The mum of a young Leeds United fan who fell from a tree during the promotion parade has issued an update on his injuries.
Stacey Barker has posted a statement on social media after her son Edward sadly fell from a tree in Millennium Square during the Leeds United promotion parade this Monday 5 May.
Stacey wrote: "Some of you may already know that my oldest son was injured in the Leeds United victory parade on Bank Holiday Monday. For those that don’t, this is to clear some things up.
"I have tried to keep this within the family, as this is obviously extremely distressing for all of us, and I’ve tried to control who knows what out of respect for my son and also my other 3 children. However, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that this isn’t going to be something we can keep quiet for long at all and I don’t want any further untruths circulated regarding my son.
"At some point during the winners parade yesterday, for reasons only Edward knows of, he decided to climb a tree lining the procession in Leeds city centre. As far as I am aware, he had consumed alcohol but I am confident he wasn’t paralytic as some posts are suggesting. I am also as confident as a mother can be that no other substance was involved. Edward enjoys a drink but I have NEVER had any reason to suspect ANY drug use where he was concerned. Ever.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
"At some point during the victory celebrations, my son has fallen from this tree, where he was sat at a significant height hitting the concrete below him and, as a result, he has sustained serious, life threatening injuries. He was taken to LGI immediately, in a critical condition, where we joined him around 50 minutes later. His injuries are extensive and, over 24 hours later, he remains in a coma.
"To further clarify, he has done nothing any other young lad hasn’t in their lifetime. He climbed a tree, he’d had a few bottles, he was high on nothing but life and he’s been incredibly unlucky. Unfortunately, it was a freak accident that is likely to affect him, and all of us, whatever the outcome, for many years to come."
She added: "I appreciate people are worried about him and are clutching at any information they may have heard but, as it stands, this is the situation first hand. I can’t reply to messages individually, my priorities right now are my Son and my other children. For those who have simply messaged to say they’re thinking of him, that they are praying for him, thank you. He needs all the prayers and luck in the world right now, we all do.
"I’m hoping he shows the same resilience, the same strength, the same character we’ve all come to know and love him for in the coming days/weeks and months ahead."
We wish Edward a speedy recovery, and send our heartfelt wishes to Stacey and her family.
The Reliance, a much missed North Street site, is being brought back to life as The Smithfield.
The Smithfield is set to be a new social eatery and pub focused on seasonal, produce-led dining.
Set to open its doors to the people of Leeds in early April, The Smithfield will pay homage to the local area through both its produce and people.
The venue will focus on proper plates of seasonal ingredients, pairing a relaxed dining style with a strong sense of community. Sounds pretty brilliant if you ask us.
Building on the legacy of North Street, The Smithfield is a collaborative project between Yorkshire brewery Crooked Brewing and chef James Donovan.
Images: Supplied
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, has long admired The Reliance and want to build on its established legacy.
“What The Reliance was doing was cutting edge for its time,” says Donovan. “We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026. Our aim is to pick up the culinary torch that The Reliance left behind and continue its legacy of great food in Leeds,” adds Dawson.
The Smithfield takes its name from Church Street’s historic connection to the Smithfield cattle market of the early 1800s, once located on what is now Lovell Park.
“We really want the people around us to feel that The Smithfield is their space,” says Dawson. “We want to give them a place at our table.”
We'll keep you updated with an opening date as and when we know, but we're very excited indeed.
Jungle are back and have announced a huge Leeds gig for later this year
Daisy Jackson
Modern funk and soul band Jungle are officially heading back to Leeds.
The Mercury Prize-nominated group will be performing at the First Direct Bank Arena this November, following their blistering summer on the festival circuit last year.
They'll be heading to Leeds on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Jungle was formed back in 2013 by producers and friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland.
While they technically worked as a duo for years (until 2023, when touring member Lydia Kitto became an official member of the band), Jungle are known for their huge live performances.
They always fill stages with musicians and vocalists, for incredible funk n soul live shows.
The bands huge hits include Back on 74, Casio, and Busy Earnin’, from four top-10 albums including 2023’s groundbreaking Volcano.
The upcoming Leeds date forms part of the band’s upcoming world tour, which arrives in the UK in November 2026 following a string of international performances across Europe, North America, and beyond.
Fans can expect a setlist jam packed with standout tracks, including fan favourites such as ‘Volcano’ and ‘Back On 74’ and newer material from their upcoming album ‘Sunshine’, released on 14 August that continues to push the band’s signature sound forward.
With over 3.4 billion streams to their name, Jungle’s Leeds show is set to be one of the hottest tickets of 2026 so we wouldn't mess about if we were you.
Tickets for Jungle in Manchester will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 27 March, with pre-sale from 10am on Thursday 26 March.
Clementine Hall -
8th May 2025 
