Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa spotted in the queue for Betty's in Harrogate

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa was spotted in the queue for Betty's in Harrogate yesterday.
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The flagship Bettys branch on Parliament Street in Harrogate re-opened on Monday June 22.

Marcelo Bielsa has been spotted by eager fans across Yorkshire - often seen drinking in Costa coffee preparing for matchdays.

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Fans take to social media to share pictures with the extremely popular manager, who is praised for his interaction with families and supporters.

Leeds United manager ...Marcelo Bielsa in the queue for Betty's in Harrogate....Picture Gerard BinksLeeds United manager ...Marcelo Bielsa in the queue for Betty's in Harrogate....Picture Gerard Binks
Leeds United manager ...Marcelo Bielsa in the queue for Betty's in Harrogate....Picture Gerard Binks

The Whites' coach, who guided Leeds back to the Premier League after 16 years, is well-known for his obsessive attention to detail and rigorous analysis of opponents' matches.

However, Bielsa was spotted queuing for Betty's Tea Rooms in Harrogate yesterday in a brief break from his intensive studies during international fixtures.

Based in Harrogate, Bettys & Taylors consists of six Bettys Café Tea Rooms, Bettys Craft Bakery, Bettys Cookery School, Bettys mail order service and tea and coffee merchants, Taylors of Harrogate. Taylors of Harrogate produces Yorkshire Tea, a range of fresh ground coffees and speciality teas.

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Bettys & Taylors is now into its fourth generation of family shareholders.

Leeds United manager ...Marcelo Bielsa in the queue for Betty's in Harrogate....Picture Gerard BinksLeeds United manager ...Marcelo Bielsa in the queue for Betty's in Harrogate....Picture Gerard Binks
Leeds United manager ...Marcelo Bielsa in the queue for Betty's in Harrogate....Picture Gerard Binks

It was founded in 1919 by Frederick Belmont. He had been orphaned at five and travelled around Europe learning the arts of confectionery and baking. He eventually settled in Yorkshire where he opened the first Harrogate tea room.

In 1962, the Bettys business acquired C. E Taylors and Co, a Leeds-based tea and coffee merchants.

Rather than a single chief executive, the business has a collaborative CEO team modelling an approach to peer-based working and distributed leadership.

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In celebration of its landmark official birthday date on July 17 2019, the family business recognised the contribution of staff towards the long-term success of Bettys & Taylors with a special one-off centenary bonus of £500 for each one of the 1,450 people employed by the group, irrespective of length of service or performance.

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa was also spotted watching football on his laptop on a bus from Leeds city centre to Elland Road in August.The Argentinian is a God-like figure to many Leeds fans, as seen on this mural painted of him in the style of Christ the Redeemer in Wortley.

But he is known too for his frugal lifestyle - living above a shop in Wetherby and walking daily to the club's Thorp Arch training ground.

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Thank you

Laura Collins