Norman Hunter

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This article is about the footballer. For the children's author, see Norman Hunter (author). For the speedway rider see Norman Hunter (speedway rider)

Norman Hunter
Personal information
Full name	Norman Hunter
Date of birth	29 October 1943 (1943-10-29) (age 64)
Place of birth	Gateshead, England
Playing position	Central defender
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1962–1976 1976–1979 1979–1982	Leeds United Bristol City Barnsley	540 (18) 108 0(4) 031 0(0)
National team
1966–1975	England	028 0(2)
Teams managed
1980–1984 1985–1987 1988	Barnsley Rotherham United Leeds United (caretaker)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Norman "Bite Yer Legs" Hunter (born 29 October 1943 in Eighton Banks, Gateshead, England) was one of the more uncompromising members of the much hated and feared Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He was also part of the 1966 FIFA World Cup winning squad, receiving a medal in 2007.^[1] He has since been included in the Football League 100 Legends.

Contents 1 Early days 2 A reputation sealed 3 Watching the glory 4 Club honours and more World Cup frustration 5 Immortalised by the camera 6 A deserved reputation? 7 The biggest mistake 8 Latter years with Leeds 9 Other clubs and managerial roles 10 Later life 11 Honours 12 References

[edit] Early days

Initially an inside forward, Hunter was moulded by Leeds into a solid and tough central defender who made the No. 6 shirt his own in 14 much-decorated, controversial and eventful years with the club he joined at the age of 15, giving up a job as an electrical fitter in the process. He had been spotted playing for his local amateur side.

[edit] A reputation sealed

He made his first-team debut in 1962 and ended up staying in the side for the rest of that season, forming a formidable partnership at the back with Jack Charlton which would last for a decade. Hunter's reputation as one of the harder and less forgiving defenders in the game was soon sealed, although he was also a skilful, sure-footed footballer - especially for a defender - and had a cultured left foot.

Leeds were promoted as Second Division champions in 1964 and a year later came very close to the "double" of League championship and FA Cup with Hunter to the fore. However, they lost the title to Manchester United on goal average and were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool in the FA Cup final, though Hunter's accurate long pass into the Liverpool area did start the move which led to Billy Bremner's goal.

[edit] Watching the glory

Hunter made his debut for the England team in 1965 but the blossoming partnership between Charlton and Bobby Moore meant that he spent much of his international career as an understudy, winning 28 caps in total. He was in the squad which won the 1966 World Cup but never kicked a ball. He did however receive a winners medal in 2007 for the 1966 tournament after FIFA retrospectively awarded all squad members of winning teams before 1978 winners medals as has been the custom from 1978 onwards^[1].

[edit] Club honours and more World Cup frustration

Leeds progressed through the 1960s, never once coming lower than fourth in the title race, and Hunter picked up a medal as they won the League Cup and their first European honour with the Fairs Cup (later UEFA Cup) in 1968. A year later he won his first title medal and then in 1970 he was part of the team which ceaselessly sought a unique "treble" - and won nothing.

Leeds chased the League championship but lost the race on the last day of fixtures to Everton, went close to the European Cup but were beaten by Celtic in the semi finals, and went after the FA Cup but lost after a replay to Chelsea. Hunter spent a short part of that season injured but despite his race for fitness and disappointment at the end of the campaign, he was still in Alf Ramsey's squad for the summer's World Cup in Mexico, coming on as a substitute in the 3-2 defeat by West Germany.

Leeds were again thwarted in 1971 when Arsenal took the League title with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Defeat or a score draw for Arsenal and the title would have gone to Leeds. In the FA Cup, Leeds fell victim to one of the competition's great giant-killing acts when Colchester United beat them 3-2 in the fifth round. They were 3-0 up, with Hunter then scoring one of Leeds' goals as they attempted a comeback. Leeds did win their second Fairs Cup.

[edit] Immortalised by the camera

In 1972, Hunter's joy as he fought the Leeds cause was captured in one of football's most magnificent photographs. Leeds once again reached the final of the FA Cup, a competition they had yet to win, and at Wembley they faced holders Arsenal. In a tight and not thrilling game, Leeds opened the scoring midway through the second half when Allan Clarke headed home a cross from Mick Jones.

Hunter's defensive position meant that he was at the opposite end of the pitch to Clarke when the Leeds striker launched his diving header - Hunter, like most central defenders, only went forwards for set-pieces or when running with the ball at his feet. A photographer behind the Leeds goal, at the opposite end to Clarke, captured the moment as Hunter leapt high in the air in celebration with arms and legs spread, as if in the midst of a star-jump. Leeds held on to win 1-0 and Hunter had his FA Cup winners' medal at last. At the end of the game, Hunter climbed the steps to the Royal box twice - once to collect his own medal, and then again to help the badly injured Jones negotiate his way up and down. Jones had been receiving treatment for a dislocated shoulder while his team-mates had been getting their prizes.

