Revie’s Boys
March 17 1961 is a date etched into the history of Leeds United Football Club. Don Revie was appointed player-manager and introduced by United director Harry Reynolds as the new boss to squad members in the home dressing before training. The background to this moment of historical significance for the club is well documented. Reynolds penned a letter of reference about Revie’s capabilities for the managers post at Bournemouth F.C. and realising he had the person his own club required tore up the letter, spoke with fellow directors, who unanimously agreed to appoint Revie. Twenty four hours after the introductions the Revie era started with a 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth. Revie’s initial United XI of Humphries, Jones, Kilford, Cameron, Goodwin, McConnell, Francis, Fitzgerald, Charlton, Bremner and Grainger is bound in club history. Over 13 seasons in the managers’ hot seat at Elland Road, Revie selected 75 players, apart from himself for a few games, to represent the club. From a team struggling at the foot of Division 2, Revie’s Boys would rewrite club history. During his time at the helm, Leeds won Division 1 and Division 2 titles, the FA Cup, League Cup, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and Charity Shield aside 10 runners up finishes domestically and in European competition. The most feared British club side of its generation, United’s consistency for a decade was unmatched. Every era however must come to an end and when Leeds lined up as Division 1 champions to salute the Loftus Road crowd at Queens Park Rangers on April 17 1974, United’s XI – Harvey, Reaney, Cherry, Bremner, McQueen, Hunter, Lorimer, Clarke, Jordan, Giles, Madeley (substitute Yorath) would be Revie’s last selection. The line up like his first is detailed in club record books ending a remarkable era. During the intervening years, Revie moulded a side respected decades on. Of course, much has been written about legends such as Billy Bremner, the only first team player to straddle the period, Bobby Collins, Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, Peter Lorimer and Johnny Giles but what about less celebrated players like Mike Addy, Nigel Davey, Gerry Francis, Chris Galvin, Glan Letheren and Barrie Wright. Some of Revie’s Boys were inherited, others were jettisoned and many failed to win major honours while others became internationals and household names. Whatever their successes or misfortunes every one was selected by Revie to play a part in the rise of the club during the most memorable period in the club’s history. Don asked 75 footballers to pull on the white shirt of Leeds United. To a man they gave everything to the cause as United developed from a side scrapping for Division 2 survival to the most feared in Division 1 and among the elite in European football. Each biopic documents a players’ role whether for 19 minutes, a handful of matches, a few seasons or over a decade of loyal service during a glorious period associated with The Don. Each player has a tale to tell and it is in that spirit Revie’s Boys has been crafted.