'Sheridan dictates' - Fans memories of a Leeds United cult hero
John Sheridan was the finest player never to play for Leeds United in the top flight of English football. His quality and talent provided a bright spark for the Elland Road faithful watching gloomy Second Division football during the 1980s.
'Shez' made 261 appearances for Leeds in all competitions between 1982 and 1989 scoring 52 goals including a free kick to remember in the 1987 play-off final replay against Charlton Athletic at St Andrew's. It was a game which saw the Whites just nine minutes away from the promised land of the First Divison before a Peter Shirtliff brace broke hearts.
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Hide AdYour YEP has been asking the faithful to share their memories of a player who lit up Elland Road and will be forever a hero to a generation of supporters.
Responses included:
Adrian Broadhead - "A legend in a poor team. Just imagine what Bielsa could do with a young John Sheridan."
Alex Stevenson - "As a teenager, Sheridan was definitely the player I tried emulating playing football. Class act, and great attitude to fans who idolised him and watched him and Ian Baird every week."
Merv Williams - "Still my favourite player. Those free kicks were special."
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Hide AdIan Taylor - "My all-time favourite Leeds player. Class player. Skilful, dead ball expert, leader, put his foot in, old school in terms of his manner with fans. Class."
Stephen Evans - "We all got the Sheridan hair cut. What a star player."
Nick Moss - "I started watching Leeds in the late 70s and the 80s. It was tough! Sheridan was the shining light."
Shay Cunningham - "He was great to us Dublin Whites. He would bring us into the players lounge after games and often came over to the Old Peacock with us for a game of pool. He was easily the best player of that era and a great guy off the pitch."
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Hide AdGarry Ford - "Class act. Great free kick taker. Best memory was the free kick he scored in the very first play off final at Birmingham."
Tony Younger - "Remember coming back from 2-0 home to Brighton to win 3-2 and in dying seconds he was about 20-25 yards from goal when I shouted as loud as I could from Kop 'shoooot'. He definitely heard me because the ball flew into the back of net."
Paul Howard - "Was my first hero at Leeds. “Oh Jonny, Jonny, Jonny, Jonny, Jonny, Jonny Sheridan” Always stood out on the pitch as a class player, gifted and would be a top earner in today’s game."
Shaun Bailey - "Leeds v Derby 29th Nov 1986. Scored one of the best goals I've ever seen and was right behind it in the South Stand."
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Hide AdPaul Henryk Kuc - "John Sheridan was a bright star in the gloom of the old second division. I will always remember the goal he scored in the play-off final replay at St. Andrews."
Jon Ashworth - "Shez was the shining light in the 80s. Cult hero. Far too good for the second tier. Used to boss all the games."
Tommy Turner - "I played against him for vets a few years back. Still a fab footballer then."
Steven Pattinson - "Had the world at his feet but never got there."
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Hide AdRich Barlow (@Richb1169) - "First year as a season ticket holder was 1986/87 and I still have one now. He’s still one of my favourites after all this time.The goal against Charlton in the play-offs that year was sublime. The fans emotions after the goal and final whistle are still with me to this day."
Allan Langton (@langtarno) - "My first match in 1987 was at Elland Road against Shrewsbury Town. We won and Sheridan scored a penalty. I’ll never forget seeing the pitch for the first time from the Kop."
Andy Limb (@andylimb) - "Tackling a less talented team mate who was dawdling on the ball and missing a chance to counter attack at Bramall Lane, 87/88. Shez nicked it off the poor fella and sprayed a perfect pass out to Glyn Snodin racing away on the wing."
Paul Snowdon (@NakedFarang) - "If I remember rightly, his debut was versus Boro. In what was possibly his first touch, a ball was played from right back to him in the centre circle, and he hit it first time on the half volley out to the left wing. I knew we had something special straight away."
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Hide AdMatty Hebditch (@mattyhebditch) - "His ridiculously impudent goal in FA Cup semi/play-off season against Derby, when he flicked a tapped free kick up to himself and top-cornered it. He was definitely a cut above the rest of our team then. Ran the show some matches."
JG (@JohnnyGiles) - "Home to WBA, end of 86/87 season, same outcome. Leeds won 3-2 and qualified for the play-offs. Good natured pitch invasion saw Shez chaired around the Elland Road pitch by celebrating fans."
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Laura Collins