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Gary Sprake is a name synonymous with goalkeeping cock-ups:
mention his name to most non-Leeds fans and they'll start humming
"Careless Hands". To take an objective look at his career, you'd
realise that this is an unfair assessment of an excellent keeper.
He was an instinctive shot stopper, became the youngest ever keeper
to appear for Wales, and for nearly 10 years was Leeds' first
choice, despite the presence of David Harvey in the wings. He was
prone to the odd gaffe - and they just tended to happen when the TV
cameras were there to broadcast them to the rest of the
country.
His debut for Leeds came rather unexpectedly: Tommy Younger went
down with a temperature just before Leeds' game with Southampton at
the Dell, with Sprake back home in Leeds. The club chartered a
two-seater plane to fly the young keeper down to Southampton
airport, with the game's kick-off being postponed by 30 minutes to
allow the slightly green stopper to get to the ground.
Some say Leeds would have won more with a different keeper:
that's possible, but may be a bit coloured by the soured
relationship between Don Revie and Sprake after the latter had some
fairly uncomplimentary things to say about the man who had made it
possible for him to win so many prizes at the very top level.
Sprake moved to Birmingham but made only a handful of appearances
before being forced to retire due to injury. His remarks about
Revie estranged him from the rest of the squad, and he is just
about the only member of the Glory Years side who hasn't maintained
some sort of contact with the club or with his former colleagues in
his retirement.
Maldwyn Lindley says: Yes i saw Gary Sprake play many times and
I saw him pull off a lot more good saves than bad ones and as for
cameras being there then I would refer to the 1970 Cup Final. But
over the years many other keepers have made a lot more fumbles but
they never seem to get mentioned probably the stick Sprake got was
because it was Leeds he was playing for and not many of the
opposition liked Leeds because at the end of the day there wasn't
another team fit to lace their boots on the day. And yes i did meet
Gary Sprake when I was 10 years old in the centre of Leeds in 1971.
I wrote to him and he replied and as a young leeds fanatic in them
days he was my hero. Trouble is don't get much chance to see them
now as I live in Perth West Australia but for me there's only one
team - LUFC.
Martin Goldman says: I was very good friends with Gary from 1972
until his transfer to Birmingham City. Unfortunately his time in
Birmingham was not so successful. He was very ill at one stage and
had a life threatening operation in a Birmingham hospital (I can
exactly remember the year). I went to see him with another close
friend called Peter Tebbs, who was Gary's insurance broker!! Peter,
myself and another guy called Gordon McFarlane (Mac) were all very
close and had some good times together.
Whatever is said about Gary,I must say he was a truly great
goalkeeper. I know he did make some important blunders like at
Liverpool when he threw the ball in his own net!! (I was there and
travelled back with the team on the train after the game), but I
can assure you and everybody out there he saved Leeds United many
many times from defeat with some great displays, which were not
shown on tv. Mac,Peter and myself saw probably every game when Gary
was playing home and away;that is why Revie played him all those
years.
We did lose contact and it was only about two weeks ago that I said
to Peter Tebbs that we should make contact and go to see Gary who
still lives in Birmingham,and I believe works for Birmingham
council in some capacity.
Sonia Noble says: Please let Gary Sprake know I heard him being
interviewed about his goal mistake on Radio 4 17.9.02 and thought
the interviewer was excessively rubbing salt in the wound, bringing
up further old mistakes. I emailed the BBC to say as much. Smile
Gary, I am sure it was not just me that thought you had a raw deal
on the interview.
Martin McGloin says: prior to last season the last time Leeds
played a league game at Fulham was back in the late 60s .Gary
Sprake was in goal and he was so bored during the 5-0 win he was
throwing chewing gum to the fans behind the goal...happy days
Denise Lavis says: I'm Gary's niece - saw him play quite a few
times - great goalie - great guy - thanks for the tickets Gary -
all his family are very proud of him - youngest goalie to play for
Wales - I rember the chewing gum wrappers - a few mistakes OK - but
look at some of todays goalies - no names mentioned!
Jo Walker (Wood) says: Gary Sprake is my uncle,the last time I
saw him was at my father's funeral 12 years ago. I am trying to get
in touch with my family and would be grateful if you know of his
whereabouts if you could let me know, or pass on this email
address. thanks.
David Edge says: What made Gary Sprake such a hated goalie? He
had the confidence of Revie, but not the hard style of the other
players for Leeds. He should have played for Chelsea, where his
gum-throwing, and goalpost-leaning antics would have been seen as
style, not weakness and boredom.
