The week that begun with writing an obituary to a member of the England World Cup winning squad has ended with composing another – the death of Norman Hunter today coming only six days after it was announced Peter Bonetti had passed away.
Neither played during the 1966 tournament, but Hunter, like goalkeeper Bonetti was recognized in 2009 when squad members not in the match winning XI (at that time only those who played in the final received medals), received their winners medals.
Along with Bonetti, central defender Hunter did not play only because England had a world class performer in their respective positions – Gordon Banks and captain Bobby Moore then the most assured performers in those roles on the planet.
That said, Hunter who died at the age of 76 as a victim of Corona-virus, still managed to win 28 England caps during an international career that ran from 1965-1973 – an era coinciding with a hugely successful club career at Leeds United for whom he made 726 senior appearances in 14 seasons.
Born in Gateshead, Hunter joined second division Leeds United at the age of fifteen in 1959. On his first team debut in 1962, manager Don Revie paired him with Jack Charlton, the two quickly forging a formidable central defensive partnership that would last for the next ten years.
Promoted to Division One in 1964, Leeds soon became a major force and before the 60s were out had pulled off a League Cup/European Fairs Cup double (1968), become League Champions with a record points tally twelve months later, although reaching the 1965 FA Cup Final brought a 2-1 extra-time defeat against Liverpool.
Not only was Hunter remarkably consistent, both in terms of his performance level and near ever-presence in the team, he also became a defining player in their hard-nosed approach to the game as Leeds mixed flair with physical belligerence – Hunter renowned as a fearsome, not always legal tackler, but also for his excellent passing ability.
Winning his first full international cap in the spring of 1966 (he had played once previously as a substitute), Hunter was selected for the England squads who contested the 1966 and 1970 World Cups. He went on as a substitute when England suffered defeat against West Germany at the quarter-final stage of Mexico 70 – by way of sad irony given the past week, both Hunter and Bonetti were on the field as England exited the competition by virtue of a 3-2 defeat.
Two months earlier Hunter had been part of the Leeds team beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in a replayed FA Cup Final at Old Trafford, this after a 2-2 Wembley draw. His Leeds form remained impervious as they won the Fairs Cup (1971) and FA Cup (1972). 1973, however, brought the double disappointment of an FA Cup Final defeat to second division Sunderland and European Cup Winners Cup Final reversal against AC Milan, Leeds losing both matches 1-0, with Hunter sent off against the Italians for retaliation.
The highlights of winning a second league championship medal in 1974 and being named PFA Players Player of the Year (1973-74 season) came between two high-profile incidents that became synonymous with the latter end of his career.
At Wembley in October 1973 when playing for England in a must-win World Cup qualifer, Hunter showed a rare moment of hesitancy in possession, the lapse allowing Poland to counter-attack and score. England later leveled but a 1-1 draw was not enough to secure qualification for the 1974 tournament, his last game for England marked by an uncharacteristic error.
The following season playing for Leeds at Derby County, Hunter was sent off in front of the television cameras playing for Leeds at Derby for his part in a fight with former England international team-mate Francis Lee, the two continuing to trade punches when leaving the field.
Again, it was an unusual situation for Hunter to be involved in, proving himself savvy on many previous occasions in avoiding censure from referees even when the chief culprit.
The Baseball Ground dismissal in November 1975 came five months after Hunter had been a member of the Leeds team defeated by Bayern Munich in the 1975 European Cup Final, his Elland Road career ending in October 1976 when he was transferred to Bristol City for £40,000.
Spending three seasons at Ashton Gate, Hunter returned to Yorkshire in 1979 when he signed for Barnsley, a club he would manage until 1984, later spells in management taking him to Rotherham United and Bradford City.
During his latter seasons at Elland Road, Hunter was given the epithet ‘Bite Yer Legs‘ – taken from a banner at the 1972 FA Cup Final – which was humorous reading of his approach toward opposing forwards, few of whom found anything funny in being on the receiving end of a full-bore Norman Hunter challenge.
But it was an era when players gave a knock and took one, robust tackling was commonplace, flinching only for fancy-Dans who flitted around in midfield. Hard times, good times.
Norman times.
NEIL SAMBROOK is the author of ‘MONTY’S DOUBLE‘ – an acclaimed thriller available as an Amazon Kindle book.
Norman Hunter played in Revie’s first England side so the Poland game was not his last international cap. Great article, though. Of that starting line up side only Chivers never played for the national team again
Hi Nick – hope you are well;
Thank you for pointing out the oversight – will amend toot suite.
Pleased to hear you enjoyed the article and thanks for saying so. Much appreciated.
Stay safe.
Regards
Neil