David Healy has revealed that feeling ‘helpless’ as Leeds United surrendered the 2006 play-off final was one of his low moments during his spell at Elland Road.

Leeds have been out of the Premier League since the year 2004, but could’ve returned within just two seasons, after coming past Preston North End to reach the 2006 play-off final.

However, there, Kevin Blackwell’s side were well beaten by Watford, who progressed into the Premier League on the back of a 3-0 victory.

For Healy, he didn’t fit the system Blackwell was looking to operate with (4-5-1), whilst a defensive-minded victory over Preston in the semi-finals led to Blackwell naming the same line-up in Cardiff for the final.

Healy had scored goals fairly consistently over his spell at Leeds up until that point, but wasn’t introduced in the play-off final until the 62^nd minute, when the game was all-but gone.

As Healy reflected on his Leeds career with the Yorkshire Evening Post, the pain of his limited role in the biggest game of Leeds’ time out of the Premier League is clear. 

He said: “The disappointing thing for me was having contributed quite a bit through the season, scoring a few goals, playing out of position a little bit, when we finally got to the naming of the team we kept the same personnel that won at Preston. 

“It wasn’t, in my eyes, one of those games we didn’t need to be defensive minded. I don’t think it was a 3-0 scoreline, there were a couple of freaky incidents and goals, but we didn’t give ourselves the best chance. I didn’t start. He brought Robbie Blake on at half-time, I came on with 20, 25 minutes to go. 

“I always remember at half-time, I could see thousands and thousands of Leeds supporters and I looked up, I knew where my family were sat and just put my hands out as if to say ‘what else can I do here?’

“We were getting beaten in the play-off final, I’m on the bench. When I went to Leeds I went to help Leeds get promoted, I just felt a bit helpless. 

“When I came on we were 2-0 down, chasing the game and it was basically a lost cause. I have huge, huge regrets over not playing a part in that final. 

“I’m not saying if I’d played or if Robbie (Blake) had played it would have been different, I understand now managers have difficult decisions, I just felt and still feel now we got it wrong. 

“It’s basically the closest Leeds have come to getting back in. If we had got back in, Leeds probably would still be in the Premier League.”

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Leeds haven’t come closer to returning to the Premier League since the 2005/06 season, with Healy eventually moving on in 2007 as the club slipped into the third-tier of English football.

Fast-forward to 2020 and Leeds are top of the Championship table, nine games away from completing the feat Healy’s side missed out on.

The Verdict

Healy was a great player for Leeds, but, ultimately, he and his peers delivered one of the most below-par play-off final performances in memory.

Leeds weren’t at the races and despite a few good moments, they were well beaten by a better Watford side.

The pain of not playing a part still haunts Healy, clearly, as he would’ve gone down in Elland Road folklore had he helped the club return.

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