A COMMUNITY SPIRIT LEEDS TO STRONGER SIDE

ILIA GRUEV is sitting, holding the hand of Barry Thornton, an 88-year-old Leeds United fan who is wearing the Bulgaria midfielder's football boots.

- BY NEIL SQUIRES

Barry, who has a learning disability, has turned his room at the supported-living accommodation in the east of the city where he lives into a shrine to his beloved club.

Gruev, an ambassador for the Community Integrated Care charity, has just finished training and is on a visit bearing gifts to add to his collection.

Later, he will travel to another of the organisation's homes to present Leslie Swithenbank, another devotee of the club, with a Leeds jigsaw and to spend time helping him with it.