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Eddie Gray was a truly great winger and his longevity is a
tribute to his own tenacity and the confidence of Jimmy Armfield,
who did much to keep him in the game when injury looked set to
drive him into retirement.
Gray made a scoring debut just before his 18th birthday in 1966
and went on to torment the best defenders in England and throughout
Europe for many years. In the 1970 Cup Final, he left David Webb
chasing air - but in the replay found himself the regular target of
violent assaults that would bring about instant red cards in these
days.
Gray continued playing into his mid-30s, dropping back to play
at left-back towards the end of his career. He went on to manage a
young Leeds side that didn't get out of Division 2 soon enough for
the board's liking and he spent some time away from the club that
had been his life for 20 years. In recent times he has returned to
the club and worked with the young players, seeing talents like
Harry Kewell and Alan Smith come through the ranks and break into
the first team just as he had done himself 35 years ago.
Cheers to Rochdale's programme editor Mark Wilbraham for one of
the photos.
Buy this excellent autobiography of Eddie Gray at Amazon now!
Jit Lye says: I'm old enough to remember a game Leeds played
against Burnley, where on a muddy pitch, Eddie Gray dribbled past 6
or 7 players before strolling the ball in the net. Anyone
remembering this can flesh out the details!
Ian Johnson says: Yes, Jit - I was there. We played with a
second string that day as we had the cup final a week later
(Chelsea?).It is a goal which I shall always remember. Seeing a
couple of Burnley defenders on their backsides was quite something!
It is on a TV recording for potserity. But Eddie also put one in
the net from 40 yards in the first half I think. A fantastic lob.
We won the game despite the "injuries" to the rest of the first
team.
Iain Wilson says: Anyone got a video clip of Eddie's dribble
goal against Burnley?
Donna says: I remember that goal against Burnley - they showed
it on Scottish TV last week when he came to launch his new book. He
was an all round good guy, and brilliant to watch - lots of great
memories.
malcolm bowden says: Can anybody confirm if eddie gray scored a
header at molineaux against wolves in a fa cup quarter final
Alan Johannes says: As an art student at Leeds in the late
60's/early 70's I was lucky enough to watch Eddie play many times;
whenever he had the ball the expectation level was so high you
could almost hear that proverbial pin drop ! He was a wonderfully
gifted player and his performance in the Wembley Cup Final against
Chelsea will always stay with me - it was fantastic !!
Lee Meade says: It's impossible for anyone who saw this man play
to not rank him among the finest wingers ever to play in the
English leagues. His brilliance on the ball was on par with anyone
who ever played the game.
Pete Downs says: Eddie's dribble goal is on a video called The
Don Revie Story that was originally made by Granada.It may not be
available anymore in the shops but you could try Ebay or somewhere
like that
Terry Wilson says: Going back to the Burnley game,did EG score 2
goals in that game ? If i remember correctly he scored from just
inside his own half, for pure vision alone i think this goal was
equally as good as the other.
Colin Green says: i saw eddie gray play for the ex leeds united
stars team and he was brill dribbling around the young lads as if
they did not exhist eddie is still my hero and if brian kidd left
leeds then we could get back to being a a skilled team like before
kiddo joined you ask alex fergie if kiddo is so good why does
fergie not want him back
Pagey says: I was dead level with Eddie when he chipped the
Burnley goalkeeper. BRILLIANT GOAL and one which I remember Eddie
quoting as better than the dribble at the other end. My abiding
memory of that match was the reaction of the seated fans behind
me.[I was in the old Lowfields Road stand] They were all stood up
applauding Eddie's second goal well after Burnley had kicked off
again.Always my favourite player Eddie Gray to me is the consumate
professional . Whilst other geats like Bremner,Clarke,Lorimer and
Giles were desevedly lauded.Eddie just got on with it.As for that
famous Burnley match it was covered by YTV with commentary by
Stuart watsisname.
Mark Weir says: we'll all miss Eddie Gray now that Mr. Reid has
had his wicked way! Leeds fans would have together come up with the
money to keep this man at the club. I can see Eddie coming back to
manage us when reid gets the sack after 6 games!
Sandra says: When i was round about 16 i met him at a youth
club. He was going out with my friend called Linda.
Carol says: I met my hero EDDIE GRAY at a book signing in
Huddersfield. Good book, great guy, magical footballer. Eddie, LUFC
will not be the same without you.
Nick Jenkinson says: Wonderful, wonderful man. I played in the
same junior side (Kirk Deighton Rangers) as Eddie's son Stuart.
Knowing Eddie for those 4/5 years it's easy to see why he was so
successful at bringing through the youngsters. My Mam & Dad got
married the same day as the Burnley game (they didn't want to miss
the cup final). However, my grandparents were both season ticket
holders, and they never forgave my parents for making them miss
Eddie's goals!
