The Greatest Team You Love to Hate
The winter of 1969 had a profound impact on Elland Road. Leeds United's white-shirted warriors crowded the terraces, their breath visible in the frigid Yorkshire air as they took to the field. Unbeknownst to us at the time, we were witnessing the unfolding of history through each muddy tackle.
Don Revie stood in his usual spot, hands thrust deep in his pockets, his face a mask of concentration. He'd built this team from nothing — a collection of local lads transformed into football royalty. Billy Bremner, all five feet five inches of him, prowled the midfield like a lion. Johnny Giles, with his surgeon's precision, carved open defences that stood firm against the best in Europe. And big Jack Charlton, towering at the back, made strikers think twice about venturing too close.
We called them 'Dirty Leeds' back then, but that was just jealousy talk. In reality, they played football that was truly captivating. One-touch passing sequences that would make the Brazilians proud, mixed with a Yorkshire grit that could grind down any opposition. The Scratching Shed would erupt in waves of noise, our scarves held high, voices hoarse from singing "Marching On Together".
I remember watching Norman Hunter – 'Bites Yer Legs' Hunter, as we called him, demolished Manchester United's attack one particularly fierce afternoon. The visitors arrived with confidence, eager to impart their knowledge to us. They departed, defeated 5-1. That was the thing about Revie's Leeds — they didn't just win games; they crushed spirits.
But it wasn't all glory. For every triumph, there seemed to be a heartbreak lurking around the corner. The 1970 FA Cup final still haunts me — Chelsea snatching victory in the replay after we'd dominated for so long. Yet somehow, these setbacks only made the team stronger and more determined. That was Revie's greatest achievement: he didn't just build a team; he forged a brotherhood. The Sons of Revie, as we came to know them, carried that spirit through every match and every season, writing their names in football folklore one game at a time.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48
Published: April 22, 2024
Price: £16.99
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1801507007
ISBN-13: 978-1801507004
Dimensions: 145 x 223 (mm)
