- Lorimer scored a club-record 238 goals for Leeds
- He won seven major trophies with the club
The Guardian- PA Media
Peter Lorimer, Leeds United’s record goalscorer, has died aged 74 after a long illness. He was a member of Don Revie’s great side of the 1960s and 70s and made 676 appearances for the club during two spells from 1962-79 and 1983-85.
Known as “Hotshot Lorimer”, the attacking midfielder was considered to have one of the hardest shots in the game. He scored 238 goals for Leeds and four in 21 appearances for Scotland, including the opener against Zaire in the 1974 World Cup. Lorimer also played for York, Toronto Blizzard and Vancouver Whitecaps among other clubs.
Lorimer won seven major trophies with Leeds, including the First Division title in 1968-69 and 1973-74 and the FA Cup in 1972. He crashed home a trademark volley in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich in 1975 but his effort was controversially disallowed and Leeds went on to lose 2-0.
A club statement read: “It is with great sadness, Leeds United has learned of the passing of club legend Peter Lorimer this morning at the age of 74 following a long-term illness.
“Peter’s contribution to Leeds United will never be forgotten and his passing leaves another huge hole in the Leeds United family. He will always remain a club icon and his legacy at Elland Road will live on. Our thoughts are naturally with Peter’s wife Sue and the rest of his family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Peter.”
The last 12 months have seen the deaths of fellow Leeds club greats Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter and Trevor Cherry. Eddie Gray was a part of that side and also Lorimer’s best friend. “As well as being a great player, goalscorer, he was a great lad,” Gray told Football Focus. “He was my roommate for 12 years, all over Europe, up and down the country.
“He was a great lad, it’s a sad day for me and my teammates that are still here, we’ve had a terrible year. I used to go over and see him every weekend before the lockdown, have a chat, reminisce, still enjoying watching the football club. The sad thing for Leeds United, there’ll be a lot of fans crying with the passing of Peter and they can’t go and watch their beloved club either, the club Peter loved so much.”
The Scottish Football Association said it was “deeply saddened” at his death, while the English Football League called him a “true legend of the game”.
Lorimer, born in Dundee in 1946, was involved in another great sporting moment when he was denied an equaliser by Sunderland’s goalkeeper Jim Montgomery’s superb save in the 1973 FA Cup final.
Lorimer retired as a player in 1986 after a brief spell with Whitby and was later appointed to Leeds’ board. He was named as the club’s first ambassador in 2013. Leeds said in late February that he was in a hospice.