Maybe its sad to see people put Gary down so much, but... if you
watch "The Glory Years" video you will see that it was probably a
lack of goalkeeping practice (Leeds being so great) that made him a
bit, if not a lot, lazy in his attitude to getting his knees dirty
when going for a ball. I must be honest and say David Harvey didnt
impress me that much, either. What if Leeds had had a Banks or
Bonetti? I still love the old side, and STILL get excited when I
watch games from 30 years ago! Oh, dear. Quick nurse, the
screens...
Stu Sprake says: If Jo would like to get in touch with me I will
gladly pass on relevant info to Gary. There are statistics, more
statistics and damn lies! However, 507 appearances, 37 caps for
Wales, at least as many missed through injury (Revie paying to stay
in Leeds?)and mistakes that could be counted on one hand. Truly a
great!!!
Johnny Meynell says: Without doubt, Gary Sprake was a
footballing icon. I'd love to have chat with him some day, just to
talk about the old days. As a youngster, I followed Leeds, and
remember crying BEFORE Sunderland beat them in the FA Cup 1973. All
the old Leeds players kept in touch, but Sprake was always
conspicuous by his absence. What really happened when Leeds met
Wolves two days after lifting the FA Cup in 1972. Sprake didn't
play at Molineux, how could he say Revie tried to bribe the Wolves
players. Did he have an axe to grind? Is there no smoke without
fire? Though I'm now an engrained Halifax Town fan (for 24 years) I
still get a buzz out of watching those old Seventies videos, and of
Leeds at their best 1971-72. Sprake was very much part of that
tream until late on, and missed out on the Cup win over Arsenal
(when Harvey was excellant).
Andy Conner says: Her'e onr for the anoraks! Can anyone tell me
how many clean sheets Sprake kept? Jabba says: 216 at Leeds.
Stu Sprake says: the research for Gary's book is going really
well - some ex team mates have been of great help - others have
told me where to shove my pen - can you ask the good folk out there
to share their memories - they can be as libellous as they like -
the responsibility is mine - can contact me on my email (stusprake
_at_ lineone.net).
steve says: i am a great fan of gary and all keepers can any
please pass on a contact address to me so i can ask for autograph
many thanks
Ian Johnson says: I was at Liverpool for "that" game -and missed
what happened because I saw he had the ball in his hands and I bent
down to tie my shoelaces. gary was as tough, to say the least, as
the rest of them. The Chelsea semi we lost at Villa I was behind
the goal when they scored. Gary had a habit of catching the ball
with one of his legs quite high as he jumped- he scrunched his
studs into the face of Hutchinson ( I think ) right in front of me
after the refs back was turned. Lucky we didn't have a penalty
against us for that one. An enigmatic player I am sorry he hasn't
had the support of all his colleagues of the era and hope he is
doing well in his life. The errors he made are nothing compared to
some of the goalkeeping horrors we see on TV every week these
days.
Julie says: I think Gary Sprake was not only a wonderful keeper
for Leeds, but also a really exceptionally nice man too. As a young
girl i wrote to him just before the 1972 FA Cup Final against
Arsenal to ask for his autograph. Although he was not chosen for
the match (shame!) he very kindly sent me a signed photograph with
a lovely message on the back, from the hotel where the Leeds team
were staying. I will never forget the excitement of opening that
envelope! Even though he must have been going through all kinds of
emotions, he put himself out especially - thanks Gary. My own son,
Gareth, became a goalkeeper too strangely enough. I would love to
know when Gary is going to have his book published, because i want
to be first in line!!!
Chris Mason says: I an a Leeds ex-pat (I live in Worle, North
Somerset) but I used to follow Leeds everywhere during their "Glory
Years" under Don Revie - I still have the programs from the cup
final win over Arsenal and the loss against Chelsea in the replay!
Can anyone tell me where I can get "The Glory Years" video
mentioned above - or any other videos of this period covering this
most fantastic team ? To the team : - guys, you made my childhood
complete - you were the best team this country has everproduced,
thank you !
