Peter Lorimer; A Footballing Great

Thirty-six years after his retirement, Peter Lorimer’s 238 goals in all competitions for Leeds is still a club record. An impressive return for someone who wasn’t even a centre-forward. An attacking midfielder with an eye for goal. Lorimer was an integral member of the Leeds side that Don Revie transformed from an ordinary Second Division outfit into one of the most feared, and indeed loathed, teams in Europe during the 1960s and 70s. This is an article about Peter Lorimer, a footballing great

Peter Lorimer: Leeds United’s Youngest Player

At 15 years and 289 days, he remains the youngest player to have appeared for Leeds United. And by the time he hung up his boots aged 39, only Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner, Paul Reaney, Norman Hunter and Paul Madeley turned out more often for the club. Born in Dundee in 1946, he became known as “Hotshot,”. An attacking midfielder who was considered to have one of the hardest shots in the game with a penalty of his once being clocked at a staggering 107mph.

Having scored 176 goals in one season as a teenager, it was hardly surprising England’s leading managers took notice of Lorimer’s talent. With rivals, Manchester United offered a large fee at the time of £5,000 for his services.

Revie Secures Lorimer

However, Leeds United manager Don Revie secured his signature on a contract. A signature that would bring his mercurial talents to Elland Road. An injury crisis led to Lorimer’s debut in September 1962. However, it would be two and a half years before his next appearance, and three before his maiden goal. It took until the 1965/66 season that he established himself as a mainstay for the Yorkshire giants

Along with the likes of Bremner, Gray, Giles and Hunter, Lorimer helped Leeds claim seven trophies during his first spell at Elland Road. Including the First Division title in 1968/69 and 1973/74 and the FA Cup in 1972.

The Nearly Man

Lorimer scored 30 goals in 1967/68 when Leeds won the league and Fairs Cups. Despite his quality, he was only ever voted player of the season once. This alone speaks volumes about the quality that the Leeds team had at their disposal. Despite the awards and trophies, Peter Lorimer can also be seen as a nearly man. A runner-up five times in the Championship, three in the FA Cup and in all three major European competitions.

He made his international debut for Scotland against Austria in November 1969. In total, he won a meagre 21 caps for Scotland and scored four goals. His Scotland career was, however, affected by a ban imposed on him in 1971. Following a brief time playing for Cape Town City in apartheid-era South Africa

He ought to have scored in the 1975 European Cup final. However, the goal was chalked off for a highly dubious offside call against Billy Bremner. The incident was made famous for Franz Beckenbauer’s involvement with the referee in the award of the dubious call.

The free-kick he blasted home in the 1967 FA Cup semi-final was also controversially ruled out. Because allegedly the Chelsea players had not retreated 10 yards. Luck wasn’t always on the side of “hot-shot Lorimer“

The Return of Lorimer

He stayed with the club for five years after Revie’s departure to manage England. Eventually departing in 1979, but not for long. After brief spells at several clubs including a loan period at University College Dublin, Lorimer returned to Leeds in 1983.

Playing in the Second Division and managed by Lorimer’s former team-mate Eddie Gray, the 37-year-old’s second stint at the club allowed him to overtake John Charles as the club’s most prolific goalscorer. Lorimer eventually hung up his boots just before his 40th birthday.

Lorimer made his international debut for Scotland against Austria in November 1969. He won 21 caps for Scotland and scored four goals, His Scotland career was, however, affected by a ban imposed on him in 1971 after he spent a summer playing for Cape Town City in apartheid-era South Africa.

Landlord and Pundit

After his playing days, Lorimer ran a pub close to the ground. He also worked as a BBC Radio Leeds pundit.

He also served on the board as the club went into its second fall from grace in 2004. Acting as a fans representative when Ken Bates took over in 2005. In later years became an ambassador for the clubs he loves so much.

Sadly, on 26 February 2021, it was announced that he had been placed under hospice care due to a long-term illness. He died on 20 March 2021, aged 74.

But it’s for his phenomenal goal-scoring record of 238 goals in 703 games for Leeds United. Not to mention his trademark thunderbolt shot, which Lorimer will always be remembered for. Thus ensuring his place, as an Elland Road legend. Peter Lorimer; is a footballing great.