The next year, Leeds reached two finals - that of the FA Cup again, and also the European Cup Winners Cup. Yet again, however, there would be disappointment for Leeds - Sunderland surprisingly won the FA Cup final and then A.C. Milan were victorious in the Cup Winners Cup final in Greece.

[edit] A deserved reputation?

This dismissal was, contrary to received wisdom, a rare thing for Hunter. In his ten years of playing, he had acquired a reputation as a dirty player, apparently happy to use methods not within the laws of the game to curtail the effect of opposition striker. As such, he was often referred to by supporters, journalists and commentators as Norman "Bites Yer Legs" Hunter, a nickname which stuck and was always meant to be affectionate, despite its comedically violent undercurrent. Yet Hunter was not by any stretch the dirtiest player in English football - indeed, he was not the dirtiest player at Leeds, with captain Billy Bremner capable of far more malicious tackles than Hunter. What Hunter was, however, was brave and tough. He never shirked a tackle to any extent and as such made him a brutal player for opposition forwards to deal with. He was also a far more skilled and cultured footballer than most gave him credit for. His fellow professionals made him their Player of the Year in 1974 - the award's inaugural presentation.

[edit] The biggest mistake

Months earlier, Hunter was in the England team which needed to win their last qualifying tie for the 1974 World Cup, to be held in West Germany. The opposition at Wembley were Poland on 17 October 1973 who just needed a draw. Hunter's whole international career was cocooned into one moment of this match, midway through the second half.

It was 0-0 but England had dominated, with Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski in particularly inspired and charmed form. Then Hunter raced across to the touchline to make a tackle but inexplicably trod on the ball and lost it. Poland quickly exploited the space on a devastating counter attack and took the lead. Clarke equalised with a penalty but England could not get past Tomaszewski from open play and a 1-1 draw saw them miss out on a place at the World Cup. Another famous photograph from Hunter's career was one of him in an inconsolable state being led off the pitch by Bobby Moore, whose place in the side he had taken.

[edit] Latter years with Leeds

Hunter had a new defensive partner for the next season with Leeds, with Gordon McQueen taking the No. 5 shirt made famous by Charlton. Leeds started the season with an astounding 29-match unbeaten run, which led them to the title. Hunter was ever-present in the League for an astonishing fifth season and the departure of inspirational manager Revie to the England job meant that Hunter's own international career continued through to 1975, even though many expected him to be axed after his error against Poland. He ended with 28 caps.

Also, in 1975, Leeds at last reached the European Cup final but yet again disappointment would come their way when they were beaten, again with controversy, by Bayern Munich. Leeds were denied a clear penalty and had a goal disallowed, and this defeat would herald the end of the club's glory days. Revie had already gone and the team was starting to age. Hunter ended 1975 in personal controversy with another sending off after an on-pitch fistfight with Derby County striker (and England team-mate) Francis Lee. Both were fined by the Football Association.

[edit] Other clubs and managerial roles

Hunter played one more season with Leeds before leaving in the autumn of 1976 (at the same time as Bremner) and joining Bristol City. He played there for two years before returning to Yorkshire as a player for, and then manager of Barnsley.

As manager of Barnsley, Hunter inherited a side which had won promotion from the Fourth Division under former Leeds teammate Allan Clarke (who had returned to Leeds as manager) and secured their promotion to the Second Division. An exciting side finished a highly credible 6th place in 1981-82, finding themselves within sight of promotion at one stage. He was replaced by another former teammate, Bobby Collins.

He subsequently assisted his former Leeds team-mate Johnny Giles at West Bromwich Albion and then unsuccessfully managed Rotherham United. During a spell of "old boys network" appointments to the coaching staff at Leeds in the 1980s, Hunter became a first team coach (Clarke, Eddie Gray and Bremner all had spells as manager) and had the chance to stake his own claim to the manager's chair, with three games as caretaker manager after Bremner's sacking. Leeds lost all three of these games however, and Howard Wilkinson was instead appointed manager, bringing in his own coaching staff and dispensing with Hunter's services. Hunter decided at this point he no longer wished to work within the game, and spent some time selling sports goods and insurance.

[edit] Later life

The after-dinner circuit has since become a regular outlet for Hunter's anecdotes and a living earner, and he has also worked for local station BBC Radio Leeds and currently Yorkshire Radio as a summariser at Leeds games. In good and bad times at Elland Road, Hunter has maintained a refreshing honesty and open-mindedness in his opinions at a time when many of his old team-mates lazily trot out the "it was better in our day" line.

In 1998, the Football League, as part of its centenary season celebrations, included Hunter on its list of 100 League Legends.

