Latest news with #BillyBremner
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Johnny Giles was the footballer, John Giles was the pundit – both were geniuses in their own way
Forget honesty of effort, forget doing your stuff. The first time I became aware of Johnny Giles , he was doing a rabona. Nobody called it that, not at the time he did it in March 1972 nor whatever year in the 1980s it was when I came to see it on video. But he pulled it out, insouciant as you like, in a famous passage of play during a Leeds game when they were 7-0 up on Southampton. Even now, when you look it up on YouTube, the astonishing thing is that none of the Southampton players went over and buried him for it. Leeds were, to put a Fifa-approved technical term on it, prick-acting about – Billy Bremner was doing keepy-uppies and back-heeling passes for no reason other than to embarrass the opposition. Given that it would have taken the wielding of a chainsaw to be sent off in those days, it was always a wonder Gilsey didn't get a slap for his messing. God alone knows why we had it on video. Ours was not a Leeds United house, nor anything close to it. But it was there, along with footage from the 1984 Uefa Cup final between Spurs and Anderlecht – again, no idea why, for we were even less of a Spurs house. I suspect it was more that we were a house where a football-obsessed little boy lived and so any small bit of it that was on, somebody hit record. READ MORE So that was my introduction to Johnny Giles. And for years, it was the only thing I knew about him. I was too young to have seen him play and his time as Ireland manager predated me too. I knew nothing of his attempts to make Shamrock Rovers a superpower and what I now know as his reputation for being a taciturn old grouch with the media couldn't have made less of an impression. All I knew was that he was adored by old men (back then, anybody over 19 was old). That, and the one time I'd seen him do anything with a ball, he'd waited for it to bobble over to him on a cabbage field of a pitch and calmly flicked his left boot behind his right ankle to whip it down the line to Allan Clarke. 'Poor Southampton don't know what day it is,' gurgled Barry Davies on commentary. 'Every man jack of this Leeds side is turning it on. Oh, look at that! It's almost cruel.' (The 'Oh, look at that!' was Gilesy's flick). Later, when I'd see him on RTÉ as a pundit, I initially found it impossible to square the circle. Hang on, so this guy who is forever preaching simplicity and not forcing it and doing the right thing, this is the same dude that's in the Leeds-Southampton video? How can that be? Johnny Giles in action for Leeds in 1974. Photograph: Allsport Hulton/Archive Eventually, I realised I was comparing two different people. Johnny Giles was the footballer, the guy in the number 10 shirt who could do anything with the ball. John Giles was the chap on TV in the sensible V-neck, sitting there impassively as the mad fella on one side of him shook his fist at the world and the mischievous Corkman on the other side twinkled away in the presenter's chair. My generation missed out on Johnny Giles. We got John Giles instead. And it was easy to feel shortchanged about that. Instinctively, plenty of us wondered what all the fuss was about. But over time, probably because we got older and (marginally) less dumb, it became clear. Eamon Dunphy kept going on about what a genius John Giles was, what he didn't know about football wasn't worth knowing. Bill O'Herlihy kept deferring to him. Over time, you saw what they saw. Uniquely in that world, the Aprés Match lads never seemed to know what to do with him. There was no gimmick, no hook. He was who he was – straight, knowledgeable, unshowy. Paul McGrath told a lovely story years ago about being on RTÉ doing a game, back when they had the Premier League highlights on a Saturday night. He was nervous as hell, afraid of his life of freezing up on TV. They were doing an Everton game and McGrath was blanking and couldn't think of anything to say about Kevin Campbell. So Giles fed him a line about Campbell looking fit since coming back from a spell in Turkey. When they came back from an ad break, Billo asked McGrath what he made of the Everton striker and McGrath duly delivered his assessment, saying the time with Trabzonspor had served him well and he was looking a lot fitter now. When Billo turned to Giles for his take, he went, 'Well I'd have to agree with what Paul said.' John Giles makes his way down O'Connell Street as Grand Marshall of the 2012 St Patrick's Day Parade. