Paul Reaney (born 22 October 1944) is an English former international footballer. He played primarily as a right-sided full-back. He made 745 first-team appearances at Leeds United from 1962 to 1978, winning six major trophies under Don Revie's management. As a player of mixed race, Reaney became the first non-white footballer to represent the men's senior England national football team in 1968, when he gained the first of his three senior caps. Later in his career, Reaney played for Bradford City and Newcastle KB United.
Reaney moved to the West Riding of Yorkshire from London as a child and left school at 15. He was briefly a carmechanic before Don Revie signed him for Leeds as an apprentice. He made his professional debut shortly before his 18th birthday, and went on to make 35 League appearances in his first season, and was part of the team that won the Second Division in 1964.
In the 1964–65 season, Reaney missed just one League game, and scored the first of his League goals as Leeds challenged for both the League championship and FA Cup; however, Leeds lost out on both trophies, with Manchester United winning the title, whilst Liverpool beat Leeds in the FA Cup final.
Reaney quickly earned a reputation as a fiercely competitive, disciplined defender, capable of closing out the most talented of attackers – George Best rated Reaney as one of the two best defenders he played against.[1]
In 1967–68 Leeds won the League Cup and the Fairs Cup, and in 1968–69 they won the League championship. Leeds progressed in 1969–70 towards a "treble" of League championship, FA Cup and European Cup, but a broken leg suffered in a game against West Ham United meant that he missed the run-in to the end of the season – a factor that contributed to Leeds missing out on all three trophies. In addition, the broken leg meant that Reaney missed that summer's World Cup in Mexico.
He eventually returned in the 1970–71 season to make 18 League appearances and be part of the team which won its second Fairs Cup, but which missed out on the League championship again. In the 1971–72 season he was part of the team that won the FA Cup, but which missed out the League Championship yet again. The following season saw more disappointment for Reaney as Leeds lost the FA Cup final to Sunderland and a controversial European Cup Winners Cup final to A.C. Milan.
Reaney's career at Leeds passed 500 appearances in 1973–74 as Leeds embarked on a 29-match unbeaten start to the season to earn the League title for the second time under Revie, who then left to take over the England job. Reaney was in the team which duly progressed to the European Cup final the following season in 1974–75 but was controversially defeated 2–0 by Bayern Munich.
Later career
Reaney remained at Elland Road until the end of the 1977–78 season when he was given a free transfer after 745 appearances. He joined neighbours Bradford City and then completed his playing career in Australia with Newcastle KB United.
International career
In 1968, Reaney won his first England cap, when he came on as a substitute in a match against Bulgaria. Reaney's appearance for England has assumed greater importance in recent years as even though he was regarded as "white" during his playing career, he is viewed by many as "black" or mixed race now.[2] His England debut was nine years before that of Viv Anderson, who is widely credited as the first black player to appear for England.[3]
From that point on, he was regularly selected for the England squad (albeit not as first choice full-back) until a broken leg in 1970 prevented him from playing in the World Cup. The following year, he made his third and final appearance for England in a match against Malta.
Post-playing career
Since returning to England from Australia, Reaney has been running coaching sessions during school holidays for children at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton.[4]
In 1993, burglars broke into Reaney's home and stole a safe containing his collection of medals, though left behind his trophies, caps and other honours.
^. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2016. Who was the best defender you played against? There were two—Paul Reaney from Leeds and Sanchis from Real Madrid. They were both quick and liked to get stuck in.
^Mullock, Simon (31 October 2021). "Untold stories of English football's black pioneers celebrated in new book". Daily Mirror.
^Bradford, Tim (2006). When Saturday Comes: The Half Decent Football Book. Penguin Books. p. 81. ISBN9780141015569.
^. Places & Faces. Archived from the original on 16 January 2011.
