Former Premier League striker Grant Holt has revealed that playing against Leeds United with Norwich City was the 'first time he nearly cried on a pitch' as he was flooded with memories of his late father.
The 41-year-old, who currently works as a scout for relegation rivals West Ham, grew up in Carlisle but was always affiliated with the Whites as a kid due to his father supporting them.
"I remember playing against Leeds for the very first time, and he was a massive Leeds fan," Holt recalled at a talk with a bereavement charity called Take Our Hand.
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"In our house growing up, Match of the Day was the only time we could watch football so if he had had six pints and Leeds won, he'd be singing 'Marching On Together' all the way down our street.
"He'd come home, stick Match of the Day on, and sing it all the way through. So the first time we ever played them, to walk into Elland Road was really emotional because him not being able to see it... you walk into the stadium hearing them singing and I'm thinking, 'Oh god!'
"It was the first time I've ever nearly cried on a pitch, it was just really weird because I wish he had seen it. We actually got beaten as well!"
Holt then admitted to singing along with the Leeds fans despite playing for the opposition, something he thinks probably confused a lot of them.
"That's the thing about grief, I suppose. As it gets further on, you understand that that was the emotion then. Being in front of that stand, them singing that song.
"Fast forward two years later, I'm at the same stadium and I'm freaking the Leeds fans out because I'm singing the song with them! I've gone through that process and actually realised that he would've loved to see me stand on this pitch."
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