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<Links to Official
Leeds United F.C. Website
2000> 

Player profiles out of the Wembley Match Day
Programme
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GARY
SPRAKE, Goalkeeper Had his 20th birthday just four
weeks ago, yet is a veteran in experience of around 150 top class games.
Played his first match for Leeds, his only club, at 16 when he was
flown to Southampton in an injury emergency. Has been first choice for
Leeds for three seasons now and is recognised by Wales as their number one
also. Six feet tall, strongly built, agile, able and daring.
His outstanding asset is his ability to take the hardest shot, the
fastest cross cleanly and clear it quickly. |
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PAUL
REANEY, Right Back Born here in London 20 years ago
though you'd never guess it from his accent— reet Yorkshire.
He left for Leeds at the age of four months and has been with the Elland
Road club all his career. Quick-tackling, capable, defensive-minded—as
you would expect for a player converted by Don Revie from centre
half—and usually orthodox. . But not always.
Watch for the occasional dramatic dash up his wing, either
supporting or starting an attack. Height
5 ft. 9 in., weight 11st. 4 Ib. Under-23 "cap." |
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WILLIE
BELL, Left Back An amateur with the Scottish club
Queens Park who turned professional when he signed for Leeds in 1960.
Won a Scottish amateur " cap " and was offered a free
transfer by Leeds—until Don Revie took over.
He converted Willie, a wing-half who could double at centre-half,
into a full back and neither has ever regretted it. Bell's height, 5 ft.
II in., his weight, just under 12 St., and his natural toughness make this
26-year-old an uncompromising character in a tight situation. |
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BILLY
BREMNER, Right Half One of the outstanding individual
talents in the team. The speed of a winger—which he was. The craft of a
creative inside forward—which he was. The bite, ball play and accuracy
of a top class international wing half—which he surely one day will be.
Has already captained Scotland's Under-23's. The complete player in
defence and attack with a fiery temperament to match his hair. Only 5 ft.
5 in., and 10 st. 3 Ib., but could lick his weight in wild-cats. |
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JACK
CHARLTON, Centre Half Six feet two inches—much of
which appears to be taken up by the longest legs in the business.
The only survivor of the Leeds dark days.
He has been with the club for 13 of his 29 years. Brother of Bobby
Chariton—" But you can call him ' the other Chariton' now"
says this cheerful complete professional, capped by England a couple of
weeks ago. His ability in the air makes him a more than useful man to have
around in BOTH penalty areas. Has
a double-figures total for Leeds this season.
Watch his surge forward when they win corners. |
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NORMAN
HUNTER, Left Half A " late developer "
who won neither schoolboy nor youth honours yet suddenly blossomed into an
outstanding talent, already recognised by England under-23 and the
Football League and must be in line for a World Cup cap.
Still only 20, but reads a game with exceptional maturity.
A disciplined, determined, dedicated youngster who seldom strays
outside his own half, but when he does—watch out. This boy can shoot.
Another six footer weighing almost twelve stones. |
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JOHNNY
GILES, Outside Right Signed two seasons ago from
Manchester United for £35,000 when he was already an established Eire
international and played in the Cup Final two years ago in United's
winning team against Leicester. Fast,
tricky and since joining Leeds has become tenacious too.
Always willing to drop back and work in patrol areas normally
occupied by full backs or wing halves. Very accurate passer of a ball and
has a shot of startling power for someone so small—only 5 ft. 5 in., 10
st. 6 Ib. |
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JIM
STORRIE, Inside Right The most under-rated man in the
Leeds attack, maybe in the whole team. This Scot, signed from Airdrie for
£18,000 three years ago when he was Scotland's top scorer, is the man who
grafts unselfishly, decoys willingly, taking on the unglamorous, demanding
job of unsettling the opposition with his hustle and muscle. Looks ungainly in full flight, but that splay-footed stride
eats up the ground at great speed and he packs both power and accuracy
into his shooting. 5 ft. 9
in., II st. 6 Ib. |
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ALAN
PEACOCK, Centre Forward Rated--rightly-the
best header of a ball in Britain. A man who can lead and link. But perhaps
his greatest assets are courage and persistence on and off the field. They
enabled him to come back recently after eight months of pain, anxiety and
injury to recover immediately the form that made him England's first
choice for the World Cup in Chile when he was with Middlesbrough.
Don Revie who paid £53,000 for this six-footer in February '64
says " The gamest guy I know. He
worked mornings and afternoons for months and his chin never once dropped
on his chest. He never gave
up." |
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BOBBY
COLLINS, Inside Left (Captain) The general of
the Leeds team. A scaled-down Hercules on jockey's legs. Has almost
freakish strength which, allied to experience, ability and knowledge, make
him one of the game's greats-so great that Scotland called him back into
their team this season at 34. Signed
three years ago for a bargain fee of £25,000 when he was supposed to be
over the hill. One of the few players in the game who can make a ball bend
or dip or both in flight and hits that ball with tremendous power. Only 5
ft. 3 in. and 10 st. 2 Ib., but every inch and every ounce is class. |
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ALBERT
JOHANNESON, Outside Left Within 24 hours of taking over
at Leeds, Don Revie signed this 23-year-old coloured South African who was
visiting Elland Road on a month's trial-recommended to them by a fellow
countryman who also played for Leeds, Gerry Francis. Albert, painfully shy
off the field, has almost unbelievable ball control on it, enough to make
him the equal of any winger in the world-though he doesn't always play as
though he believes it himself. Is at his best on perfect playing
surfaces-and they don't come any better than Wembley. Height 5 ft. 5 in.,
weight II st. 6 Ib. |
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