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Gary Sprake is a name synonymous with goalkeeping cock-ups: mention
his name to most non-Leeds fans and they'll start humming "Careless
Hands". To take an objective look at his career, you'd realise that
this is an unfair assessment of an excellent keeper. He was an
instinctive shot stopper, became the youngest ever keeper to appear
for Wales, and for nearly 10 years was Leeds' first choice, despite
the presence of David Harvey in the wings. He was prone to the odd
gaffe - and they just tended to happen when the TV cameras were there
to broadcast them to the rest of the country.
His debut for Leeds came rather unexpectedly: Tommy Younger went down with
a temperature just before Leeds' game with Southampton at the Dell,
with Sprake back home in Leeds. The club chartered a two-seater plane
to fly the young keeper down to Southampton airport, with the game's
kick-off being postponed by 30 minutes to allow the slightly green
stopper to get to the ground.
Some say Leeds would have won more with a different keeper: that's
possible, but may be a bit coloured by the soured relationship between
Don Revie and Sprake after the latter had some fairly uncomplimentary
things to say about the man who had made it possible for him to win
so many prizes at the very top level. Sprake moved to Birmingham
but made only a handful of appearances before being forced to retire
due to injury. His remarks about Revie estranged him from the rest
of the squad, and he is just about the only member of the Glory Years
side who hasn't maintained some sort of contact with the club or
with his former colleagues in his retirement.
Maldwyn Lindley says: Yes i saw Gary Sprake play many times and I
saw him pull off a lot more good saves than bad ones and as for
cameras being there then I would refer to the 1970 Cup Final. But over
the years many other keepers have made a lot more fumbles but they
never seem to get mentioned probably the stick Sprake got was because
it was Leeds he was playing for and not many of the opposition liked
Leeds because at the end of the day there wasn't another team fit to
lace their boots on the day. And yes i did meet Gary Sprake when I was
10 years old in the centre of Leeds in 1971. I wrote to him and he
replied and as a young leeds fanatic in them days he was my hero.
Trouble is don't get much chance to see them now as I live in Perth
West Australia but for me there's only one team - LUFC.
Martin Goldman says: I was very good friends with Gary from 1972
until his transfer to Birmingham City. Unfortunately his time in
Birmingham was not so successful. He was very ill at one stage and had
a life threatening operation in a Birmingham hospital (I can exactly
remember the year). I went to see him with another close friend called
Peter Tebbs, who was Gary's insurance broker!! Peter, myself and
another guy called Gordon McFarlane (Mac) were all very close and had
some good times together.
Whatever is said about Gary,I must say he was a truly great
goalkeeper. I know he did make some important blunders like at
Liverpool when he threw the ball in his own net!! (I was there and
travelled back with the team on the train after the game), but I can
assure you and everybody out there he saved Leeds United many many
times from defeat with some great displays, which were not shown on
tv. Mac,Peter and myself saw probably every game when Gary was playing
home and away;that is why Revie played him all those years.
We did lose contact and it was only about two weeks ago that I said to
Peter Tebbs that we should make contact and go to see Gary who still
lives in Birmingham,and I believe works for Birmingham council in some
capacity.
Sonia Noble says: Please let Gary Sprake know I heard him being
interviewed about his goal mistake on Radio 4 17.9.02 and thought the
interviewer was excessively rubbing salt in the wound, bringing up
further old mistakes. I emailed the BBC to say as much. Smile Gary,
I am sure it was not just me that thought you had a raw deal on the
interview.
Martin McGloin says: prior to last season the last time Leeds
played a league game at Fulham was back in the late 60s .Gary Sprake
was in goal and he was so bored during the 5-0 win he was throwing
chewing gum to the fans behind the goal...happy days
Denise Lavis says: I'm Gary's niece - saw him play quite a few
times - great goalie - great guy - thanks for the tickets Gary - all
his family are very proud of him - youngest goalie to play for Wales -
I rember the chewing gum wrappers - a few mistakes OK - but look at
some of todays goalies - no names mentioned!
Jo Walker (Wood) says: Gary Sprake is my uncle,the last time I saw
him was at my father's funeral 12 years ago. I am trying to get in
touch with my family and would be grateful if you know of his
whereabouts if you could let me know, or pass on this email
address. thanks.
David Edge says: What made Gary Sprake such a hated goalie? He had
the confidence of Revie, but not the hard style of the other players
for Leeds. He should have played for Chelsea, where his gum-throwing,
and goalpost-leaning antics would have been seen as style, not
weakness and boredom.
