Former Leeds player announces he is gay and quits football

A former Leeds United player has announced he is gay and has decided to quit football. American international Robbie Rogers, 25, told fans on his personal website he ‘couldn’t be happier’ with his decision. Midfielder Rogers, who made nine appearances on loan at League One Stevenage this season, briefly returned to Elland Road in January but left the club by mutual consent later that month. And he today announced his retirement from the game, pointing fans to the blog post on his website through Twitter, where he posted: ‘Just getting some s*** off my chest,’ with a link to his site. On his website, the US international, who has 18 caps for his country and competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, wrote: ‘For the past 25 years I have been afraid, afraid to show whom I really was because of fear. Fear that judgment and rejection would hold me back from my dreams and aspirations.‘Dreams of going to a World Cup, dreams of The Olympics, dreams of making my family proud. ‘Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. ‘I always thought I could hide this secret. Football was my escape, my purpose, my identity. Football hid my secret, gave me more joy than I could have ever imagined… I will always be thankful for my career. ‘Now is my time to step away. It’s time to discover myself away from football. It’s 1 A.M. in London as I write this and I could not be happier with my decision.’ Rogers, who is co-owner of menswear brand Halsey, added he will now concentrate on life outside of football.

Warnock puts Rogers and Pugh on Transfer List

Leeds United manager Neil Warnock has placed Robbie Rogers and Danny Pugh on the transfer list.The boss has said he is looking to move players out in his bid to assist with a move for another striker, and the duo join Billy Paynter, Paul Rachubka, Paul Connolly, and Ramon Nunez in being available for transfer.“You have to look at what you can do,” said Warnock. “We’re looking at forward players and it might be that we have to move one or two on, so we’re going to circulate the names of Robbie Rogers and Pughy on the transfer list.”

Leeds United Squad Numbers Announced

Leeds United have announced the squad numbers for the coming season with six new recruits figuring in the first 11 numbers.Paddy Kenny has been given the number one shirt, Adam Drury wears three, Jason Pearce will wear five, Paul Green gets the number seven shirt, Rodolph Austin will be eight, and Luke Varney has been allocated 11.Tom Lees also steps into the first 11 numbers with the number four shirt while Luciano Becchio retains the number 10.Aidan White will wear 14 for the new season while Andy Gray is 18 and David Norris 19. Michael Brown will wear number 21 this season and Zac Thompson has been given the number 23 shirt.
Ross McCormack will wear his favoured number 44.

1 PADDY KENNY
2 
3 ADAM DRURY 
4 TOM LEES 
5 JASON PEARCE 
6 
7 PAUL GREEN 
8 RODOLPH AUSTIN 
9 
10 LUCIANO BECCHIO 
11 LUKE VARNEY 
12 JAMIE ASHDOWN 
13 
14 AIDAN WHITE 
15 
16 DANNY PUGH 
17 
18 ANDY GRAY 
19 DAVID NORRIS 
20 
21 MICHAEL BROWN 
22 ROBBIE ROGERS 
23 ZAC THOMPSON
24 PAUL CONNOLLY
44 ROSS McCORMACK

Late Late Winner Seals Points for Leeds(again)

New Leeds United manager Neil Warnock met the players for the first time before the game and was sat in the stand watching as Neil Redfearn took charge of the team for the last time. Doncaster kicked off with 10 men after Pascal Chimbonda was sent back to the dressing room to remove an earring.Leeds started well, the recalled Andros Townsend initiating one early raid, but it was Doncaster who had the first chance when Habib Bamogo hit the post with a header. Leeds came forward, Luciano Becchio put the ball over the top after a good ball from Adam Clayton.It was an untidy opening half hour with neither side really taking a grip on the game and chances being at a premium. Robert Snodgrass created one opportunity for Clayton, but the midfielder's shot was charged down.And it was Doncaster who took the lead on 31 minutes when Andy Lonergan made a good block from James Hayter and the ball fell to Mamadou Bagayoko who drilled it home into an empty net.United actually came close to an equaliser on 37 minutes when Chimbonda almost headed a free-kick into his own goal.But it was the visitors who should have gone further ahead early in the second half when Hayter found space to get in a powerful strike on goal - but his effort struck the bar and bounced to safety.
Almost immediately, United responded and Becchio headed an Alex Bruce cross just over the top.
But Doncaster were 2-0 up on 52 minutes when they again found plenty of space and Bagayoko converted from close range after good work by El Hadj Diouf.

United pulled one back within less than two minutes, though, when Andros Townsend levelled with a good low strike from just inside the box.Townsend went close again shortly after the hour when he tried his luck from distance with a shot that flew wide of the mark. And the on loan Tottenham midfielder also provided Becchio with an inviting cross, but his header was saved by David Button.United had built up a good head of steam now and were pushing forward in search of a leveller. Ross McCormack was next to be denied by the Doncaster goalkeeper as he looked to take the ball around Button.Robbie Rogers was introduced with 12 minutes to go, but it was Snodgrass who created the next chance with another good delivery for Becchio.
But Leeds were level with 10 minutes left when Clayton got on the end of a good ball in from Snodgrass and scored with a sweet strike to make it 2-2.
With the impetus firmly with United, Doncaster looked to slow things down and hold on to the point. As the game hit the 90-minute mark, and the fourth official displayed five minutes of added time, there was a lengthy and worrying stoppage after Rogers and Tommy Spurr had a clash of heads and both were stretchered off.
Play eventually resumed almost six minutes later, and in the 99th minute it was the Leeds who were celebrating when Becchio latched on to a loose ball to smash it home from just inside the box to settle the points.While police reinforcements were seen sprinting into the tunnel after the game following a huge altercation between players from both sides.

Leeds Land Rogers

Leeds United have reached an agreement for United States international Robbie Rogers and are now waiting on a work permit.The 24-year-old winger caught the Whites' eye during a recent trial and has now been offered the opportunity to further his career in England.Rogers was most recently on the books of MLS side Colombus Crew, with over 100 appearances made for the club during a four-year spell.He is, however, eager to test himself in Europe and is hoping the relevant paperwork will be processed without a hitch.Leeds boss Simon Grayson believes Rogers could prove to be a shrewd acquisition for the club, with the Whites prepared to throw him straight into the first-team picture at Elland Road."We're delighted to have agreed a deal with Robbie," he told the club's official website.

"He's been training with us and he came to (the FA Cup game at) Arsenal to get a feel of the group.

"He has been playing in the MLS where he has done well, he wants to continue his career in Europe, and we believe he will make an impact here.

"As soon as the work permit business is complete he will be an immediate part of our plans and have an opportunity with the first team."