Just as a reminder, I uncovered this little gem from the BBC archives. I haven't laughed so much at a story for quite some time.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/713512.stm
Obviously, as a Leeds fan, that article resonates with me more than most. And laughter is understandable if you don't know the background, how he really was, and probably is, a good man who completely lost track of reality.
I remember those dark days of Istanbul. To this day the murdering scum have been protected by the backward system that exists in a country I will probably never visit because of its attitude to unprovoked murder.
Ridsdale brought an air of decorum, of self respect, to a situation which could have exploded. He will always have my utmost respect for that that cannot be diminished by what subsequently happened.
The fact that he had a gobby manager in O'Leary who is and was so poor it's unbelievable, but who happened to stumble across a youth set up that was equalled only by that at Old Trafford, sealed the deal. He let his heart rule his head. He lost track of reality and then, as it all fell around him, he went into denial mode.
So yes, there are two totally differing memories of Ridsdale. The fan's chairman who cared but didn't know when to say no. And the modern version which denies the havoc he preside over, that took us to League One, and most importantly allowed Ken Bates to get in a door he should never have got within 200 miles of.
But it's not funny. Not to those who know, anyway.
Farnley/Pudsey Leeds
40m asl