Gordon McQueen 9ct 1973-74 Division I League Championship winners plaque

Gordon McQueen 9ct 1973-74 Division I League Championship winners plaque inscribed CHAMPIONS DIVISION I,  1973-74, LEEDS UNITED GORDON McQUEEN, mounted on teak with easel stand, in original fitted case

Leeds United won their 2nd League Champions this season with 62 points, Liverpool being runners-up on 57 points

The following lots 178 to 210 relate to the career of Gordon McQueen

Provenance Gordon McQueen thence by family decent 

Gordon McQueen was born in Kilbirnie, Scotland in 1952 and, as a young sportsman he excelled with his first love being football, and he marked his first steps to stardom with local side Largs Thistle before coming to the attention of St. Mirren, where he would cut his teeth in the Scottish Leagues, making 57 appearances before coming to the attention of Don Revie and Leeds United.

Jack Charlton was coming to the end of his illustrious playing career and taking his infamous black book with him, so the Elland Road football side needed to bring a defender to the Club capable of filling Big Jack’s huge boots, and McQueen, it was decided, was the man for the job, and a £30,000 bargain fee brought him over the border and to West Yorkshire’s finest.

He played a key part in securing the League Title for Leeds in 1973-74, a powerhouse in defence throughout, and it was little surprise that he was called up for his first Scotland cap in 1974, going on to make 30 international appearances over a decade for country.

His first season also saw him gain a runner up medal in the European Cup Winners Cup, and the same would happen again in the Final of All Finals when Leeds lost in Paris to Bayern Munich under controversial circumstances- sadly Gordon missed out on playing as he suspended following being sent off in the semi-final in the match against Barcelona.

In 1978, after 141 appearances, Manchester United came calling, and £500,000 saw him cross the Pennines to the Red Devils, a move he just could not turn down, and it would prove a wise one indeed, making 184 appearances in the famous shirt and playing on the losing side in the 1979 F.A.Cup Final, finally adding a Winners medal to his collection after beating Brighton following a replay in 1983.

A season in the Hong Kong League with Seiko saw him finally return home to coach, firstly with Airdrieonians’ and then back where his pro career started with St Mirren until the call came from close friend and former teammate Bryan Robson to join the Riverside Revolution at Boro, a period that saw two promotions, a controversial relegation and two Final appearances during his time there as reserve and first team coach, departing with Robson in 2001.

He took a change of career direction as quickly and smoothly as he intercepted a pass, joining Soccer Saturday as one of its anchor pundits, where his knowledge and passion for the game was respected by colleagues and viewers alike.

Gordon sadly passed away far too young in June 2023, and two Clubs normally fiercely opposed jointly mourned the passing of one of their greats.