Gordon McQueen was Rock Solid

Author: Chris Marker

Kilbirnie born Gordon McQueen began his soccer career at St. Mirren who signed him as a 18 year old. Impressed by the youngster, Leeds United manager Don Revie eventually lured him to the high flying Yorkshire club for £30,000 in 1973. The young stopper quickly managed to establish himself in the first team at Elland Road and he was a regular member of the immensely talented Leeds United side that went on to win the League Championship in 1974.
Following Don Revie's departure to manage the England team, Leeds were declining and hatred between the players started to bubble over. Gordon McQueen was finally brought to Manchester United for £495,000 in February 1978 where he linked up with former Elland Road team mate Joe Jordan who had made the trip from Leeds to Manchester only a few weeks before.
Apparently, Leeds selling two of their stars to Manchester United did not go down well in Yorkshire and both players were targeted with booing and jeering every time they were up against their former employers in the years to come. The hostility between Manchester United and Leeds may very well originate from the War of the Roses, but in soccer terms the rivalry started back in the sixties when Leeds were led by Don Revie and Manchester United by Sir Matt Busby.
While at Old Trafford, Gordon McQueen helped Manchester United win the FA Cup final in 1983 after a replay against Brighton and Hove Albion. A rough and rugged player, he proceeded to make a total of 184 appearances for the club. The Scottish giant stayed with the Reds until 1985 when he announced his retirement from the game because of persistent injuries.
Gordon McQueen won 30 full caps for Scotland after making his first appearance for his native country against Belgium in 1974. He eventually went into soccer management, taking over the helm at Scottish club Airdrieoninans in 1987.
"But Manchester United are Manchester United. They are the bigger of the two clubs, and always will be. Even going from a place like Leeds, with all their household names, you noticed a huge difference. Manchester United weren't the best, but they were the biggest."
Gordon McQueen quote.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/soccer-articles/gordon-mcqueen-was-rock-solid-4030181.html

About the Author

United Blog Articles is a website dedicated to Manchester United. Soccer is undoubtly the most accepted sport in the world. And it is most likely no more than fair to say that Manchester United is the most popular club world wide. Read supplementary articles on Gordon McQueen at United Blog Articles.