Leeds United are making a rare move to the training ground ahead of the historic final at Wembley

Wembley doesn’t host Leeds United every year, or even every five years for that matter. It remains hallowed ground for whites that has only been visited once in the last 30 years. It’s a big deal.

Preparations began on Thursday night after Norwich’s demolition and only intensified once it became clear that Southampton would be their opponents on Friday night. It was a few days of rest for the players, but training resumed at the weekend.

A double session was held around a media function on Monday which summarized the efforts made to ensure that the occasion is marked. Press conferences are a regular, vital crutch to the work week, and player meetings are held from time to time, but mass invitations like Monday’s are rare.

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LUTV, Sky Sports, BBC, Talksport, ITV, regional and national media gathered on the covered pitch at Thorp Arch, waiting for the players on break between sessions. There were even representatives from the British Heart Foundation there to do CPR training with Sam Byram and Junior Firpo as part of their Every Minute Matters campaign.

The club recognizes that this is an important week in its recent history and has taken steps to ensure that as many supporters as possible can watch, listen and read the thoughts of the players over the coming days. It was heartening to see such access and organization on such a scale.

The players also seemed too willing to jump in with both feet. Patrick Bamford was prompt in wrapping up his allotted session before some members of the media turned up, while captain Liam Cooper was one of the early ones to set the tone.

Although he didn’t play as much as he would have liked, Cooper remained a man in demand for the assembled journalists, looking to hear from the senior voice in the dressing room. The captain, Ilia Gruev, Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter, Junior Firpo and Illan Meslier cut relaxed faces as they strolled around the infield, exchanging pleasantries and making small talk with the waiting journalists.

The excitement for the game was clear. Wilfried Gnonto even admitted that he wants training to be over so he can put his boots on the pitch under the arch.

In the end, there were 14 players made available to preview this monumental match. It was an event that set the tone for Sunday and gave the players a crucial voice in front of what will be the biggest crowd some of them have ever played with.