‘I remember’… James Milner shares what his Dad told him about Leeds that has ‘unfortunately’ since come true

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James Milner has unfortunately never returned to Leeds United since leaving all the way back in 2004.

Having been born in Leeds, supporting the club and progressing through the academy, Milner went onto make 53 appearances for the Whites before being sold to Newcastle United due to the club’s financial issues.

Milner has frequently spoken fondly of his time at Leeds, sharing the feeling of his first goal for the club, as well as some stories of when he first broke through into the senior setup.

However, speaking on episode of Football’s Greatest with Jeff Stelling, Milner has now opened up on a story from his childhood about supporting Leeds in the 1990s.

Milner says he has memories of when Leeds lifted the last ever Division One title back in 1992, sharing what his Dad told him at that exact moment, which has since proven true.

Milner shares what his Dad told him after Leeds won Division One

He said: “I remember my first game was when Leeds won the Youth Cup against Manchester United, I think it was 91. It was at a sold out Elland Road, stood on the Kop.

“And then I remember Leeds winning the league title and my Dad jumping round the living room with me in his arms and him saying ‘enjoy this, it might never happen again in your lifetime’ and unfortunately he’s been right. From that point we had a season ticket and I signed for the academy when I was 10.”

The closest Leeds ever came to repeating that feat was during the early 2000s when Milner will have been playing in the academy. However, his sale at such a young age is evidence of why Leeds were unable to win another top division title, as crippling financial issues saw them fall into League One.

It would have been nice if Milner was able to return to Leeds over the past three years following their return to the Premier League, but he was still playing at such a high level with Liverpool.

Leeds had interest in the summer but relegation, as well as the fact it came too late, meant he signed for Brighton instead.