Eddie Gray pays emotional tribute to 'very good man' and Leeds United legend Terry Yorath, following death
The pair won the first Division Title together at Leeds United under Don Revie.
Eddie Gray has paid an emotional tribute to former Leeds United team-mate Terry Yorath following his death, aged 75.
Yorath’s passing was confirmed by his family on Thursday morning, with a statement from his children describing their dad as a ‘quiet, kind and gentle man’. Leeds United also sent their condolences to the family and labelled the 1973/74 First Division title winner a ‘club legend’.
During Yorath’s nine-year spell at Leeds between 1967 and 1976, he shared many a dressing room with Gray during his 199 appearances. The pair both arrived in Leeds from elsewhere in the UK - Yorath from Cardiff and Gray from Glasgow - before making their names under Don Revie.
“He was a tough player, a very good player,” Gray told the Press Association. “He was captain of his country, which made him very proud. It’s a sad day for everybody connected with Leeds United.
“It was expected, so it was not a shock to everybody, but I’d like to send my condolences to all the family. He was a big part of the success we had at Leeds. He was a very proud Welshman and his greatest achievement was to have been captain of his country. He loved playing for his country.
“He came through the ranks at Leeds as a young lad like all the players at that particular time and we had a lot of top players, but he went about his role with a lot of tenacity and did very well. A tough player and a very good footballer, but above all he was a very good man.”
Yorath left Leeds for Coventry City in 1976 before spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Vancouver Whitecaps, Bradford and Swansea City. He went on to manage Swansea and Cardiff City as well as Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday, Lebanon and Wales.