Liddell: Gary

1971-1977 (Player Details)

Forward

Born: Bannockburn, Stirlingshire: 27-08-1954

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

5’9” 9st 11½ 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. The game took place a week prior to the home game against Barcelona in the European Cup and once more the Leeds team was not comprised of regulars. In the 1973-74 season, there were substitute appearances in the 1-1 home draw against Newcastle United on 2nd March 1974, when he replaced Peter Lorimer, and in the UEFA Cup defeat at Vitoria Setubal, on 12th December 1973, when he came on for Gordon McQueen in the eightieth minute and scored two minutes later, for his only Leeds goal. There were run-on games in the UEFA Cup away draw at Stromgodset, on 19th September 1973 and the League Cup defeat at Ipswich Town, on 8th October 1973. The Scottish Youth international never got a chance to shine at Leeds because of the intense competition for a place with the 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 League appearances, including fifteen from the bench, in four years at Blundell Park, despite bad luck with injuries which included a broken leg that 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 starting in February 1981. He made his debut at Dunfermline Athletic in a friendly on 16th February 1981 in a 1-1 draw and scored four times in twenty-two starts and two games from the bench in the League, got two goals in five starts in the League Cup and added two further goas in five starts and one game from the bench in friendlies before playing his final game on 6th February 1982 in a 1-0 win at East Stirlingshire. He returned to Yorkshire with Doncaster Rovers in March 1992 to link up with Billy Bremner, who had become Manager at Belle Vue. He made his Rovers' debut on 27th March 1982 at Huddersfield Town in 2-1 win in a Third Division fixture. He scored four goals on thirty seven League games, including twelve from the bench, before leaving at the end of the 1982-83 season. His son, Andy, a Scottish Under-Twenty-one international, was a striker with Barnsley, Wigan Athletic, Sheffield United, Oldham Athletic and Rotherham United.