There will be a coach running to the F.A Cup match against manchester united. The coach is due to leave for 7.45am, but we would like people to be at the coach for 7.30am so we can make sure we go on time.

It’s that time of year when we all look forward to a portly man in a white beard showering us with gifts and goodwill. But sadly Ken Bates can only own one football club at a time.

It’s the time of year when that red-nosed old dear usually comes into his own – however it looks like Fergie’ll struggle this year.

It’s the time of year when we think of nuts roasting on an open fire and thank the Lord we’re not Tiger Woods.

Christmas is for giving. And as I’ve spent 2009 not giving a monkey’s, it’s time I changed my tune.

To Fabio Capello:
Yards and yards of cotton wool – enough to wrap around Wayne Rooney ’til June.

To Dean Ashton:
He’ll be badly missed by all of us who reckoned on him being a cracking international number nine. So I give him a crash course at the Andy Townsend School of Post-Match Punditry…

Day 1 – holding a computer pen.
Day 2 – cliche awareness (obviously at the end of the day it’s a tough one to call but this day is all about giving 200% and it could be make-or-break for many – it’s a big step-up from Day 1, that’s for sure.)
Day 3 – articulating the obvious.
Day 4 – never curbing your enthusiasm.
Day 5 – personal testimonies from Robbie’s Earle and Savage…

To Michael Owen:
A summer fishing holiday. That way he might be able to get at least something in the back of the net come July.

To Roberto Mancini:
The new Man City boss will probably need a stab-proof vest, with extra protective layers in the back.

To Mark Hughes:
Well I’m tempted to tell Santa not to bring him anything, given that he won’t be expecting the sack.

To Paul Hart:
Some Polyfilla… so he can keep filling those gaps.

To Rafa Benitez:
A new bench. With a few scatter cushions maybe. He’s going to need a comfy spot for a long lie-down before very long.

To Everton FC:
A grant to build a new stadium somewhere – and more urgently a grant to turn half the area of the club’s training facilities into a new centre for physiotherapy.

To Dean Richards:
A box-set of the TV series ‘True Blood’

To Chris Hollins:
Well, a long rest. I know it’s called Strictly Come Dancing, but that Ola was a flaming slave driver. On the other hand if you have to pick someone to whip you into shape then hellfire you could do a lot worse.

To Sir Alex Fergsuon:
A visit from the three Wise Men – Messrs Pallister, Stam and Irwin – and their return to the first team pdq. What a horrendous injury list. (Just to reassure you all, that last sentence was not typed with anything approaching a straight face.)

To Arsene Wenger I give:
Wine, wine, wine, wine and more wine.

To Mick McCarthy:
After his team’s righteous victory over Burnley, what can I give him? Well I might just remind him how comprehensively Fulham thrashed United, but apart from that I’ll reward him by keeping my gob shut.

To Thierry Henry:
Some knitting needles and some wool, anything to keep his hands occupied.

To Diego Maradona:
A dinner for two with that !#?*er Gordon !#@?! Ramsay. What a lovely conversation that’ll be.

To Gareth Thomas:
Well a lot of respect – and the hope that certain members of the press aren’t going to start digging around for a load of old cobblers about the bloke. I’ve read various comments by the uninformed that he should’ve come out earlier or never got married when he knew he was gay but if you think it’s that easy then you clearly don’t know owt about professional sport. Good on you, son.

To Andy Murray:
Another British man capable of holding the right end of a tennis racquet so he doesn’t have to haul Team GB through another hapless David Cup tie.

To Jenson Button:
A really dazzling driving outfit so we might still be able to see him in Lewis Hamilton’s shadow. Or maybe vice versa.

To Mike Ashley:
Peace on earth. And in Tyneside too. Oh, and a buyer.

To Uefa:
Some Ikea vouchers. What’s the betting they’ll use ‘em to buy a vast quantity of unnecessary tables that take all year to finish and then they’ll use what’s left over to pay for an almost entirely meaningless Cup.

To David Beckham:
A trip to the local hairdressers. All that money and he still cuts his own hair.

To all the WAGs:
A gag. Hell, we could call it a wag-gag. Anything to keep them out the papers while our lads are in them for the best of reasons in South Africa.

To Ian Bell:
A ruler so he can practise drawing straight lines – and then get his bat in the way if a ball is rolled along it.

