Now we’ve all heard of the novel and film adaptation of Brian Clough’s unsuccessful 44-day tenure as Leeds United manager in 1974, entitled ‘The Damned United’. But just who were ‘The Damned United’? And where are they now?
Goalkeeper: David Harvey
The Scotsman went on to make 354 appearances for Leeds in two spells at the club. Harvey turned professional at the club as a 17-year-old and went on to make his debut at the same age. He has played under three of his former teammates – Allan Clarke, Eddie Gray and Billy Bremner; statically he is Scotland’s most successful post-war goalkeeper. He currently works as a farmer and a postman on Sanday in the Orkney Islands.
Right Back: Paul Reaney
Reaney played for 15 years at Leeds making 745 appearances, before moving on to Bradford City and the Australian team Newcastle KB United. During his peak years he was known as the only player who was able to mark George Best out of a game, which the great man acknowledged himself. Leeds fans remember Reaney for his crossing ability, surging runs and goal-line clearances. Today Reaney can found running coaching sessions for kids at Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk.
Centre Back: Gordon McQueen
McQueen played in 140 games for Leeds United before making the controversial switch to Manchester United where he claimed that ‘99% of players want to play for Manchester United and the rest are liars.’ He now currently works as an assistant scout for Middlesbrough and is an occasional pundit on Sky Sports.
Centre Back: Norman Hunter
Nicknamed ‘Bite Yer Legs’ Hunter, for his strong tackling-ability, Norman Hunter was arguably one of the greatest defenders to ever play for Leeds. He became the first ever winner of the PFA Players’ Player Of The Year award, receiving it at the end of the 1973-74 season. After retiring in 1982 he tried his hand at management with Barnsley, Rotherham and Leeds on a caretaker basis. Now Hunter works as summariser for Leeds games for BBC Radio Leeds and Yorkshire Radio where he has held the job since 1993.
Left Back: Trevor Cherry
Cherry played over 350 games for Leeds and was capped 27 times by England. He was voted the 30th best ever Leeds player by the fans. Interestingly to this day he still remains the only England player to be sent off during a friendly match against Argentina when he fouled a player called Daniel Bertoni from behind. Bertoni then retaliated by punching Cherry in the mouth causing him to lose two front teeth. Today he is a very active man running a promotions and hospitality company in Huddersfield, a waste paper company and a five-a-side football centre.
Continue reading on Page 2 to see how the midfield lined up
Right Wing: Peter Lorimer
Incredibly Lorimer made his debut for Leeds United at the age of 15! He was a regular in the side at the age of 19 and went on to make over 500 appearances for the club. He earned nicknames like HotShot and Thunderboots due to his powerful shooting, a penalty he once took had a recorded speed of 107mph. After his retirement he has remained very active with the club, and is on the board of directors as a fans’ representative. He writes a column in the club’s matchday programme and acts as a summariser on every Leeds away game for Yorkshire Radio, he also owns a pub in the Holbeck area of Leeds.
Centre Midfield: Johnny Giles
Before Brian Clough was appointed Leeds manager, Don Revie who was his predecessor had recommended that Giles who was nearly 34 at the time be given the job when Revie became England manager. However the board went for Clough and one of the main reasons why Clough was dismissed was because the players had wanted Giles to be in charge. Now Giles works as a pundit for RTE’s Premier Soccer Saturday back in his homeland of Ireland, he is also the leading football analyst on Irish radio station Newstalk 106.
Centre Midfield: Billy Bremner
Voted Leeds’ greatest player of all-time, the football world was in deep mourning when he died in December 1997. In his honour a statue was erected outside Elland Road, which has become a prominent part of the ground. The Scotsman made over 550 appearances for the club and has been inducted into both the English Football Hall Of Fame and the Scottish Football Hall Of Fame. Bremner was a tenacious player and gave everything he could every time he pulled on a Leeds shirt.
Left Wing: Eddie Gray
Gray was very much a ‘one-club man’ spending his entire career at Elland Road, which lasted 18 years. He scored what many people call to be the greatest ever Leeds goal against Burnley, which was solo run from the byline by using a combination of tricks. After he hung up his boots, being a ‘one-club man’ he naturally went on to manage Leeds but resigned after three years, he went on to manage Whitby Town, Rochdale and Hull before return to manage Leeds once again as a caretaker manger in 2003. When the club were relegated from the Premiership he again left Leeds and now he works for Yorkshire Radio as a matchday analyst.
Continue reading on Page 3 to see how the strikers lined up
Striker: Allan Clarke
Recognised as one of English football’s greatest ever goalscorers, he made over 250 appearances for the club. When he tried his hand in football management in 1978 as a player-manager of Barnsley and then moved on to his former club Leeds but unfortunately they were relegated under his leadership in 1982. He then had spells managing Scunthorpe, Barnsley again and finally Lincoln City in 1990; from 1993 he pursued business interests being a travelling salesman for West Yorkshire firm MTS Nationwide.
Striker: Joe Jordan
The man they famously called ‘Jaws’ due to his lack of front teeth, Joe Jordan spent eight years at Leeds before enjoying spells at Manchester United and AC Milan. He was never really a prolific scorer but his presence upfront is what made him such an asset, he is the only Scottish player to have scored in three World Cups – 1974, 1978 and 1982. Currently is the assistant manager of Tottenham and previously worked with Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth as part of his coaching staff.
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