External links
Paul Reaney at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
March 04, 2023
paul, reaney, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, especially, potenti. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately especially if potentially libelous or harmful Find sources Paul Reaney news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Paul Reaney born 22 October 1944 is an English former international footballer He played primarily as a right sided full back He made 745 first team appearances at Leeds United from 1962 to 1978 winning six major trophies under Don Revie s management As a player of mixed race Reaney became the first non white footballer to represent the men s senior England national football team in 1968 when he gained the first of his three senior caps Later in his career Reaney played for Bradford City and Newcastle KB United Paul ReaneyReaney in 1969Personal informationDate of birth 1944 10 22 22 October 1944 age 78 Place of birthFulham London EnglandPosition s Right backYouth career1962 1964Leeds UnitedSenior career YearsTeamApps Gls 1962 1978Leeds United556 6 1978 1980Bradford City38 0 1980 1981Newcastle KB United53 0 Total649 6 International career1968 1971England3 0 Club domestic league appearances and goals Contents 1 Career 1 1 Leeds United 1 2 Later career 2 International career 3 Post playing career 4 Honours 5 References 6 External linksCareer EditLeeds United Edit Reaney moved to the West Riding of Yorkshire from London as a child and left school at 15 He was briefly a car mechanic before Don Revie signed him for Leeds as an apprentice He made his professional debut shortly before his 18th birthday and went on to make 35 League appearances in his first season and was part of the team that won the Second Division in 1964 In the 1964 65 season Reaney missed just one League game and scored the first of his League goals as Leeds challenged for both the League championship and FA Cup however Leeds lost out on both trophies with Manchester United winning the title whilst Liverpool beat Leeds in the FA Cup final Reaney quickly earned a reputation as a fiercely competitive disciplined defender capable of closing out the most talented of attackers George Best rated Reaney as one of the two best defenders he played against 1 In 1967 68 Leeds won the League Cup and the Fairs Cup and in 1968 69 they won the League championship Leeds progressed in 1969 70 towards a treble of League championship FA Cup and European Cup but a broken leg suffered in a game against West Ham United meant that he missed the run in to the end of the season a factor that contributed to Leeds missing out on all three trophies In addition the broken leg meant that Reaney missed that summer s World Cup in Mexico He eventually returned in the 1970 71 season to make 18 League appearances and be part of the team which won its second Fairs Cup but which missed out on the League championship again In the 1971 72 season he was part of the team that won the FA Cup but which missed out the League Championship yet again The following season saw more disappointment for Reaney as Leeds lost the FA Cup final to Sunderland and a controversial European Cup Winners Cup final to A C Milan Reaney s career at Leeds passed 500 appearances in 1973 74 as Leeds embarked on a 29 match unbeaten start to the season to earn the League title for the second time under Revie who then left to take over the England job Reaney was in the team which duly progressed to the European Cup final the following season in 1974 75 but was controversially defeated 2 0 by Bayern Munich Later career Edit Reaney remained at Elland Road until the end of the 1977 78 season when he was given a free transfer after 745 appearances He joined neighbours Bradford City and then completed his playing career in Australia with Newcastle KB United International career EditIn 1968 Reaney won his first England cap when he came on as a substitute in a match against Bulgaria Reaney s appearance for England has assumed greater importance in recent years as even though he was regarded as white during his playing career he is viewed by many as black or mixed race now 2 His England debut was nine years before that of Viv Anderson who is widely credited as the first black player to appear for England 3 From that point on he was regularly selected for the England squad albeit not as first choice full back until a broken leg in 1970 prevented him from playing in the World Cup The following year he made his third and final appearance for England in a match against Malta Post playing career EditSince returning to England from Australia Reaney has been running coaching sessions during school holidays for children at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton 4 In 1993 burglars broke into Reaney s home and stole a safe containing his collection of medals though left behind his trophies caps and other honours Honours EditLeeds United Football League First Division 1968 69 1973 74 Football League Second Division 1963 64 FA Cup 1972 runners up 1965 1973 Football League Cup 1968 FA Charity Shield 1969 runners up 1974 Inter Cities Fairs Cup 1968 1971 runners up 1967 European Cup Winners Cup runners up 1973 European Cup runners up 1975References Edit George Best One on One Archived from the original on 8 March 2014 Retrieved 29 September 2016 Who was the best defender you played against There were two Paul Reaney from Leeds and Sanchis from Real Madrid They were both quick and liked to get stuck in Mullock Simon 31 October 2021 Untold stories of English football s black pioneers celebrated in new book Daily Mirror Bradford Tim 2006 When Saturday Comes The Half Decent Football Book Penguin Books p 81 ISBN 9780141015569 Meet A Footballing Legend Places amp Faces Archived from the original on 16 January 2011 External links EditPaul Reaney at Post War English amp Scottish Football League A Z Player s Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Reaney amp oldid 1125106677, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
