The truth behind tarnished legend of Don Revie

Jun 27 2010 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

“I also wrote Dirty Leeds, which wove fiction and fact, telling the story about the club through the eyes of a character called Jimmy O’Rourke.

“I do the same with Disrepute, telling Don Revie’s story from Jimmy’s point of view, combining drama fiction with fact in an entertaining way.”

Don was born into poverty in Middlesbrough in 1927 but left Teesside for a new life when he was 17 to play for Leicester.

He went on to play for Hull City, Manchester City, Sunderland and Leeds United, with his combined fees adding up to a record amount for the time.

He became player-manager for Leeds United in 1961, steering them to two Football League First Division titles and six other trophies, but when he tried to recreate the same close-knit-spirit as England manager in 1974 he failed dismally, mainly because it wasn’t practical to have the same amount of contact and close relationship with players scattered around the country.

Three years later, under a cloud, he quit England for the Middle East.

Robert said: “The FA held a court case without him even being there and banned him from managing any UK club for 10 years.

“It went to the High Court and he won the case, but he still got a slagging from the judge . . . there was a lot of bias in those days.”

The writer decided not to approach Don’s surviving son and daughter, Duncan and Kim, but hopes they will read the book.

He added: “I didn’t want to seem biased by going to them, but I’m very hopeful that they will appreciate what I have tried to do.”

Disrepute: Revie’s England is out now, published by Tonto Books priced £7.99.