Trevor Cherry

Trevor John Cherry (23 February 1948 – 29 April 2020) was an English footballer who served as captain for both Leeds United and the England national team. Primarily a defender, he also played for Huddersfield Town and Bradford City, later managing Bradford.

Cherry was born in Huddersfield and began his career with his local club, joining the groundstaff at age 15 in 1963 and turning professional two years later. Making his debut at 17, he proved a versatile defender across the back line and helped Huddersfield win the Second Division title in 1969–70. After relegation from the top flight, he moved to Leeds United in 1972 for £100,000, seen by Don Revie as a potential successor to Jack Charlton.

At Leeds, Cherry played alongside and in place of Charlton, but mostly filled in at left back for the injured Terry Cooper. He made 38 league appearances in his first season and played in the 1973 FA Cup final, which Leeds lost. The following season, he helped the club win the league title in 1973–74, featuring in 38 matches during a record 29-game unbeaten start. In 1974–75, injury limited his season, but he returned to mark Johan Cruyff out of both legs of the European Cup semi-final against Barcelona. Despite that, he was an unused substitute in the final against Bayern Munich. Cherry became Leeds captain in 1976 after Billy Bremner left, earned his first England cap that same year, and stayed with the club until its relegation in 1982. He won Leeds’ Player of the Season award in 1981 and was later voted the 30th greatest Leeds player by fans in 2000.

After three months in the Second Division with Leeds, Cherry moved to Bradford City as player-manager. He played three more years before focusing solely on management. His final match was a 2–0 win over Bolton Wanderers on 6 May 1985 that secured the Third Division title, earning him the division’s manager of the season award. Days later, the Valley Parade stadium fire on 11 May 1985 killed 56 people; Cherry attended many funerals and supported the fundraising appeal that raised over £4 million. He led Bradford to 13th place the next season while the club played home games at Odsal Stadium, Elland Road, and Leeds Road. He was sacked in January 1987 when the club struggled, a decision that sparked angry fan protests.

Cherry won his first England cap against Wales in March 1976. In 1977, he became the first England player sent off in a friendly, after a tackle on Argentina’s Daniel Bertoni led to a punch that cost Cherry two teeth; both players were red-carded. He was part of England’s squad for the 1980 European Championships, captaining the side once in a warm-up win over Australia. His tournament consisted of one substitute appearance against Spain, his 27th and final cap.

After leaving Bradford, Cherry left football for several years, running a promotions and hospitality company, a waste paper business, and a five-a-side football centre. He attempted to buy into Leeds United in 2004 and received an honorary degree from the University of Huddersfield in 2005. Cherry died suddenly from COVID-19 on 29 April 2020, aged 72. He was survived by his wife Sue, two sons, a daughter, and five grandchildren.