Maybe its sad to see people put Gary down so much, but... if you watch
"The Glory Years" video you will see that it was probably a lack of
goalkeeping practice (Leeds being so great) that made him a bit, if
not a lot, lazy in his attitude to getting his knees dirty when going
for a ball. I must be honest and say David Harvey didnt impress me
that much, either. What if Leeds had had a Banks or Bonetti? I still
love the old side, and STILL get excited when I watch games from 30
years ago! Oh, dear. Quick nurse, the screens...
Stu Sprake says: If Jo would like to get in touch with me I will
gladly pass on relevant info to Gary. There are statistics, more
statistics and damn lies! However, 507 appearances, 37 caps for Wales,
at least as many missed through injury (Revie paying to stay in
Leeds?)and mistakes that could be counted on one hand. Truly a
great!!!
Johnny Meynell says: Without doubt, Gary Sprake was a footballing
icon. I'd love to have chat with him some day, just to talk about the
old days. As a youngster, I followed Leeds, and remember crying BEFORE
Sunderland beat them in the FA Cup 1973. All the old Leeds players
kept in touch, but Sprake was always conspicuous by his absence. What
really happened when Leeds met Wolves two days after lifting the FA
Cup in 1972. Sprake didn't play at Molineux, how could he say Revie
tried to bribe the Wolves players. Did he have an axe to grind? Is
there no smoke without fire? Though I'm now an engrained Halifax Town
fan (for 24 years) I still get a buzz out of watching those old
Seventies videos, and of Leeds at their best 1971-72. Sprake was very
much part of that tream until late on, and missed out on the Cup win
over Arsenal (when Harvey was excellant).
Andy Conner says: Her'e onr for the anoraks! Can anyone tell me how
many clean sheets Sprake kept? Jabba says: 216 at Leeds.
Stu Sprake says: the research for Gary's book is going really well
- some ex team mates have been of great help - others have told me
where to shove my pen - can you ask the good folk out there to share
their memories - they can be as libellous as they like - the
responsibility is mine - can contact me on my email (stusprake _at_
lineone.net).
steve says: i am a great fan of gary and all keepers can any please
pass on a contact address to me so i can ask for autograph many
thanks
Ian Johnson says: I was at Liverpool for "that" game -and missed
what happened because I saw he had the ball in his hands and I bent
down to tie my shoelaces. gary was as tough, to say the least, as the
rest of them. The Chelsea semi we lost at Villa I was behind the goal
when they scored. Gary had a habit of catching the ball with one of
his legs quite high as he jumped- he scrunched his studs into the face
of Hutchinson ( I think ) right in front of me after the refs back was
turned. Lucky we didn't have a penalty against us for that one. An
enigmatic player I am sorry he hasn't had the support of all his
colleagues of the era and hope he is doing well in his life. The
errors he made are nothing compared to some of the goalkeeping horrors
we see on TV every week these days.
Julie says: I think Gary Sprake was not only a wonderful keeper for
Leeds, but also a really exceptionally nice man too. As a young girl
i wrote to him just before the 1972 FA Cup Final against Arsenal to
ask for his autograph. Although he was not chosen for the match
(shame!) he very kindly sent me a signed photograph with a lovely
message on the back, from the hotel where the Leeds team were staying.
I will never forget the excitement of opening that envelope! Even
though he must have been going through all kinds of emotions, he put
himself out especially - thanks Gary. My own son, Gareth, became a
goalkeeper too strangely enough. I would love to know when Gary is
going to have his book published, because i want to be first in
line!!!
Chris Mason says: I an a Leeds ex-pat (I live in Worle, North
Somerset) but I used to follow Leeds everywhere during their "Glory
Years" under Don Revie - I still have the programs from the cup final
win over Arsenal and the loss against Chelsea in the replay! Can
anyone tell me where I can get "The Glory Years" video mentioned above
- or any other videos of this period covering this most fantastic team
? To the team : - guys, you made my childhood complete - you were the
best team this country has everproduced, thank you !
