Gary Sprake

[billie1]

This is a thread for some of the guys on here who watched Gary Sprake play . I'm rereading a biography about Gary Sprake written by his nephew . An interesting read that focuses on Sprakes reputation as a c**k up merchant and his status as a Leeds outcast . Not altogether unsuprisingly , the book makes a strong case for the defence . For me Sprake was an excellent goalkeeper , but some of his colleagues in their books say he lost the plot and should have been replaced sooner as number one choice . But actually should he have been replaced at all ? It seems most of his teammates cannot forgive him for the Daily Mirror article which alleged that the Don tried to fix some important games and as such paint a picture of a player whose confidence was shot to pieces . Indeed Hunter and Lorimer blame him for the second Chelsea equaliser at Wembley in 1970 . Both of them are factually incorrect on this point . So what do you guys think ? Does Sprake deserve his reputation or is his nephew right to argue that history , and Leeds United have treated him very unfairly ? I'd be really interested to know what you think ? (. I think the book is even banned from being sold at Elland Road ?)

[Twiggster]

Interesting topic, Billie. Most clean sheets kept of any Leeds keeper- but also the most keeper appearances for Leeds, so I suppose the law of averages applies.
For every "blunder" he made, he made a few hundred world class saves.
An amicable bloke, who passed out chewing gum to us kids in the crowd at ER and always had the time to chat with us.
As to the newspaper article he supposedly made, implicating the Don in match fixing...so many conflicting versions around, it is difficult to make a judgement.
Personally, I thought he was a far better keeper than Harvey - who made far more keeping errors. Yet when Gary screwed up, he did it on the big stage. However, I always felt safer when Sprake was keepng...and his superb reflex save against Ferencevaros ensured we won the Fairs Cup. Even in that cup final vs chelsea at Wembley, he made a dozen or more great saves from Osgood, who was leaving our defence leaden footed. The pitch was an absolute disgrace that day and you can see he had the ball covered, until it hit a furrow and changed direction. More a fluke goal than a keeping error.
There are plenty of photos on the interweb of Gary laughing and even hugging with the rest of the players, so the animosty they have towards him is purely a result of that stupid newspaper article, after he moved on to brum.
We have won more trophies with Gary twixt the sticks than with any other keeper, so I'l keep my happy memories of him as the most successful keeper I've ever seen at our club.

[BobHirst]

I watched him play all through his Leeds career, up until he lost the job to Harvey. I must admit that I always preferred Sprake to Harvey. No argument, he screwed up a few times, but the rest of the time I thought that he was brilliant. He was a great shot stopper and was excellent with crosses into the area. He won far more games for Leeds than he was responsible for losing. I think it is sad that he has been 'excommunicated' for the stuff that supposedly happened off the field.

[billie1]

It does seem sad that some of the Revie team blame Sprake for not winning more and that just isn't right . Clearly feelings run deep over what they see as betrayal , but it is incorrect to blame him and say he should have been replaced sooner. Should he have been replaced at all . Mick Bates has said that Harvey was good but he was not in Sprakes league as a goalkeeper . That is how my memory sees it to. The only serious rival Sprake has in a best ever 11 would be Nigel Martyn . Some of the inaccuracies are amazing . For instance both Hunter and Lorimer blame Sprake for kicking the ball straight to a Chelsea player who crossed quickly for Hutchinson to equalise in 1970 . They need to watch the DVD because that simply did not happen . All in all it is sad that over 30 years have passed and one of our greatest players remains an outcast and shunned by his former teammates . Life is too short and bygones should be bygones .

[white.riot]

Sprake was better than Harvey but he wasn't the best around at the time - too many games in too many competitions on the back of a small squad probably cost LUFC much more than Sprake ever did, that and Revie's conservatism.

Sprake broke the dressing room code I recall [now the idiots tweet and have no loyalty to owt but money but in those days and for that team it mattered] and was sold for a world record fee (?) for a keeper I believe. The fee tells you he was good. Speaking out having been dropped tells you about his character I guess.

[1964white]

A great keeper on his day, unfortunately remembered for his horrendous clangers

I recall the Anfield kop singing 'Careless Hands' as Gary let the ball go between his legs into the net

As WR posted there were a few better goalies around but take nothing away from Sprake he was a fine keeper in the days when keepers had to protect themselves & as oppose to the modern keeper who are awarded protection from the refs even if you blow on them. Gary had a unique technique when he came out to catch the ball as he sprung in the air with his front leg stretched out, that kept the on-coming forwards at bay

[Twiggster]

I recall the Anfield kop singing 'Careless Hands' as Gary let the ball go between his legs into the net

That was my first (or one of my first) away game and I recal he THREW the ball into his own net, trying to chuck it out to Jack??

[1964white]

That was my first (or one of my first) away game and I recal he THREW the ball into his own net, trying to chuck it out to Jack??

Your'e right !

Which game was it where the ball went between is legs, sure it was an away game ?

[Twiggster]

Your'e right !

Which game was it where the ball went between is legs, sure it was an away game ?

Got me there Leon...Stoke away is the only time I remember that happening - don't think it was the same season tho?

[our lass]

Never liked his hairstyle!!!

[gessa]

Try this, about 40 secs in.

[Twiggster]

Try this, about 40 secs in.

Hmm - so the "legs" goal was indeed against Liverpool - but what game? Glad they showed Sprake's brilliant saves in that Chelsea final as well...and some rare footage of Leeds playing in red! Good find mate:tup:

[1964white]

Try this, about 40 secs in.

Ron Yeats v Liverpool at the Scratching Shed end

I was just a kid at the time & i seem to recall that was the first time i'd seen an incident like that one. My memory is shot, i couldn't remember which game it was for the life of me, been bugging me for the last hour or so !

Thanks Ges

[billie1]

I was watching that video clip the other day and it includes the save Sprake made from Lee at Maine Road that has all the Leeds players openly applauding it . The same players who have wanted nothing to do with him for over 30 years . So sad really .

[white.riot]

I was watching that video clip the other day and it includes the save Sprake made from Lee at Maine Road that has all the Leeds players openly applauding it . The same players who have wanted nothing to do with him for over 30 years . So sad really .

I think you may be missing the point - that side was a family. Sprake criticised the father.The family reacted. Nowt to do with ability. That said Sprake was not Banks/Jennings/Shilton etc.

[billie1]

You're probably right WR , although a number of Sprakes former teammates have also questioned his ability citing him as a reason they didn't win more . For me ,that at least is simply not the case . It's a shame also that collectively they cannot forgive him . Even Michael forgave Fredo ( albeit be did end up having him shot ) !

[white.riot]

You're probably right WR , although a number of Sprakes former teammates have also questioned his ability citing him as a reason they didn't win more . For me ,that at least is simply not the case . It's a shame also that collectively they cannot forgive him . Even Michael forgave Fredo ( albeit be did end up having him shot ) !

Banks in the net we win more. Clough escalated the goalie. Before Shilton they just were