The Gordon McQueen Collection
Back in the day, Leeds were a juggernaut when it came to winning trophies, especially under the great Don Revie, and it was no coincidence that Leeds were always, generally speaking, either there or thereabouts.
Revie also had an incredible eye for a player. From their FA Cup Final, appearance v Liverpool in 1965, despite losing, it set them on a road that few could ever have expected they would ever tread when he took over at Elland Road as the 50’s morphed into the land of opportunity that would be the 1960’s. The Peacocks became feared and respected, skippered first by Bobby Collins, then by the immortal Scot Billy Bremner, they just grew from strength.
The 70’s were no different, and that’s when the old guard began to make way for the new breed. World Cup Winner Jack Charlton, a one club legend, was nearing the end of his career when Gordon McQueen as signed from St Mirren for the princely sum of £30,000, and what an investment that would turn out to be. He was a key part of the side that went a then record 29 games unbeaten to win the League Championship as well as helping to steer them to the 1975 European Cup Final against Bayern Munich in Paris. A game that the defender would miss after finding himself suspended for the controversial game.
The Gordon McQueen Collection Highlight Lots
Gordon was every inch the player and pin up- good looks, pace, aggression in abundance and that steely will to win marked him as a top player of his time, and his International appearances allied to his consistency for his club earned him a controversial move to bitter rivals Manchester United for half a million back then. He would play in the 1979 FA Cup Final, ending on the losing side before adding a winners gong to his collection in 1983. A brief spell in Hong Kong saw him, unsurprisingly, become a coach of some note over the border before joining close friend Bryan Robson as part of the Boro revolution. A club he would serve twice after returning some years after his departure as Assistant scout.
Many will also remember him from Sky TV on Soccer Saturday, which made me realise that, without a doubt, in everything he did, he was a true winner. Whether on the pitch, in the dugout, hunting the next big thing or anchoring a TV show watched by millions, he took each stride with the class he oozed as a player. He also fought in the same tigerish way against illness, firstly cancer and then vascular dementia, and it would be the latter that sadly beat him in June 2023.
We are privileged to bring his collection to auction at Manchester on October 1st - a wonderful collection of International swap shirts, and there are some truly beautiful examples of Airtex and classic designs that came from the field of play for you to enjoy and bid for, as well as some of the medals he won for arguably two of our greatest club sides amongst others.
If you haven’t yet seen the podcast done with his daughter, the wonderful journalist and broadcaster Hayley, along with former teammate and friend Tony Currie, please make sure that you do. There are some great memories of man, player and father from both as well as some understanding of his final and greatest struggle against the scourge of the footballer of that era, dementia and the way in which, as ever, he tackled the challenge with bravery and resilience.
We always try to understand the player when we handle a collection, and this has been some journey from the items being consigned from the family to bringing them to the catalogue for you to peruse and enjoy. Please take the time to check out both catalogue and to remember a fine player and some man before having the unmissable chance to bid for and perhaps own some part of his incredible career and life.