Tim Johnson says: For all of you who have expressed an interest in
the Gary Sprake book it is about a third of the way through. It is
amazing that after researching the archives how many games Gary saved
leeds far more than the half dozen mistakes he made. Robbo made this
many mistakes in the games I have seen live this year plus the
Liverpool/Bolton mistakes though these never are emphasised. The book
will hit the shelves within the next twelve months
Josh Sprake says: Gary is my great uncle, I am too young to have
seen him play but I've seen lots of videos of Leeds and Wales. I
support Swansea City, Leeds and Real Madrid. I'm fed up with my
father, every time we go to a game or watch tv the keeper makes a
great save , tipping the ball over the bar, or diving full length to
turn the ball around the post. What does my father say, "Sprakey would
have caught that". Was he that good or does my father's memory play
tricks?
alan watts says: i am related to gary sprake he is my uncle in the
watts family althgough my children have not met him.
Ian Henderson says: I know that Gary made a few mistakes - don't we
all? His saves in Hungary won us the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in
1968. He was also a smashing bloke. He spent a lot of time talking to
me and my young nephew after we beat Spurs in the 6th round of the FA
Cup in 1972. If anyone reading this knows him please pass on my best
regards to a great.
neil sims says: I remember him as a great keeper in a great
team. All the lads in our office remember his great performances but
where is he now?
Michael Marsden says: As my father came from Dewsbury, Leeds became
my team. Each year during the October half-term my father would take
me to watch Leeds play and also watch them train. I loved the
excitement of waiting for the players to come out and sign autographs.
Coming from Wales meant that Gary Sprake was one of my hero's. Imagine
what a disappointment it was, when aged 10, on being asked for his
autograph, Gary just walked past me and said, "I don't sign those
things". I discovered later that day that he had been put on the
transfer list. I know this story seems contrary to some of the other
experiences written, but that is mine.
Julia Sprake says: just logged on for the first time and it's
lovely to read the nice comments about my dad! if anyone wants to get
in touch with me pls do.
Stu Sprake says: Just wondering if Michael Marsden's memory has
become hazy through the mists of time. During the research for Gary's
biography I have received numerous messages, each praising his down to
earth nature.Perhaps Michael has confused Gary with Paul Reaney, they
both had curly hair, although Gary's was a lot fairer. Gary was never
placed on the transfer list,he asked for a transfer. Unlike some of
his ex-team mates Gary still signs autographs upon request, usually
returning them after paying the postage himself, which becomes
expensive given the high number of requests. As a passionate and
patriotic Welshman I am sure Gary would right this perceived wrong if
Michael would get in touch.
Len Mullins says: As a Leeds fan for 40 years, Gary Sprake was my
hero (and still is). People forget he was automatic first choice
goalkeeper for Leeds when they were the No 1 team in England - which
was for the best part of ten years. Born and brought up in
Pembrokeshire, I was always intrigued that Gary was first spotted when
he played for a Swansea schoolboys side against a Pembroke XI. He
single-handedly defied Liverpool in the 1965 FA Cup Final defeat by
Liverpool - a display he was to repeat at Wembley for Wales against
England a few years later when he again ended up losing 2-1. I first
saw him in the flesh when Leeds brought down their first team, to play
Swansea in Ivor Allchurch's testimonial in 1967. Gary was the hardest
man in a team of hard men. Didn't he once dump a fully suited Jack
Charlton in the team bath? And he was handy with his fists. Just ask
the then Arsenal striker Bobby Gould whom Gary laid out at
Highbury. And how many packets of Wrigleys would he get through in a
match? He performed heroics not only for Leeds - especially in Europe
- but also for Wales whom he never let down. I didn't know this site
existed but am delighted to discover it. Fifty-yr-old men aren't
supposed to have heroes, but Gary's mine. I hope he sees this site and
realises how highly people rated him. Gary, I hope you're well. You
gave me and a lot of others a great deal of pleasure. Cheers mate.
Carig Hartgen says: Ive got the 'Glory Years' video and although it
pinpoints a few of Gary Sprake's mistakes, he was no doubt a wonderful
keeper,one of the best Leeds ever had! If he hadnt been that good then
Revie would have replaced him long before. I look forward to Gary's
book being released. I would like to get in touch with any reletives
of the legend Sprake!
Carl Sprake says: I've no idea if I am related to Gary, but I have
sent Stu an email. If any member of the Sprake family would like to
get in touch then please send me an email - c.sprake AT
ntlworld.com
janet deighton says: me and a friend used toi watch gary in the old
scratching shed at elland and we always threw chewing gum at him he
used to live in adel nr leeds then and we used to go up there to see
if we could see him anywhere thats fan worship
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