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons That was John Giles. He finished up with Newstalk during the week, bringing an end to a media career that lasted twice as long as his actual playing career. Throughout it, you could tell what he stood for, always. You could tell what he thought was nonsense, always. If it didn't make sense to send your centre-half up as a spare striker in the first five minutes, it doesn't make sense to do it in the final five either. The good players take touches that give themselves time on the ball, the less good ones take touches that cut down their time on the ball. If a midfielder has found himself ahead of the ball in the opposition half, he hasn't understood what being a midfielder is. Core beliefs. Changeless as canal water. John Giles has retired at the age of 84. Dunphy's podcast has wound up, probably for good. Dear old Billo went to the presenter's chair in the sky a whole 10 years ago . The world keeps turning and new voices take over, as they should. But out on the green the other night, someone passed me the ball and I nearly threw my knee out trying a rabona. Some things last forever.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Wilkinson statue campaign gathers pace, even after ex-Leeds manager's initial reluctance
He is the architect of Leeds United's highest honour of the last 51 years. He is the last Englishman to win the finest prize in English football, some 33 years ago. And yet, there is nothing to mark Howard Wilkinson's legacy at Elland Road. Don Revie and Billy Bremner have statues outside the stadium. John Charles, Norman Hunter, Jack Charlton and Revie have stands named after them. Wilkinson, who guided Leeds to the Division Two (now Championship) title in 1990 before the Division One (now Premier League) crown in 1992, is conspicuous by his absence. Advertisement A small group of supporters are looking to put that right with a new push to raise around £140,000, which would pay for Wilkinson to be immortalised with his own statue. Wilko 92, as the project has been named, was pitched to the 81-year-old earlier this year. 'Howard was very reluctant because he's a very modest fellow,' said Robert Endeacott, one of the men behind Wilko 92. 'I can't tell you his initial reaction, but it was words to the effect of, 'Well, who wants to see a statue of me?' He swore, so we had to convince him.' Endeacott spoke to The Athletic at The Old Peacock, a pub next to the stadium, for the launch of this project. Wilkinson, along with his former players Gary McAllister, Tony Dorigo and Noel Whelan, was in attendance. Asked how he had reacted when the idea was to put him, Wilkinson said: 'Shock, surprise, embarrassment and then appreciation.' Wilkinson's modesty, despite such success with Leeds, is one of the themes of this idea to build a statue. 'I never even thought about having a statue,' he said. 'My statue was what I got from the sport, not what I gave the sport. My reward was getting up in the morning and driving to work as a player, as a coach, as a manager.' Wilko 92, which was fronted by Endeacott, Dave Tomlinson and Neil Barker on the launch night, is calling on supporters to dig deep for this commemoration. There will be various fundraising events put on over the coming months. The initial aim is to unveil the structure — which has already been drawn by iconic Leeds United artist Paul Trevillion — in 2027. There is hope the siting of the prospective statue could be tied to the planned redevelopment of Elland Road. The club was represented at this month's launch event and has made positive, early noises about collaborating with Wilko 92 on the process. Endeacott said the organisers are keen to make this about more than the statue too, by working with Leeds United Foundation, the club's charity, on Wilkinson's legacy. Advertisement 'It's not just a statue,' he said. 'He's clearly not that enamoured with the idea of just him getting all the credit with a statue. 'He wants something else and so he came out with a few ideas and he said, 'Well, if we're going to do it, then we do it right.' 'He's not that actively involved, but he's keen and he's bright and I personally agree with him. It's a fantastic idea. We're hoping we can do more. 'It's not just for the fans, it's for the whole community of Leeds United.' McAllister was one of the cornerstones of Wilkinson's success with Leeds. It was another of those key pieces, compatriot Gordon Strachan, who reached out to him a few weeks ago with a nod to how their former boss was to be properly celebrated. McAllister feels a statue is befitting for a man he puts alongside Revie and Bremner as club legends. It has taken 33 years for a serious push on marking Wilkinson's legacy in West Yorkshire. McAllister, the former Liverpool midfielder who has played with and for some of the biggest names in the sport, was asked why his former manager has been overlooked for so long, despite lifting England's top-flight trophy. 'It's probably because it's wall-to-wall football now, so that's the thing,' he told The Athletic. 'Sky hadn't even been started. 'If he'd been in today's money, he'd have been all over the place. Being the last English one as well would elevate it even higher. 