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UNFORGIVABLE, Have our own club forgotten Don Revie?
UNFORGIVABLE, Have our own club forgotten Don Revie?
Monday, 26th May 2014 19:56

I know Massimo has more pressing matters on his mind maybe, and that most of the club staff are apparently on holiday or facing an uncertain future but surely the club could have taken some steps today to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of the death of our most successful manager in the history of this club.

A quarter of a century ago today, Don Revie (pictured top with former chairman Manny Cussins) died following a battle with motor neurone disease. He was 61 and the most successful manager in the history of the club achieving feats that will probably never be repeated in a game dominated by power and money.

After an illustrious playing career was wound down at Leeds following an illustrious career with Leicester, Hull, Manchester City, Sunderland and England, Revie took us to two Football League First Division titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup titles, one Football League Second Division title and one Charity Shield.

We also saw three more FA Cup Finals, two FA Cup semi finals, one more Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final, one Fairs cup semi final, one European Cup semi final, one Cup Winners' Cup Final and five runners up places in the league in what is remembered as "The Glory Days" between 1961-1974.

Revie left Leeds for the England job in 1974, in a period which gave more ammunition to his many detractors in the media and football hierarchy. Having failed to qualify for the 1976 Euros and the 1978 World Cup Revie was castigated when he quit the England job to become the head coach for the United Arab Emirates in 1977. The FA slapped a ten-year ban on him working in England, this was later overturned in the High Court.

Revie would never work in English management again, briefly managing in club football in both Dubai and Cairo retiring to Scotland. In May 1987 he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and a year later the disease had cruelly ravaged the once hyperactive Revie to a gaunt frail figure in a wheelchair, making his final public appearance on May 11th 1988 at a fund raising match for Motor Neurone Disease at Elland Road. The match was also attended by many of Revie's loyal charges from the glory days including then-boss Billy Bremner.

Revie died on 26th May 1989 at Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh, his funeral took place four-days later at Warriston Crematorium. As well as the Leeds legends, mourners including Alex Ferguson, Denis Law and Kevin Keegan attended. The FA, bitter until the end refused to send any representation which even drew criticism from the Daily Mirror who frequently ran anti-Leeds and Revie stories during and after his Elland Road tenure.

And today of all days, despite a road and stand named after him, as well as a statue on Lowfields Road in his honour our club seem to have forgotten him too.

To us, the fans, he was THE Leeds United legend. RIP and thanks Don.

Photo: Action Images



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