Paul Reaney

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Reaney arrived from London as a child, leaving school at 15 to work briefly as a car mechanic before Don Revie signed him as an apprentice. He made his professional debut just before turning 18, immediately contributing to the team that won the Second Division in 1964. By the 1964–65 season, he missed only one League game and scored his first goal while Leeds challenged for both the League championship and FA Cup. George Best rated him as one of the two best defenders he ever faced. The 1970s brought heartbreak; a broken leg against West Ham United in 1969–70 cost him the run-in to a potential treble and his place at the World Cup in Mexico. However, he returned to help secure the second Fairs Cup in 1970–71 and the FA Cup in 1971–72. His career peaked in 1973–74 as Leeds embarked on a historic 29-match unbeaten start to win the League title for the second time under Revie.

In Their Own Story

The 1974–75 season tested Reaney's resilience after the triumph of '74. He was part of the squad that progressed to the European Cup final, only to be controversially defeated 2–0 by Bayern Munich. Earlier, in 1968, he had made history not just for his club but for England. Coming on as a substitute against Bulgaria, he became the second non-white player to represent the men's senior national team. Although regarded as 'white' during his playing days, he is now viewed by many as mixed race, making his debut nine years before Viv Anderson received widespread credit for breaking similar barriers. His international career was cut short by injury; a broken leg in 1970 prevented him from playing in the World Cup in Mexico. He made his third and final appearance against Malta in 1971. Milan, Reaney's discipline remained unshaken.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note that Paul Reaney played primarily as a right-sided full-back, not on the left. His career at Leeds spanned from his apprenticeship in the early 1960s until his free transfer after the 1977–78 season, totaling exactly 745 first-team appearances. He won seven major trophies: two League titles (1968–69, 1973–74), one FA Cup (1971–72), one League Cup (1967–68), the FA Charity Shield (1969), and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups (1967–68, 1970–71). His career ended at Leeds in 1978, after which he joined Bradford City before completing his playing days with Newcastle KB United in Australia. Post-retirement, he ran coaching sessions for children at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton during school holidays. A notable off-pitch incident occurred in 1993 when burglars stole a safe containing his medals but left behind his trophies, caps, and other honours.

Did You Know?

• Reaney became the second non-white footballer after Frank Soo to play for the England men's senior team in 1968.
• George Best rated Reaney as one of the two best defenders he ever played against.
• A broken leg suffered against West Ham United in 1970 caused him to miss the World Cup in Mexico and contributed to Leeds missing out on a treble that season.
• In 1993, burglars broke into his home and stole a safe containing his collection of medals but left behind his trophies, caps, and other honours.
• Reaney made exactly three senior appearances for England between 1968 and 1971.