Jimmy Armfield: A Man of Lufc History

Jimmy Armfield took over at Leeds when the club had fallen into somewhat disrepute.

The club had failed in their acquisition of Brian Clough and were sitting very awkwardly at the bottom of a League they had previously dominated.

Armfield had been a former star for Blackpool and took over the reigns, delivering not only a positive finish to a woeful season but got Leeds to the final of the European Cup, in which we were robbed.

The story goes that after the European Cup final loss the players had thrown their medals on the ground in disbelief, Jimmy went and picked up each one of them to make sure no player missed out.

A man that may not have delivered the same as the great Don Revie but restored balance to an ageing Leeds team. Armfield took the time to rebuild Don Revie’s dominant side with signings like Tony Currie and Brian Flynn.

Speaking to Phil Hay yesterday, Eddie Gray said that Armfield had given the flying winger the passion to continue playing at Leeds and gave the great his first opportunity at coaching with the youth setup at Elland Road.

It’s with deep sadness Jimmy has been taken from us at the age of 82 and many fans will remember him as a saviour of the club.

Here’s hoping that Leeds as a club remember Jimmy at the ground and move to install him on the South Stand board in which he guided us to a European final, it’s a disappointment that he was not placed their in the first place.

Let’s recognise Jimmy and remember a brilliant coach who enjoyed a good time with the club.

RIP Jimmy, you’ll always be a part of Leeds.

By Ryan Ingham