Hunter released his autobiography, Biting Talk, in 2004. He married Sue in 1968 and the couple have a son and daughter and two grandchildren.

Unfailingly popular with fans he is a total gentleman.

[edit] Honours

England

• World Cup: 1966

Leeds United

• Football League First Division: 1968–69, 1973–74
• Football League Second Division: 1963–64
• FA Cup: 1972
• League Cup: 1968
• FA Charity Shield: 1969
• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: 1968, 1971

[edit] References

• Norman Hunter England profile at Englandstats
• Norman Hunter management career stats at Soccerbase

Awards
Preceded by New creation	PFA Players' Player of the Year 1974	Succeeded by Colin Todd

v • d • e England squad - 1966 FIFA World Cup Winners (1st Title) 1 Banks • 2 Cohen • 3 Wilson • 4 Stiles • 5 J. Charlton • 6 Moore • 7 Ball • 8 Greaves • 9 B. Charlton • 10 Hurst • 11 Connelly • 12 Springett • 13 Bonetti • 14 Armfield • 15 Byrne • 16 Peters • 17 Flowers • 18 Hunter • 19 Paine • 20 Callaghan • 21 Hunt • 22 Eastham • Coach: Ramsey

v • d • e England squad - 1968 UEFA European Championship Third Place 1 Banks • 2 Newton • 3 Wilson • 4 Mullery • 5 Labone • 6 Moore • 7 Ball • 8 Hunt • 9 B. Charlton • 10 Hurst • 11 Peters • 12 Stepney • 13 West • 14 Knowles • 15 J. Charlton • 16 Wright • 17 Stiles • 18 Summerbee • 19 Hunter • 20 Bell • 21 Greaves • 22 Thompson • Coach: Ramsey

v • d • e England squad - 1970 FIFA World Cup 1 Banks • 2 Newton • 3 Cooper • 4 Mullery • 5 Labone • 6 Moore • 7 Lee • 8 Ball • 9 B. Charlton • 10 Hurst • 11 Peters • 12 Bonetti • 13 Stepney • 14 Wright • 15 Stiles • 16 Hughes • 17 J. Charlton • 18 Hunter • 19 Bell • 20 Osgood • 21 Clarke • 22 Astle • Coach: Ramsey

v • d • e Barnsley F.C. – Managers Fairclough (1898–1901) • McCartney (1901–04) • Fairclough (1904–12) • Hastie (1912–14) • Lewis (1914–19) • Sant (1919–26) • Commins (1926–28) • Fairclough (1928–30) • Fletcher (1930–37) • Seed (1937–53) • Ward (1953–60) • Steele (1960–71) • McSeveney (1971–72) • Steele (1972–73) • Iley (1973–78) • Clarke (1978–80) • Hunter (1980–84) • Collins (1984–85) • Clarke (1985–89) • Machin (1989–93) • Anderson (1993–94) • Wilson (1994–98) • Hendrie (1998–99) • Winstanley (1999) • Bassett (1999–2000) • Winstanley (2000–01) • Spackman (2001) • Hodges (2001) • Parkin (2001–02) • Hodges (2002–03) • Thordarson (2003–04) • Hart (2004–05) • Ritchie (2005–06) • Davey (2006–)

v • d • e Rotherham United F.C. – Managers Heald (1925–29) • Davies (1929–30) • Heald (1930–33) • Freeman (1934–52) • Smailes (1952–58) • Johnston (1958–62) • Williams (1962–65) • Mansell (1965–67) • Docherty (1967–68) • McAnearney (1968–73) • McGuigan (1973–79) • Porterfield (1979–81) • Hughes (1981–83) • Kerr (1983–85) • Hunter (1985–87) • Breckin (1987) • Cusack (1987–88) • McEwan (1988–91) • Henson (1991–94) • Gemmill and McGovern (1994–96) • Bergara (1996–97) • Moore (1997–2005) • Knill (2005) • Harford (2005) • Knill (2005–07) • Robins (2007–)

v • d • e Leeds United A.F.C. – Managers Ray (1919–20) • Fairclough (1920–1927) • Ray (1927–35) • Hampson (1935–47) • Edwards (1947–48) • Buckley (1948–53) • Carter (1953–58) • Lambton (1958–59) • Taylor (1959–61) • Revie (1961–74) • Clough (1974) • Armfield (1974–78) • Stein (1978) • Adamson (1978–80) • Clarke (1980–82) • Gray (1982–85) • Bremner (1985–88) • Wilkinson (1988–96) • Graham (1996–98) • O'Leary (1998–2002) • Venables (2002–03) • Reid (2003) • Gray (2003–04) • Blackwell (2004–06) • Wise (2006–08) • McAllister (2008–)