He said something along the lines of him being a hardman warrior on the pitch and a gentleman off it. He said even in training he would kick you hard, pick you up, make sure you were ok, then kick you again.
Gray was a fantastic footballer in his own right. A mate of mine used to get complimentaries for games at Elland Road and on a couple of occasions, I got invited along. I remember at one game against Burnley, Leeds won a corner right in front of where we were standing. Eddie Gray came over to take it. He put the ball down and chipped it in such a way, that it started to spin backwards whilst appearing to hover in mid air. It seemed to just hang in the air long enough for Mick Jones to rise above the Burnley defence and crash a bullet header into the Burnley net. Absolute incredible skill. Gray also impressed with his close control and the ease at which he beat the Burnley defence to the point, that the Leeds fans used to sing " he's here he's there, he's every foo*in where, Eddie Gray Eddie Gray."
Yep - asked for and got an Eddie Gray t-shirt for Christmas one year. Another kid wanted it off me when i'd grown too big for it. That Leeds team was full up with characters to either admire or consider pantomime villains. Or both. Great footballers though - all of that team.
They were, but like Manchester United who seemed to attract a cosmopolitan following, there was something about the Club that didn't endear me towards them. Maybe they were too big.? Thinking about what Redders said on last nights stream, he felt honoured because we had named a bar in his honour. That wouldn't have happened if he'd played for Leeds. He would have been one player amongst a host of others. There is no actual feel of belonging at Leeds. Their fans are drawn from all over the UK, whereas at Barnsley, there is a genuine feeling of belonging to a family , which I like. Incidentally did anyone else see Redders on BBC 1 at 2pm today. They showed the 1990 FA Cup Semi final between Manchester United and Oldham Athletic. Good to see Redders, Andy Ritchie and Rick Holden playing for Oldham and Mark Robins being brought on as a sub for United, all of whom later gave great service to the Reds cause. https://www.wsc.co.uk/stories/14105...-led-to-a-grudge-match-with-manchester-united
