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 Grella Signs His Sig' |
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Description:
Mike Grella United's American striker signs his name for a United fan here before the League One game with Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium on the 29th August, 2009. Grella was an unused substitute in the game against the U's.
New Yorker Mike Grella an American International at under 18 and under 20 level joined Leeds United on February 2nd, 2009 after impressing manager Simon Grayson while on trial with the club. Grella who has Italian heritage initially signed up till the end of the 2009-10 season but that was soon extended in the Summer in a new three year deal after good showings in the reserves and the 11 occasions when he was pulled off the bench to show for the first team. Grella scored a hat-trick in his first reserve outing against Barnsley and followed that with two in the next match against Grimsby. Grella went on to impress in United's pre-season matches scoring his first senior goal for the club in the 2-1 friendly win away at Burnley. Just two days before Grella extended his contract on August 12th, 2009 he picked up the Man of the Match award in the Football League Cup game with Darlington. "I'm absolutely delighted to have signed the deal. The dream when I came here was to sign a pro contract, It is good to know that the club have instilled a bit of belief and confidence in me. I want to be part of the group and play as big a part as I possibly can in getting Leeds promoted so we'll have to wait to see how it plays out. I am sure the goals will come for me..." United were looking to make it seven straight wins in a row at the Weston Homes Community Stadium which if achieved would equal the record set by Don Revie's men at the start of the 1973-74 season. Luciano Becchio returned for the Whites and it was Leeds who had the best of the first half with Jermaine Beckford netting for Leeds twice only to be denied both times by the linesman's flag. It was just 90 seconds into the second half when United finally broke the deadlock with Bradley Johnson heading home from a Robert Snodgrass free-kick. This pushed the home side out and Colchester came close to the equaliser almost immediately but United goalkeeper Shane Higgs made a terrific save to keep the advantage safe. Ten minutes later, after Rui Marques was adjudged to have made a foul on a Colchester striker, the U's equalised from the spot. United kept their cool in a high tension game and it was Jermaine Beckford who fired United back into the lead with a shot from within the box. United kept it tight at the back for the remainder of the game landing three points for the Whites on their travels and handing Simon Grayson's men a place in the history books as they achieved the seven game record which had stood for over 35 years. 8,810 supporter's were at the Weston Homes for the match with a large contingent for the men in yellow with the travelling United Army taking over just under two stands in the ground. Leeds United: Higgs, Crowe, Kisnorbo, Marques, Doyle, Howson, Johnson, Hughes, Beckford, Becchio, Sodgrass. Subs: Prutton for Snodgrass, Michalik for Marques, Showunmi for Becchio. Thanks to Colin Callow for this great pic. Submitted: 09/10/09 (Edited 09/10/09) Views: 257 Tags: Rate this image:
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