Why I love...Leeds

Following his disappointing exit from snooker's world championships, Paul Hunter tells BBC Sport Online's Chris Charles he is hoping Leeds United can provide him with a consolation prize.

Paul Hunter is snooker's young pretender. Already the winner of the B&H Masters, he is tipped for great things.

Unfortunately for him and his army of followers, things didn't go quite to plan at this year's world championships.

Pitted against seven-times champion Stephen Hendry in the second round, he never got to grips with the match and was humbled 13-5.

I was quite a decent footballer when I was eight or nine

  Paul Hunter

The only consolation for the 22-year-old Leeds boy is that he can now go to Elland Road to watch the first leg of the Champions League semi-final with Valencia on Wednesday.

"I've been invited back for the semi-final, but I was hoping I'd still be in action at Sheffield," he admits.

"So far this season I've been lucky enough to get to quite a few games, including the last three Champions League matches - and what a season it's been!"

So with all the excitement generated at Elland Road this season, does he ever wish he'd chosen to take up football rather than snooker?

Table

"No, not really. I was quite a decent footballer when I was eight or nine and all my mates were into playing it.

"But by the time I reached 10 I knew what I wanted to do.

"I used to watch snooker on TV and I had my own little table from the age of three.

"I still liked football, but I wanted to concentrate all my efforts on snooker."

Hunter explains his fondness for his hometown football club came from his family.

"My cousins got me into it and the rest of my family were all big fans as well.

Harry Kewell is Hunter's favourite player

"Because of that I've always liked them, but I probably only started properly supporting them over the last year or two."

It comes as no surprise that Hunter's favourite player is Harry Kewell.

Like the snooker ace, the Australian superstar is young, gifted and tipped to reach the very top of his profession.

"I'm a big of fan of Kewell," he says. "Now he's getting his fitness, I hope he can take Leeds all the way to the final - and I'll be there to watch it!"