Gary Liddell
Gary Liddell ( born August 27, 1954 in Bannockburn ) is a former Scottish footballer. The striker used mostly as a right winger was in the extended squad of the successful team of Leeds United at the beginning of the 1970s, but did not get beyond sporadic inserts. More club stations were Grimsby Town, Heart of Midlothian and Doncaster Rovers.
Sports career
Leeds United (1971-1977)
Right after Liddell had finished school, which incidentally was the same one Billy Bremner had visited, he joined Leeds United. After completing his footballing education he signed the first professional contract in September 1971. At first league appearance in the first team of young striker had 1972/73 wait when he made his debut in the penultimate round against Birmingham City but by the end of the season. The game, which ended with a 1-2 defeat, had only sporty little value because Leeds had already lost the battle for the English Championship. For this, the FA Cup final against AFC Sunderland found five days instead of later and therefore coach Don Revie decided to to compete with better reserve team. When the " Whites " won the league title in the following season 1973 /74 Liddell contributed a little further in to the team success. Only in the 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle United on March 2, 1974, he came in to replace Peter Lorimer as a right winger, but for the receipt of an official medal not he qualified. Instead, he completed two games in the first three rounds of the UEFA Cup, stood against Strømsgodset IF in the starting lineup and scored in the second leg against Vitória Setúbal (1:3, after a 1-0 first leg victory ) after a further Substitutes his only goal for Leeds United.
The former Scottish youth national team also came in the wake overtime under Revies successor Brian Clough and later Jimmy Armfield not have the reservists existence and then the next appearance on April 1, 1975, against Sheffield United ( 1:1) the last. Again Leeds United was strong replacement weakened started because a week later guested in the semi-final first leg of the European Cup of Champions FC Barcelona at Elland Road. It took nearly two more years before he was transferred for a transfer fee of £ 15,000 for third division side Grimsby Town in March 1977.
Stations to Leeds (1977-1983)
While Liddell was in the remaining matches of the 1976/77 season Grimsby's relegation to the Viertklassigkeit not be avoided, but at the new club, he matured into a regular player. He shot in the season 1977/78 eleven league goals and the year after the return to the third tier succeeded. Only a year later increased the " Mariners " even in the second class second division, but injury problems - including especially a broken leg - ultimately cost him the starting place. So he returned a short time later in his Scottish homeland and tried from February 1981 Heart of Midlothian.
Staying in Edinburgh was not crowned with success. Liddell remained with two goals in 13 league games up to expectations and the "Hearts" rose as Table in the second Scottish League from. Shortly thereafter, he received clearance for a change of club, but only in March 1982, there was an opportunity. Billy Bremner, who now worked as a coach with the English third division side Doncaster Rovers, hired his former teammates. By the end of the 1982/83 season Liddell graduated in Doncaster 37 league games, stood 25 times in the starting lineup and scored four goals. It was the last known appearances in major stage before the end of Liddell's active career. In 1973 born son Andy should also make it in professional football later; he played alongside the Scottish U- 21 team for the Barnsley FC, Wigan Athletic, Sheffield United, Oldham Athletic and Rotherham United.