Leeds Legends

Gary Sprake

Sprake was a one-time Leeds United's No.1 goalkeeper, who had helped Leeds to an old First Division Championship medal, a League-Cup winner's medal, two Inter Cities Fairs Cup medals and a Division Two championship medal way back in the 1960's. As a player, he played more than 500 games for Leeds United alone.

However, Gary Sprake's name was often been remembered by many for the wrong reason. During a league match at Liverpool in the 1967 season, he had made the biggest mistake of his career, which had proved costly not at least to most of the city supporters. He was about to throw the ball out to team-mate Terry Cooper, but spotting him being closed down attempted to stop his throw but lost control and the ball ended up in the back of his own net. Anyhow, no matter what the cost may be for his mistake in just one game, he still remains as one of the best keepers Leeds United could afford to have in history... as a matter of fact, he deserves to be known as a living legend at Elland Road!

John Charles

John Charles has been one of the best all-round footballer to have ever come to play in England for Leeds United Football Club. He was a natural-born quality player, who could play comfortably in centre-forward and also centre-half position as well. In fact he was world-class in both areas.

Charles started of as a centre-half and midfield for Leeds, before making a breakthrough as a centre-forward. He has scored 42 goals in just a season for Leeds, at a time when he is still appearing as centre-half for his own country, Wales. Up to date, there is no comparable player with that kind of range in the modern game. He was the first Briton to make the grade in Italian football (with Juventus) and, is probably the most successful export from League football to Serie A where his name is still revered. Certainly, Charles adapted quickly to the pace and skill of the Italian League and made a more substantial and sustained impact than many of those who followed him, including Jimmy Greaves, Denis Law and Ian Rush. That is why he is a God to Juventus fans, the one they Christened "Il Buon Gigante" - the Gentle Giant.

Charles was born in Swansea on December 27, 1931, and joined the local groundstaff at the Vetch Field. He was still only 15 when he moved to Leeds as an amateur and made his first-team debut two years later in 1949, at the same time becoming the youngest player to appear for Wales when, in March 1950 at the age of 18 years and 71 days, where he played against Northern Ireland. Charles was an instant success as a striker. He scored 26 goals in his first season up front and the following year, 1953-54, claimed that Leeds record and was the leading scorer in the Football League. Eventually, in August 1957, Charles signed for Juventus for £65,000 - a record transfer fee for a British player. Charles retired from League football in 1966, having played 38 times for Wales.

Billy Bremner

As a footballer made popular in the 1970's, Billy Bremner was the core of Don Revie's great Leeds United sides for the midfield blend he forged out with his then team-mate, Johnny Giles. Bremner was a very skillful footballer in his passing, leadership, never-say die attitude and an eye for goal. He played for St. Modan's High School and Gowanhill Juniors (Stirling) and, after being rejected by Arsenal and Chelsea for being 'too small', he joined Leeds in December 1959. He won the first of 54 Scottish caps in May 1965, adding to Schoolboy and Under-23 honours, and is United's most capped player. He is the most successful skipper in the club's history, leading United to two League championships, an F.A.Cup win and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup triumphs. He won the 1970 Footballer of the Year award as United narrowly missed a unique treble of League, F.A.Cup and European Cup.

Bremner moved to Hull City in September 1976 (£35,000) and ended his playing career after joining Doncaster Rovers in November 1978, where he played a handful of games. He led Doncaster to promotion from Division Four on two occasions and returned to Elland Road as manager in 1985. Until today, it was his playing days that remain in the memories of everyone at Leed United Football Club!

Don Revie (seen standing on the right in the picture with his own protege, Billy Bremner)

Born in Middlesbrough in 1927, Revie grew up close to his home club's football ground. His early life was full of adversity. His mother died when he was a young boy, his father's employment was uncertain during the depression, and, when 19, he suffered a career-threatening broken ankle at his first club, Second Division Leicester City. Suffered further setbacks when on a £20,000 move to Hull City, which had merely confirmed him as a bottom-half-of-the-Second-Division-player. At his next club, Manchester City, he played in the First Division, albeit it with a team fighting relegation. In 1954-55, however, Revie proved well-suited to Manchester City's deep-lying centre-forward plan. City were FA Cup Final runners-up and Revie was voted Footballer of the Year. But the disappointments returned. He was relegated from the First Division with Sunderland (1957-58) and again at Leeds (1959-60) after his £14,000 move in November 1958.

When he was appointed Leeds United player-manager, he still had something to prove. In his preparation and planning, Revie left nothing to chance. He recruited young players, taught them his values and built up a family atmosphere at the club. The bonding was such that 13 players - Sprake, Harvey, Reaney, Cooper, Madeley, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, Cherry, Bates, Giles, Lorimer and Gray - each clocked up over 10 years' service. In the late 1960's, Leeds were perpetual runners-up but Revie continually picked up his players for the next season. Eventually, Leeds United broke through disappointments to become a great side rewarded with trophies. After having won so many things as Leeds United manger, it's no wonder that Don Revie deserved to receive an OBE award.

Jack Charlton

Jack Charlton was born on 8th May 1935 in Ashington. Jack grew up in a mining community, worked down the pits at 15 and finally made his debut with Leeds United at the age of 17.He won his first England cap shortly before his 30th birthday. With Bobby also in the England team they became the first brothers to play for England this century. They both won World Cup winners medals in 1966 (with Jack as the elder brother of Bobby).

Jack Charlton has demonstrated considerable skills as a football manager, bringing success to Middlesbrough (1973-1977), Sheffield Wednesday (1977-1983) and the Republic of Ireland (1986-1994). Since he left the Irish team, Charlton has spent some of his time promoting his autobiography and making after-dinner speeches. However, he still remains as a footballer best remembered for his success and achievments as a player with Leeds United and England.

Johnny Giles

Born on 6th November in 1940, Johnny Giles played for Leeds United FC from 1963 to 1975 as central midfielder, along the side of Billy Bremner. Both were the key players of the team under the guidance of Don Revie. Altogether, Giles played in 380 League games and 3 others as substitute, scoring a total of 88 goals for Leeds.