Writer: Mick Riordan
Growing up in Dublin I fell madly in Love with Leeds United in the early 70’s.
This was the team of Bremner, Giles, Big Jack Charlton, Norman “Bites Your Legs” Hunter, Allan Clarke and Mick Jones. Of course, we also had Eddie Gray and Peter Lorimer. They were a terrific team to watch with just the right amount of bite to go with their beautiful swagger. Giles being a fellow Dubliner was one of my favourites and he was a joy to watch spraying the ball all over the pitch with precision.
I also loved Norman Hunter and Jack Charlton dominate the big center forwards of the day.
Watching Giles, I was always appreciative of his skill and his ability to pass and move, jink and jive. What surprised me later was his fearsome reputation as a one man hit squad as I never realized he was that tough. Apparently, the Great George Best remarked that he tried wearing shin guards for Giles but it didn’t matter as he still came off with his legs bloody and bruised.
This United team was probably the most successful United team ever winning the European Fairs Cup, the FA Cup and the Old 1st Division in the early 70s. They also gave us our share of disappointments losing to Sunderland in the FA Cup final and AC Milan in the Cup Winners Cup when they really should have won.
Clarke through those years was a prolific goalscorer and I was a young boy trying to follow in his footsteps on the streets of Dublin complete with the one arm raised salute in celebrating a goal. I got to meet Allan Clarke later on in my playing career however that is a story for another day.
For today I just want to wish my old flame LUFC a Happy Valentines Day!
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Ed – I was otherwise indisposed when they came in yesterday, but albeit a belated posting, a worthy read in my eyes.