'It was because the games were fragmented. There weren't as many games. There weren't as many live football matches.' In today's money, as McAllister put it, Wilkinson's achievements would be akin to Daniel Farke finishing fourth with Leeds in the Premier League next season before lifting the title in 2026-27. Leicester City won the Championship in 2014 and then the top flight in 2016, if younger readers want context for how rare a feat that is. Advertisement Endeacott, as a fan who was heavily involved in the supporter-funded Revie statue in 2012, is also asked why it has taken so long for a Wilkinson commemoration to gather momentum. 'That's a difficult question,' he said. 'I don't really know. I'm one of those fans (who have not done something before now). 'I truly do remember, with fondness and great respect, what Howard has done for this club. We haven't even mentioned Thorp Arch. Great to hear about #Wilko92 tonight and the planning of a long overdue statue. Lots of exciting stuff to come, watch this space. Find out more here: — LUFC Trust (@lufctrust) June 16, 2025 'That was part of his 10-year plan. He created the academy and he made sure it develops (future footballers for Leeds).' Thorp Arch, the club's training ground and academy, does stand as the one symbol which is synonymous with Wilkinson, though it does not bear his name. Incidentally, former chairman Andrea Radrizzani asked Marcelo Bielsa for permission to name Thorp Arch after the Argentinian in August 2022. He never got a response. The training centre, which sits near Wetherby, has gone on to develop some of the country's finest footballers in the decades since Wilkinson moved on. He wanted to create a Leeds version of Barcelona's famed La Masia. Ian Harte, Stephen McPhail, Jonathan Woodgate, Paul Robinson, Alan Smith, James Milner, Fabian Delph, Lewis Cook, Sam Byram, Kalvin Phillips, Archie Gray and Harry Gray are all proof of what that academy vision has delivered. It seems imperative Wilkinson is remembered for the decades and centuries to come at Elland Road. Every new generation of Leeds fan should have that opportunity to ask their parents and grandparents, 'Who's that man? What did he do here? Why is there a statue of him?' For more information and to donate, visit Wilko 92 here (Top image: Beren Cross/The Athletic)
Perth Now
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Back in the big time! Leeds, Burnley seal Premier League returns
Leeds United and Burnley have secured their return to the Premier League after two and one seasons in the second-tier respectively, their promotions secured by the latter's 2-1 win over third-placed Sheffield United at Turf Moor. The Leeds players, who had earlier done their bit by beating Stoke City 6-0, watched on from the Billy Bremner suite at Elland Road as John Brownhill scored twice for Burnley either side of Tom Cannon's first goal for the Blades. Joel Piroe had struck four goals for a rampant Leeds side, Junior Firpo and Willy Gnonto also scoring. 'It's amazing. If you look at the scenes here, as it was after the final whistle, just pure excitement,' Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu said. 'Within ourselves we've got another target, so we can enjoy this now, but we've got another target we want to achieve. But right now, it's very good.' Leeds boss Daniel Farke, who won promotion from the Championship to the EPL twice with Norwich City in 2019 and 2021, said he was 'lost for words'. 'You can see the atmosphere here, it's incredible. It's well deserved, 94 points at this stage is unbelievable. The lads should celebrate, all our supporters should celebrate. 'We will make sure that this Easter Monday will last for one or two more days. 'We played fantastic last season, with 90 minutes, before the heart-breaking game at Wembley, but to show resilience and keep going, we deserve today to celebrate.' At the other end of the table, relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle stunned play-off hopefuls Coventry City 3-1 to claim their third home win in a row. Cardiff City suffered a huge blow to their survival hopes as a stunning Cameron Brannagan free kick salvaged a 1-1 draw for Oxford United. The remainder of the teams in acute relegation danger all won, Derby County earning a much-needed 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion. Hull City came from behind to beat fellow strugglers Preston North End 2-1, while a terrific second-half display saw Luton Town give their hopes a boost by beating play-off chasing Bristol City 3-1. Colby Bishop's goal earned Portsmouth a 1-0 win over 10-man Watford to seal their safety, with Socceroo Kusini Yengi making a substitute appearance. Tyrhys Dolan kept alive Blackburn Rovers' chances of making the play-offs after a hard-earned 1-0 win at Sunderland. Millwall are just three points off sixth-placed Coventry in the play-off places with two matches to go after a 3-1 win over Norwich at The Den, but Middlesbrough's ambitions were dented by a damaging 2-1 loss at Sheffield Wednesday.
