Liddell: Gary

1971-1977 (Player Details)

Forward

Born: Bannockburn, Stirlingshire: 27-08-1954

Debut: v Birmingham City (a): 30-04-1973

5’9” 9st 11 ½ lb (1975)

Liddell joined Leeds straight from school, the same one as attended by Billy Bremner, and turned professional in September 1971 after completing his apprenticeship. He made his United debut in the last couple of games of the 1972-73 season as United fielded a weakened team just prior to their FA Cup Final with Sunderland. The team was Gary Sprake (In his only game of the season and his final one for Leeds); Chris Galvin (At right back for probably the only time in his life!), Peter Hampton; Terry Yorath, Roy Ellam (replaced by forward, Billy McGinley for his only appearance in the first team), Frank Gray; Gary Liddell, Peter Lorimer (a regular!), Joe Jordan (a regular), Jimmy Mann (his only game of the season), and Mick Bates (regular inside forward!). His other League start was in a similarly weakened side on 1st April 1975 in a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United in the reign of Jimmy Armfield a week prior to the home game against Barcelona in the European Cup. In the 1973-74 season, there were substitute appearances in the 1-1 home draw against Newcastle United, when he replaced Peter Lorimer, and in the UEFA Cup defeat at Vitoria Setubal when he came on for Gordon McQueen and scored his only Leeds goal. There were run on games in the UEFA Cup away draw at Stromgodset and the League Cup defeat at Ipswich Town. The Scottish Youth international never got a chance to shine at Leeds because of the intense competition for a place with quality players Leeds had at there disposal in the time he was at the club. He was able to show his best form after joining Grimsby Town for £15,000 in March 1977, scoring twenty-two goals in one hundred and five appearances, including fifteen from the bench, in four years at Blundell Park, despite bad luck with injuries and a broken leg which saw him lose his regular spot in 1980. He went north of the border closer to his native heath and had a short spell with Heart of Midlothian in February 1981 but returned to Yorkshire with Doncaster Rovers in March 1992 to link up with Billy Bremner, who had become manager at Belle Vue. He scored four goals on thirty seven League games, including twelve from the bench, before leaving at the end of the 1992-93 season. His son, Andy, a Scottish Under-Twenty-one international, was a striker with Barnsley, Wigan Athletic, Sheffield United and Oldham Athletic.