To Wayne Rooney:
A first happy Christmas for Colleen and Kai. And a first nappy Christmas for you, lad. It’s time you got your hands dirty, Wazza. All right, carrying and fetching and nursing along a helpless little thing is an onerous burden for anyone, but if you can do it for Man United you can do it for Kai.

And a Merry Christmas to dozy bloggers everywhere!!!

Part One Of This Months Gary’s Memories Is Up, so to read another fantastic blog go to the Gary’s Memories page.

Also, part two will be up sometime on Christmas Day

Leeds City Region’s bid to be a host city at the 2018 World Cup has proved successful.

It was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that if England is successful in its bid to stage the 2018 World Cup, Leeds will be a host city with Elland Road staging matches in the competition.

The news was met with cheers and celebrations by Leeds City Council, Marketing Leeds and Leeds United which have worked together to prepare and submit the bid on behalf of the Leeds City Region.

“We’re delighted,” said Leeds United CEO Shaun Harvey. ”A lot of people have worked very hard for this, and we’re pleased to be named as one of the host cities.

“There’s been a massive amount of work, and during that it has created a close relationship between the club and the council. That’s something we look forward to continuing.

“The key part now is that England’s bid is successfully compiled to FIFA for the World Cup and we’ve got to play our part in that.”

Leeds will now work with the Football Association and the other successful cities to help ensure England’s bid to FIFA is as strong as possible.

Councillor Andrew Carter, the leader of Leeds City Council, said: “This is fantastic news. Leeds would make an ideal World Cup host city and we are now a step closer to making it a reality.

“A very strong bid was submitted to the FA, outlining why Leeds and the Leeds City Region should be part of the World Cup if England is named as the host country. Our proud football heritage, passion for sport and vision to leave a lasting legacy after the tournament makes us a perfect venue to be a host city for the world’s biggest sporting event.

“Hosting matches would put Leeds firmly on the world map and give a multi-million pound boost to the local economy. I would like to thank everybody who has been involved in preparing and submitting the bid and everyone who has voted and given their support. We will now work closely with the FA to ensure England’s bid to be the 2018 World Cup host is as good as it can possibly be.”

Footballing legends – including Norman Hunter, Peter Lorimer and Nigel Martyn – have supported the bid alongside local school children, poets, local knitters and international Olympic delegations to raise awareness of the bid and encourage people to vote for Leeds to be part of the biggest sporting event in the world.

The bid, which was submitted to the FA at Wembley Stadium in November, received support from around the world from former and future World Cup host cities – Dortmund in Germany and Durban in South Africa – as well as Lille in France and Brasov in Romania after both countries’ national teams played group matches in Leeds during Euro 96.

A delegation, led by Councillor Andrew Carter and including Shaun Harvey travelled to London earlier this week for a final one hour presentation to the Football Association on why Leeds’ bid should be successful. The presentation focused on Elland Road, the quality of the city region’s training, hotel and entertainment facilities, the Leeds football pedigree and major events experience.

The host country for 2018 will be announced by FIFA in December 2010.

Leeds United will entertain Carlisle United in the first leg of the Northern Area Final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The tie will take place during the midweek commencing January 18 2010.

The second leg will take place at Brunton Park during the midweek commencing February 15 2010.

The tie is a replica of the Play-Off semi-finals in 2008 when Leeds overcame a first leg deficit to win the tie at Brunton Park.

Ticket details and date confirmation will be available in due course.

It’s December 6th, so that can only mean one thing… it’s the 6th day of the advent calender! so to view which video’s behind today’s window, go to the advent calender, which is on the pages bar below the banner. Remember though, you have to open the previous days windows first!

Day 5 is active on our advent calender, so to see which video it is today, shoot along to the advent calender by following the link on the pages bar at the top of the website.

On Saturday 5th December, Leeds United entertain Huddersfield Town at Elland Road. The game kicks off at 12.15 (police advice) meaning that the Whitby Whites bus will run earlier than normally. The bus will leave Langbourne Road at 8.30am. For more information ring Graeme Smith (01947) 604742.

Day 4 on our advent calender is now active, so to see what’s behind todays window, click the advent calender link on the pages bar at the top of the website.

You can now open day 3′s window. Make sure you open days 1 and 2 first though!