Tim Johnson says: For all of you who have expressed an interest
in the Gary Sprake book it is about a third of the way through. It
is amazing that after researching the archives how many games Gary
saved leeds far more than the half dozen mistakes he made. Robbo
made this many mistakes in the games I have seen live this year
plus the Liverpool/Bolton mistakes though these never are
emphasised. The book will hit the shelves within the next twelve
months
Josh Sprake says: Gary is my great uncle, I am too young to have
seen him play but I've seen lots of videos of Leeds and Wales. I
support Swansea City, Leeds and Real Madrid. I'm fed up with my
father, every time we go to a game or watch tv the keeper makes a
great save , tipping the ball over the bar, or diving full length
to turn the ball around the post. What does my father say, "Sprakey
would have caught that". Was he that good or does my father's
memory play tricks?
alan watts says: i am related to gary sprake he is my uncle in
the watts family althgough my children have not met him.
Ian Henderson says: I know that Gary made a few mistakes - don't
we all? His saves in Hungary won us the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in
1968. He was also a smashing bloke. He spent a lot of time talking
to me and my young nephew after we beat Spurs in the 6th round of
the FA Cup in 1972. If anyone reading this knows him please pass on
my best regards to a great.
neil sims says: I remember him as a great keeper in a great
team. All the lads in our office remember his great performances
but where is he now?
Michael Marsden says: As my father came from Dewsbury, Leeds
became my team. Each year during the October half-term my father
would take me to watch Leeds play and also watch them train. I
loved the excitement of waiting for the players to come out and
sign autographs. Coming from Wales meant that Gary Sprake was one
of my hero's. Imagine what a disappointment it was, when aged 10,
on being asked for his autograph, Gary just walked past me and
said, "I don't sign those things". I discovered later that day that
he had been put on the transfer list. I know this story seems
contrary to some of the other experiences written, but that is
mine.
Julia Sprake says: just logged on for the first time and it's
lovely to read the nice comments about my dad! if anyone wants to
get in touch with me pls do.
Stu Sprake says: Just wondering if Michael Marsden's memory has
become hazy through the mists of time. During the research for
Gary's biography I have received numerous messages, each praising
his down to earth nature.Perhaps Michael has confused Gary with
Paul Reaney, they both had curly hair, although Gary's was a lot
fairer. Gary was never placed on the transfer list,he asked for a
transfer. Unlike some of his ex-team mates Gary still signs
autographs upon request, usually returning them after paying the
postage himself, which becomes expensive given the high number of
requests. As a passionate and patriotic Welshman I am sure Gary
would right this perceived wrong if Michael would get in touch.
Len Mullins says: As a Leeds fan for 40 years, Gary Sprake was
my hero (and still is). People forget he was automatic first choice
goalkeeper for Leeds when they were the No 1 team in England -
which was for the best part of ten years. Born and brought up in
Pembrokeshire, I was always intrigued that Gary was first spotted
when he played for a Swansea schoolboys side against a Pembroke XI.
He single-handedly defied Liverpool in the 1965 FA Cup Final defeat
by Liverpool - a display he was to repeat at Wembley for Wales
against England a few years later when he again ended up losing
2-1. I first saw him in the flesh when Leeds brought down their
first team, to play Swansea in Ivor Allchurch's testimonial in
1967. Gary was the hardest man in a team of hard men. Didn't he
once dump a fully suited Jack Charlton in the team bath? And he was
handy with his fists. Just ask the then Arsenal striker Bobby Gould
whom Gary laid out at Highbury. And how many packets of Wrigleys
would he get through in a match? He performed heroics not only for
Leeds - especially in Europe - but also for Wales whom he never let
down. I didn't know this site existed but am delighted to discover
it. Fifty-yr-old men aren't supposed to have heroes, but Gary's
mine. I hope he sees this site and realises how highly people rated
him. Gary, I hope you're well. You gave me and a lot of others a
great deal of pleasure. Cheers mate.
Carig Hartgen says: Ive got the 'Glory Years' video and although
it pinpoints a few of Gary Sprake's mistakes, he was no doubt a
wonderful keeper,one of the best Leeds ever had! If he hadnt been
that good then Revie would have replaced him long before. I look
forward to Gary's book being released. I would like to get in touch
with any reletives of the legend Sprake!
Carl Sprake says: I've no idea if I am related to Gary, but I
have sent Stu an email. If any member of the Sprake family would
like to get in touch then please send me an email - c.sprake AT
ntlworld.com
janet deighton says: me and a friend used toi watch gary in the
old scratching shed at elland and we always threw chewing gum at
him he used to live in adel nr leeds then and we used to go up
there to see if we could see him anywhere thats fan worship
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