Authors: Paul Harrison
Keep Fighting
Dedicated to the football fans of Scotland,
Leeds United, Hull City and Doncaster Rovers
CONTENTS
1 IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS … BILLY BREMNER
7 WE LOVE YOU LEEDS – LEEDS – LEEDS
8 ‘LEADING LEEDS UNITED WAS MY DESTINY’
10 SIDE BEFORE SELF EVERY TIME
13 OVER THE HILL AND NOT FAR AWAY
15 MANAGERIAL MERRY-GO-ROUND AT LEEDS
18 BILLY'S MOST MEMORABLE GAMES
This book could not have been completed without one outstanding individual, namely William John Bremner. Footballer, family man and a decent all-round human being. Billy was a true gentleman off the pitch and a colossus and leader of men upon it. His every football performance was filled with passion and a genuine desire to succeed, not only for himself, but for his club, his country and more importantly for the tens of thousands of fans who would spend their hard-earned money to marvel at his consistent top-quality performances. To thousands of football supporters around the world Billy Bremner was (and remains) a hero, a legend and a god. Anyone arriving at Elland Road football stadium, home of Leeds United AFC, is greeted by the brilliantly captured clenched fist (Keep Fighting) life-size statue of Leeds’ favourite son. His name and image are synonymous with the West Yorkshire side's football successes of decades past. Elsewhere around Elland Road one can find a commemorative plaque bearing his name, Billy's Bar and an abundance of Billy Bremner memorabilia on sale in the Leeds United club shop, bearing testament to the influence and adulation he is still awarded by the Leeds faithful.
Such memories are not solely confined to the postcode LS11; in the district of Raploch in his home city of Stirling there exists a further commemorative plate and the annual Billy Bremner Regeneration Trophy, a youth football competition that was first introduced in 2006 to commemorate Billy Bremner. It would have given him some satisfaction to note that the 2007 winners of the trophy were Raploch-based Castleview.
This book was originally penned in 1998 but never made the bookshelves at that time. Now, over a decade later, it is with the
utmost pride that I am able to put into print the results of dozens of those interviews I held with Billy since I first met him back in 1968 and the thoughts, recollections and anecdotes of many of the real football superstars of the Billy Bremner era, but more of that later.
This work could not have been achieved without the help of an entire Premier League size-squad of support. I would like to thank each of the following for their contributions, thoughts, opinions and assistance in the completion of this work and in particular: Mandy, Mark Daniel and Paula Jayne Harrison. Sincere appreciation must go to: Bingo, Angel and George, Mason and Blossom, Will Scott, the late Don Revie OBE, Mrs Isabel McDonald, Howard Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Pele, the late John Charles CBE, the late Bertie Mee OBE, the late Brian Clough OBE, the late Albert Johanneson, Eddie Gray, Peter Lorimer, Paul Reaney, Norman Hunter, Franz Beckenbauer, Billy McNeill MBE, Bobby Lennox MBE, the late Jimmy Johnstone, the late Willie Henderson, the late Bob Stokoe, John Greig MBE, Jimmy Hill OBE, the late Don Weston, the late Ian Hutchinson, Dave Mackay, the late Alan Ball MBE, the late Keith Newton, the late Derek Dougan, Craig Brown CBE, Tommy Gemmell, the late Bobby Murdoch, David Hay, Gordon McQueen, Jimmy Armfield CBE, Trevor Francis, Jim Smith, Graham Carr, the late Joe Baker, Barry Fry, Dave Bassett, Howard Kendall, Michel Platini, Joe Royle, Sammy McIlroy, Gordon Strachan OBE, Colin Todd, Graham Taylor OBE, Graham Kelly, George Burley, Glenn Aitken, Dickie Guy and Raymond Blaylock. Many thanks also go to the Football Associations of England and Scotland and in particular to Catherine Smith of the latter, Donald Morton of the
Stirling Observer
and staff of the British newspaper library (ex-Colindale). Finally, my eternal thanks go to the thousands of supporters of Leeds United who have shared terrace and seat space alongside me at countless stadiums across the United Kingdom and Europe. I hope each and every one of you enjoy this treasure trove of football nostalgia as a fitting tribute to, and courtesy of, the late great Billy Bremner.
Paul Harrison
Now little Billy Bremner is the Captain of the crew,
For the sake of Leeds United he would break himself in two.
His hair is red and fuzzy
And his body black and blue
As Leeds go Marching On.
His eyes they shone like diamonds
Lived a man, who played for Leeds,
Billy Bremner was his name,
The best wing half you've ever seen.
We all live in a white Scratching Shed
A white Scratching Shed.
There's a red-headed tiger known as Billy,
And he goes like a human dynamo.
One Billy Bremner
There's only one Billy Bremner.
There's a tale I'm goin’ to tell you
All about a brave young man
Who was born and bred in Scotland,
That's where history began.
He once cheered the Glasgow Celtic
Just the soon as he could talk;
And he'd kick a paper football
Just the soon as he could walk.
And his name is Billy Bremner
We will never forget his deeds;
He was made to play for Scotland,
Now he captains United of Leeds.
So he came to Leeds United,
And they made Don Revie the boss;
All the Elland Road fans were excited
And wor gain was Celtic's loss.
Many giants have tried to slay him
When he fights for every ball;
But he knows the famous saying
When they're big the harder they fall.
And his name is Billy Bremner
We will never forget his deeds,
He was made to play for Scotland,
Now he captains United of Leeds.
When they talk of Matthews and Pele
Of Lawton and Finney and James,
Like a whisky in your belly
He will glow amongst those names.
He will lead our lads to glory,
He will lead our lads to fame;
When they sing United's story
You will always hear the name.
And his name is Billy Bremner
We will never forget his deeds,
He was made to play for Scotland,
Now he captains United of Leeds.
And his name is Billy Bremner
We will never forget his deeds,
He was made to play for Scotland,
Now he captains United of Leeds.
(
BY THE LATE JOHN
C
HARLES
)
When Paul Harrison approached me to write a few words about my old friend, the late Billy Bremner, I didn't hesitate to say yes and agree. Both Billy and Paul had one thing in common, a genuine passion for Leeds United, and it is a real privilege for me to be able to add my own thoughts.
If there is one person who truly sums up all that Leeds United stands for, then that person has to be Billy Bremner. Throughout the years I knew him, Billy remained extremely passionate about three things in his life: his wonderful family, Leeds United, and his beloved Scotland. I've never known a more committed and driven person, in everything he did Billy gave his everything. Never more so than when he pulled on the legendary all-white shirt and playing kit of Leeds, or blue and white of Scotland.