Andy Conner says: Re Burnley video clip: I do have it on video
but not yet digitally. He also scored a 30 yard chip in the same
game. Two outstanding goals
Chris says: Was at the Burnley game - not only did he dribble
round the Burnley defence but also round Albert Johannson, who was
lying flat on the floor in the Burnley box. The less publicised
chip shot was just as good. The man was a genius with the football,
in my eyes as good, if not better, than George Best, and a better
ambassador for the sport. Remember also the Eddiie Gray cup final
against Chelsea where he put on another show of pure genius.
Malcolm, I think he scored the header at Molineux in a 1-0 quarter
final victory Let's hope he can bring back some of the hope and
glory of the days when he was a player (Mark Weir - very prophetic,
if only it had been 6 games and not 20+)
Jane says: Are Eddie and Andy Gray related? Jabba says: if you
mean the Sky Sports/Villa Andy Gray then no. If you mean the
Leeds/Forest/Bradford/Scotland young(ish) winger Andy Gray then yes
- he's Frank's son so that makes him Eddie's nephew.
Ron Mather says: I saw Eddie Gray play for his school team Our
Lady and St Margaret's in 1960. Although his team lost 10-1 to
Penilee he was absolutely outstanding-- so much so that I
remembered his name as one to follow for the future. He had the
best left foot I ever saw in school's football. Ron Mather (Penilee
School, Glasgow 1960-69)
Michael Aston says: I was a tortured Spurs fan... I remember
Spurs beating Leeds at the height of the their powers (1-0) at
Elland Road, it was on match of the day) It's a measure of how
GREAT that Leeds team was that I still recall the boyish joy (I was
only 12 or 13 years old, I'm now 47)... I remeber seeing many Leeds
games as they were so gifted in those days,,, Eddie Gray was a
master and equivelant to Best... I remeber being mesmerised by the
complete and utter domination of that team over so many teams...
The crowd would OLE evry pass as Giles, Bremner, Gray etcetera
would tease and taunt the opposition with countles passes and
sublime arrogance... Clarke (SAniffr?) seemed to me to be the as
good as our Grievesie... I'm getting nostalgic... The real tragedy
is that era of players was the greatest team I ever witnessed yet
they never won all they deserved... Yes, Eddire Grat was very
special in an extraordibary team... God bless you Eddie, you lit up
so many lives... What an ubderated talent,,
peter anthony heslop-smith says: mr. eddie gray.top man and a
real hero for leeds for years.he is a man who loves leeds
united,and has served the club with full respect.when people say
leeds united they say eddie gray.my brother and myself had a photo
took with him in doncaster at a pro am golf tourniment at wheatley
golf club,and it one of my prize processions(the same day we had a
photo with billy bremner)thank you eddie for all your work at
leeds.god bless you sir(a knighthood i am sure will be yours)
Corinne says: My grandpa John Barr was the football scout who
spotted eddie, billy bremner and many other greats. I am proud of
him and of eddie for living up to his expectations!
Javaid Mehar says: My favourite LUFC player of all time. I
remember asking Eddie for his autograph in the early 80s and he
said something. Truth be told I didn't understand his Glaswegian -
I thought he had cracked a joke - so I started laughing. I felt
such an idiot when I realised that he had said that my pen wasn't
working! Still Jimmy Lumsden who was with him had a good laugh!
What a player though! A true genius and gentleman on and off the
pitch .Everybody goes on about St Linekar never getting booked -
what about Eddie? I can't believe that Eddie is not managing in the
Premiership. Edwin Gray we salute you!
Roger Graham says: I wrote a newspaper article about my best
ever Scotland team. Eddie Gray was in it. For the record, the team
was (4-3-3): Andy Goram (Rangers); Danny McGrain (Celtic), Alex
McLeish and Willie Miller (Aberdeen) and Eric Caldow (Rangers);
Billy Bremner (Leeds United), Dave MacKay (Spurs) and Jim Baxter
(Rangers); Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool), Denis Law (Man United) and
Eddie Gray (Leeds United)
Mike Popplewell says: In 1983 I was an unemployed ex-psychiatric
nurse who had just failed to successfully complete the first year
of a Diploma in Higher Education ( as a mature student). Obviously
the ideal qualifications to become a sports writer. Well, it didn't
stop me trying and having successfully persuaded Match Weekly to
take an article on Bobby Campbell (no one there could understand
him when they tried to interview him) I then asked if they'd like a
piece on Eddie Gray - who had just been appointed player manager at
Leeds United. Having been duly assigned I made my way down to
Elland Road, on the bus of course, from Bradford. Eddie had agreed
to speak to me and I arrived pretty pleased with myself but, having
nipped upstairs from reception to use the toilet, I began to lose
my nerve when I was confronted by the huge display cabinet and
pictures all around the walls of Eddie and his contemporaries. What
the *#!@, am I doing here, I asked myself. I'm an out of work
psychiatric nurse and I'm about to INTERVIEW one of soccer's
legends. Don't ask me I replied, and was prepared to do a runner
when the secretary told me Eddie would now see me. Eddie Gray will
always be up there with the best as a player and a person as far as
I'm concerned. I'm just really *&%!@# off that I never thought
to raise the subject of a ghost written autobigraphy with him
myself!
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