football Focus and Sky Sports last weekend.
He regularly speaks to Bielsa’s players and has given Patrick Bamford tips on the art of goalscoring.
Beckford said: “I think Bamford will be their main striker in the Premier League.
“A lot of people question him but he’s still scored 16 goals this season and offers so much in terms of his work-rate and positional sense.
“I recently spoke to Patrick about being more selfish with his runs and he ended up scoring in the next game... but he hasn’t thanked me yet!”
PREMIER LEAGUE new boys Leeds will be forever grateful to Robert Molenaar.
The strapping Dutch defender (below) was a cult hero at Elland Road. He cleaned out Emile Heskey on his debut after being described as the “biggest misfit in the club’s history”.
He was signed from FC Volendam, a after turning professional at the late age of
23. Five years later – in 1997 – he was running out at Elland Road against Leicester. He said: “Before I’d even kicked a ball, I had been described as the biggest misfit in the club’s history – it was excruciating. “But in my debut against Leicester I played Heskey out of the game and changed from a misfit into an instant hit. “Joining the club was the best thing that happened to me in my career.”