Billy and me

The project aimed to bring together young people and older people who knew Billy Bremner both in Stirling and Leeds. As part of our intergenerational activity a group of pupils from St Modans school in Stirling had a conversation with two Leeds fans who have supported the club since the 1960s, Heidi Haigh and Chris Keene. 

The conversation, which ranges from exploring when Heidi and Chris first started supporting Leeds, to their stories and feelings about Bremner’s influence on their own lives, is captured in the video recording below. It was a memorable experience for all involved and was moderated by the our heritage Project Officer, Dr Karen Fraser.

Heidi Haigh: In Her Own Words Following Billy From Castleford to Frankfurt 

I wanted to share some memories of Billy Bremner with you. As a life long Leeds United supporter, Billy always has been and always will be my hero. Because of him, my friends and I followed the Scotland National team in the 70s as there were so many Leeds United players in the squad.

I was lucky enough to win a trip to the Scotland v Brazil game in Frankfurt for the World Cup in 1974 due to being a Leeds United agent who sold bingo cards for the club. I flew out from Luton airport amongst the Scotland fans wearing my Leeds dungarees with patches on them and Leeds United shirt. 

I had 7 years of not missing a Leeds United game home and away for 7 years and went abroad to see us play in the 70s and am still supporting Leeds for over 50 years now. Billy Bremner instilled in me the love and loyalty of watching my team, always giving 110%, never giving up and to keep fighting. That is something that I continue to do because of these values he taught me along with the Leeds United team of the 60s-70s and I will be forever grateful. 

I played football for charity and were lucky to borrow a kit from Leeds United through John in the Pools office. I am pictured wearing number 4 for Billy and can remember a nurse on the opposition team shouting stop Billy Bremner! I’ve enclosed a photo of my friend Carole and Karen with the Scotland flag she made me. After this Carole and I made Scotland flags and sold them to other fans. Sadly I don’t have this anymore. 

Heidi Haigh is the author of numerous books on Leeds United including: 

Follow Me and Leeds United 

Once a Leeds fan, Always a Leeds fan. 

Co-author with Andrew Dalton of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Leeds United, Leeds United in the 1980s 

The Sleeping Giant Awakens, Leeds United 2016-17 

Back to Reality, Leeds United 2017-18 

Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United, Leeds United 2018-19 

Leeds are going to the Premier League! Leeds United 2019-20 

United are Back! Leeds United 2020-2021; back in the Premier League, behind closed doors 

Further details available on Heidi’s website here.