Gary Kelly and his team mates celebrated his reaching the 500 game milestone with a 2-1 home win over early season pace-setters Luton Town. Mike Newell's Hatters are mid-table now but the win was even more important as it kept alive hopes of United's promotion from the Championship. Although Watford scored a late winner against Ridsdale's Cardiff, Warnock's Blades continue their mid-season wobble with a 2-3 home defeat to QPR.
Gary Kelly and Leeds United are now eight points behind the Blades, who are in second place, with a game in hand. United meet Sheffield United on April 18. It is hard to believe that a clash of the two Uniteds could be even more charged than usual but it is definitely looking that way.
Before the game against Luton kicked off, Gary was presented with a glass vase to commemorate his remarkable modern day record of 500 games for the Whites. He is tenth in the all-time Leeds united appearances list, but aged just 31 he has the potential to push on towards a top five position. All the others in the list are Revie men. Such a display of loyalty is rare in the modern game and it is unlikely that Kelly's record will be matched by a modern-day footballer.
Kevin Blackwell said of Kelly, "Not many players reach that milestone. What a fantastic servant to the club."
