19- Leeds in motion and Gazzamania

March 21, 2021

As the post Bournemouth storm clouds slowly cleared, Leeds moved quickly in early June to strengthen their squad for their return to the top-flight. Thirty-years later, Messers Rodrigo, Liorente, Koch and Rafinha cost us nearly £80m, back in 1990 the outlay was around £2.6m; John Lukic returned from Arsenal for around £1m, a similar amount was spent on Leicester's Gary McAllister, Chris Whyte of West Brom cost just £550k, like McAlister his fee was decided by an independent tribunal who in those days would sit when the club's were unable to agree a fee. It's notable that the latter two players were playing Second Division football as the 90's dawned, although both had played in the top-flight earlier in their careers. Lukic, who began his career at Leeds during the Adamson era was rendered surplus to requirements at Highbury as George Graham signed David Seaman for £1.3m from QPR, ironically Seaman had been on Leeds books the same time as Lukic but we'd let him go - a fact the Leeds Kop always reminded him of with some good-natured banter whenever he visited Elland Road.

However it was World Cup year and Italia 90 soon dominated the back pages. Unlike many of my fellow Elland Roadsters who are massive England fans, I'm somewhat apathetic when it comes to the national team. I write this just a couple of days after Leeds beat Fulham 2-1 and Patrick Bamford slammed home our opening goal at the Cottage just hours after he, and Luke Ayling were omitted from the World Cup qualifiers, which I'm sure outraged others and those long enough to remember other Leeds "snubs" such as Woodgate, Bowyer and Nigel Martyn. Critics will argue its our anti-Leeds establishment paranoia that is to blame but I'm not so sure!

I would argue that Italia 90 was the first major tournament in my lifetime at least captured the nation beyond the dyed-in-the-wool football follower, who rejoiced that at least for two summers out of every four, subject to England qualifying, there was something to get us through that barren three-month period. Believe it or not, my parents did not bother to show the Mexico 86 World Cup for their pub regulars, they just kept popping into the living quarters to get updates from me on the night Diego Maradona's "hand of God" helped knock England out of the Quarter-finals. Euro '88 was blighted by violence, the controversial BBC drama film "The Firm" starring Gary Oldman a depressing prelude as what was to come in West Germany and an ideal opportunity for the Thatcher government to galvanize it's steely resolve to impose more restrictions on us due to a mindless minority.

But 1990 was different and it felt football had been sanitised so it could be discussed and even watched by ordinary folk. Pavarotti, an opera singer who most of us would never have heard of, gave us "Nessun Dorma" the anthem of the summer and could have taken a line straight out of Stafford Heginbothams anecdote book, the one-time Bradford City chairman calling football "The opera of the people". The Cure delayed their arrival on the Glastonbury stage that year so they could watch the Columbia v Cameroon clash. Mancunian electro combo New Order (and Man U fans) gave us a catchy England World Cup song "World in Motion" which was a far cry from the usual, tuneless, mournful dirge offered by 22 barely interested players shuffled into a recording studio.

As for England, they were slow starters, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Jack Charlton's Eire, then held the Netherlands to a goalless draw in Calgari, just two years after Van Beaten, Gullit, Rikaard at al destroyed them at the Euros. Then in the final group F game against Egypt, a solitary goal from Mark Wright won it for England to progress to the next round.

In the knock out stage, David Platt scored a winner in the last minute of extra-time to avoid a penalty shoot out with Belgium and take England into the quarters. The following Sunday, my Dads pub was packed for the Quarter-finals against Cameroon, the surprise package of the tournament and England trailed 2-1 with just seven minutes remaining before Gary Lineker smashed home a penalty, then got another 15 minutes into extra-time. Then the semi' s, England trailing 1-0 before a late Lineker equaliser, extra-time, Paul Gascoigne booked and realises he'd be suspended for the final starts bawling. Then the penalty shoot out which England lose 4-3, Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle missing the crucial spot kicks and opening themselves up for years of taunts of "Who let their country down?" from Leeds fans and no doubt plenty of others.

Back in the Midlands, Barry was on the phone to ask if I would not mind driving him to the LUSCWM branch AGM held one hot Sunday afternoon, I renewed my season -ticket and vowed to guard it with my life. The meeting was held in some pub and already quite a few lads and lasses were proudly sporting our iconic "Top Man" home jersey made by Umbro. The Leeds commercial department, then run by an amiable guy called Bob Baldwin clearly missed a trick as the away kit, the yellow triangular squiggly one remained the same and would do so for another season making it THREE seasons in total. So there were no new goalkeeper kits, times three, or a third shirt, training gear which would change at the turn of the year, match day arrival wear, bench coats...please look away dear Angus Kinnear if you are reading this!