Edwards - No glossing over it: how football cheated Leeds United

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Epub ISBN: 9781780571461

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Copyright Gary Edwards, 2011

All rights reserved

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

First published in Great Britain in 2011 by

MAINSTREAM PUBLISHING COMPANY

(EDINBURGH) LTD

7 Albany Street

Edinburgh EH1 3UG

ISBN 9781845967826

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The author has made every effort to clear all copyright permissions, but where this has not been possible and amendments are required, the publisher will be pleased to make any necessary arrangements at the earliest opportunity.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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About the Author

Gary Edwards is the author of two football-related memoirs, Paint It White: Following Leeds Everywhere and Leeds United: The Second Coat, and is a columnist for the clubs match-day programmes. Paint It White was recently made into a stage play and, after a sold-out three-week run in Leeds, it will be touring nationwide in autumn 2011.

To Vicky, Ste and Charlie, and to Wub

Each Dog Has Its Day

Time slides by like grains of sand

And each contains a thousand tears

And each grain holds a thousand dreams

And each grain holds a thousand fears

That multiply throughout the years

But Lady Luck is just a whore

Who lazes languid in her bed

Who turns each card to seal our fate

Who lets strange thoughts creep through our heads

Whilst all the time weve been misled

Truth is scarce when times are lean

And weve been starved for decades past

And weve been dragged right through the mire

And weve been cheated, left aghast

A two-horse race where we came last

The names all conjure memories

Like Paris, Tinkler, Sunderland

Like Cardiff, Wembley, Munich too

Like Christos Michas, AC Milan

Lets not forget Kitabdjian

But LEEDS UNITED sing the fans

As old school ties still bar our way

As honours boards dont bear our name

As dodgy refs are led astray

Remember, each dog has its day

Gary Kaye, poet and folk singer

Acknowledgements

Duncan Revie is fiercely protective and rightly proud of his dads reputation. When I contacted him regarding this book, he was understandably guarded in his response. As we chatted and I told him the rough outline of the book, I mentioned my contempt for many journalists (and referees) who openly hate Leeds United, in particular Richard Stott and more recently Patrick Collins of the Mail on Sunday. My forceful defence of Leeds struck a chord and Duncan interrupted me. Gary, he said, you can have anything you want. I am grateful for all his input, and to his staff at Soccerex, in particular Gina Mazzarelli, Duncans PA, for keeping me in contact with an extremely busy man. Special thanks go also to Dave Junior Cocker, the great Les Cockers son, whose recollections, insights and memories were invaluable.

I would like to thank Tony Peart for his priceless assistance a massive contribution. Once again, Neil Jeffries guidance was pivotal. Many thanks to all the referees who responded to my requests with some absolutely brilliant stories. Of course, Im indebted to the many members of Don Revies legendary team who have generously contributed and to the coach driver of those crown jewels, Jim Lister. Huge thanks also to Gary Kaye, Rob Endeacott, David Peace, Paul Dews, Phil Hay, Paul Robinson, Steve Riding, Andrew Varley, Jeff Verrill, Alan Osborne, Sandra King, Trevor Cusack, Andy Starmore, Mick Hewitt, Mike Stoddart, Roger Furnandiz, Dick Skellington, Hamish Boyle, Glynn Snodin, Rod Johnson, Nigel Davey, Mike OGrady, Peter Lorimer, Duncan McKenzie, John Sheridan, Steve Riding, Richard Sutcliffe, Brendan Ormsby, Jim Cadman, Graham Ibbeson, Stu Wheatman and Damian Taylor, and a special mention to Eddie Gray.

This is a must-read book that investigates the many injustices suffered by Leeds United over the past 40-odd years. It also examines the adverse publicity suffered by our manager Don Revie, which continues to this day, and asks if it is really a true reflection of a very misunderstood man.

Some people would say that Leeds fans are paranoid, but what is said in this book is totally justified. Over the years, victories in European finals and crucial league and cup games have been snatched from Leeds as a result of controversial decisions, and its all recounted here. Leeds United have a phenomenal network of fans worldwide, and I strongly believe that these travesties suffered by Leeds United are one of the reasons for the loyalty of their support.

The author is a lifelong Leeds fan and, as you read the book, you will witness his unswerving passion for the club. Whether you agree with him or not, he and other Leeds fans are in no way looking for sympathy from outside the club; they just want a chance to put the record straight on a few things.

Don Revie built this club up from nothing. He had a vision, which many, including some of the players, mocked at the time, of turning Leeds United into one of the best teams in Europe. You will read how he achieved that 100 per cent and about why all the players who ever worked for the Gaffer will tell you without hesitation that he was the greatest manager they ever played for.

Enjoy the read.

Eddie Gray

1. An Unfair Game

At just after 7 a.m. on Saturday, 29 April 1967, I climbed aboard a battered old sky-blue Ford Transit minibus. At 11 years old, I was easily the youngest passenger amongst my dad and 11 other blokes, most of them smoking heavily, coughing, spluttering, belching and farting. I remember hearing the birds singing and watching a pale sun just starting to poke its head above the horizon, and as I looked at the driver I noticed he was wearing spectacles with the thickest lenses you would ever see. He wheezed as he leaned over the steering wheel and wiped his windscreen. I secretly prayed that the sun wouldnt come out just yet, as I was sure that its rays shining through those thick lenses would burn his eyes out in an instant. Not that it would have made much difference; I quickly found out that a bat had better eyesight than Mr Toes, and we spent more time on the pavements than on the road.

Even at that tender age, I knew the importance of the football match we were travelling to: it was the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park between Leeds United and Chelsea. On the bus that morning with Dad and me was Mr Jim King, who used to follow Leeds home and away. Mr King had moved down to Leeds from the Durham area in the 1950s, seeking work down the Yorkshire mines, and he had quickly adopted Leeds United as his team. His two sons were Leeds fans, too. The elder, Melvyn, later accompanied me on many trips around the country. The younger son, Malcolm, began life as a Man City fan, purely because of a TV programme called