Perth Now
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Leeds and Burnley seal promotion to the Premier League
Leeds United and Burnley have secured their return to the Premier League after two and one seasons in the second-tier respectively, their promotions secured by the latter's 2-1 win over third-placed Sheffield United at Turf Moor. The Leeds players, who had earlier done their bit by beating Stoke City 6-0, watched on from the Billy Bremner suite at Elland Road as John Brownhill scored twice for Burnley either side of Tom Cannon's first goal for the Blades. Joel Piroe had struck four goals for a rampant Leeds side, Junior Firpo and Willy Gnonto also scoring. At the other end of the table two goals from Mustapha Bundu helped relegation-threatened Plymouth stun play-off hopefuls Coventry 3-1 to claim their third home win in a row. Cardiff, meanwhile, suffered a huge blow to their survival hopes as a free-kick screamer from Cameron Brannagan salvaged a 1-1 draw for Oxford and soured Aaron Ramsey's first game as interim Bluebirds boss. The remainder of the teams in acute relegation danger all won, Derby earning a much-needed 3-1 victory over West Brom with goals from Ebou Adams, Jerry Yates and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. That was followed by Albion announcing the departure of manager Tony Mowbray with their play-offs hopes effectively extinguished. Hull came from behind to beat fellow strugglers Preston 2-1 with two Joe Gelhardt penalties while a terrific second-half display saw Luton give their hopes a boost by beating play-off chasing Bristol City 3-1. Thelo Aasgaard, Carlton Morris and Isaiah Jones scored Town's goals. Colby Bishop's goal earned Portsmouth a 1-0 win over 10-man Watford to seal their safety, Kusini Yengi making a substitute appearance. Tyrhys Dolan kept alive Blackburn's chances of making the play-offs after a hard-earned 1-0 win at Sunderland. Millwall are just three points off sixth-placed Coventry in the play-off places with two matches to go after Mihailo Ivanovic scored twice to sink Norwich 3-1 at The Den. Middlesbrough's ambitions were dented by a damaging 2-1 loss at Sheffield Wednesday after substitute Anthony Musaba scrambled home an 89th-minute winner.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🎥 Celebrating Leeds cult hero Pablo Hernández on his birthday 🎂
Leeds United have been graced by some iconic figures across their influential history. Names such as Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, John Charles, and Eddie Gray highlight an illustrious past, while some closer to home such as David Batty, Lucas Radebe, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and so many others, are remembered fondly in Yorkshire. Advertisement And then there are the cult heroes, too, of which Pablo Hernández is certainly among them. Having arrived at Elland Road already on the wrong side of 30, the Spanish midfielder would go on to become a fan favourite during his five seasons at Leeds, helping the club back into the Premier League for the first time since their heartbreaking relegation in 2003/04. Across his best-ever return on a personal level, Hernández would net 36 goals in 175 appearances, while also bringing home three consecutive club Player of the Year honours from 2017-2020. He may not be the most honourable name in club history, but El Mago will be remembered as one of their own. 📸 Stu Forster - 2021 Getty Images
