Leeds United heroes swap kids parties and baby showers for tram-stopping face-to-face battle

Leeds United promotion winners will swap wholesome reunions at family events for the heated atmosphere of an inter-city derby on Sunday.

For those outside the Steel City, the rivalry between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday is easy to underestimate.

Managers and players who make that mistake and regard it as just another game can quickly discover the error of their ways at the hands of those who grasp the significance.

It's a game that puts co-workers at one another's throats. It temporarily shuts down roads, the city's tram system and even pubs.

Into that fray step two men who became and remain good friends at Thorp Arch after respective free agent deals were concluded over the past week or so.

Liam Cooper's clubless spell came to an end when a long-anticipated move to Sheffield Wednesday was sealed, while Patrick Bamford was snapped up by Sheffield United after a deal with Coventry City was pulled by the club owner.

The veterans won promotion together under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds, where they made a combined 489 appearances.

The sight of them in other clubs' colours will be as strange one for any Whites who tune in ahead of their own club's game against Villa on Sunday as it will for Cooper and Bamford.

But before they do battle, they spoke about their decisions to take different sides in the Sheffield rivalry.

“We’ve stayed pretty close”

"I spoke to him," said Bamford. "Obviously that crop of Leeds lads under Marcelo and through that era, we've stayed pretty close.

“We always see each other at kids parties and baby showers and speak as well. Coops, I knew he was potentially going to join Sheffield Wednesday. When he did I spoke to him, had a chat about it and he was just as excited as I am. The fact that we might face each other on Sunday, it'll be nice. It'll be a good day."

Bamford, who put aside a rivalry of his own with Blades boss Chris Wilder to sign a short-term contract at Bramall Lane, is excited about the prospect of making a debut in one of the club's biggest games of the season.

"You couldn't really ask for a bigger game to be involved in, especially for your first game," he said.

"I'm really excited for it and hopefully it'll be a great game and a great occasion. [Scoring] would be the perfect scenario but obviously if I can help the team in any way and try help us win the game, I'd be just as pleased with that. But if I manage to score it'll be a really great day."