Leeds United hero Luke Ayling's emotional message after Middlesbrough play-off heartbreak | OneFootball

Leeds United promotion hero Luke Ayling delivered an emotional end-of-season message after Middlesbrough’s play-off heartbreak.

Boro lost their semi-final to Southampton, then were reinstated when the Saints were expelled for spying on opponents days before a planned Wembley meeting with Hull City. The player said in a post that he had fallen back in love with football over the campaign.

Ayling and Boro reached the final against Hull, facing Leeds loanee Joe Gelhardt. An added-time goal from Oli McBurnie sealed promotion for Hull, and Boro became the first team to lose a Championship play-off semi-final and final in the same season.

Gutted with the finish, he felt the squad had given everything from the first day of pre-season to the last whistle at Wembley, and that they will be back to fight for promotion. He thanked supporters and described rediscovering his joy every time he crossed the white line.

Ayling played 40 of 46 regular-season games and featured in all three play-off fixtures. His 43 league appearances were his most in a single campaign since 2014/15 with Bristol City.

Now 34, he has completed a second full season at the Riverside after a permanent move in summer 2024, following a 2023/24 loan. He spent eight years at Elland Road from 2016, losing a semi-final to Derby under Marcelo Bielsa, then winning the 2019/20 title to end a 16-year wait. He played all 38 games as Leeds finished ninth and made 268 appearances before falling out of favour under Daniel Farke.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk