Mervyn Day returns to Leeds after 18 years away!

Mervyn Day has joined the Leeds United backroom staff.

The goalkeeper, or "Merv the Swerve" as he was occassionally known, spent 7 years on the books at ER between '85-92. He cost just £35,000 from Aston Villa and proved to be more than a bargain.

A rising starlet with West Ham, Merv also played for Orient before moving north to Leeds. He made 227 appearances between the sticks with the Whites' and was famously part of our Second Division title charge of 1989/90 - particularly at the latter end when his howlers against Barnsley contributed to a shock-defeat in the penultimate home game of the season. However he recovered sufficiently to pull off a string of breathtaking saves in the next game against Leicester, including a "dead cert" from Leeds' captain-in-waiting Gary McAllister, Leeds won 2-1 and went on to seal the title at Bournemouth where Merv kept a clean-sheet.

It surely is an indicator of how far the "squad" game has come on since 1990? Nowadays a "mare" from your keeper and the manager has at least two alternative custodians to bring in. After that shocking night against Barnsley, Howard Wilkinson only had an untried Welsh lad called Neil Edwards in reserve. Earlier in the season when Merv was injured at Leicester, Wilko brought in Chris Turner from Sheffield Wednesday for two matches.

John Lukic eventually ousted Merv as Leeds' number one and after a couple of loan spells with Luton and Sheffield United he joined Carlisle. His time at Brunton Park was not that long, he had a spell as manager there under oddball chairman Michael Knighton before striking up a long working relationship with Alan Curbishley at both Charlton and West Ham.

Interesting Simon Grayson has cited Merv's time with Leeds as being a positive factor in understanding the task in hand at restoring the fallen giant that is Leeds United - in the past, the old-boys network eg: Sniffer, Eddie and Billy was castigated in some parts as unwittingly carrying the millstone of those Glory Days under Don Revie.

Delighted to see Merv back at Leeds. He was an immensely popular player during my era, despite THAT game against Barnsley! Apparently he will be working alongside Gwyn Williams who is our technical Director (whatever that is!) - I am sure if he is in the dug-out on Augusyt 7th he will get a tremendous reception from those of us who are just about old enough to remember him!

Photo: Action Images

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