Brum boss Spoon-fed Jack
ever since. But they are on course to finally return to the promised land after a 16-year absence, ahead of today’s trip to Swansea.
Grayson has won promotion to the second tier with Blackpool, Leeds, Huddersfield and Preston – and is keen for a return to football management.
He said: “As Leeds boss, I was responsible for the hopes and dreams of a football institution and a city.
“When I signed for Leeds as a schoolboy, never once did I think I would one day get them promoted and follow in the footsteps of Don Revie and Howard Wilkinson, while breaking some of their records along the way.
Pressure
“But I enjoyed that pressure. It’s why I became a professional sportsman.
“It had been a real rollercoaster season, but we went into that final game knowing we would go up if we beat Bristol Rovers.”
Yet trouble struck for Leeds when winger Max Gradel was sent off before half-time. Then Rovers led shortly after the restart.
Grayson added: “You can imagine the furore in the dressing room at half-time – Max’s head was all over the place and he was falling out with a few players.
“We decided we had to get him out of the way to clear everyone else’s thoughts, and concentrate on what we could do to affect the game.
“It was another kick in the teeth conceding just after half-time, but Jonny Howson came on to equalise and then Jermaine Beckford scored the winner.
“It was like we were playing with 12 or 13 men and Bristol were playing with just nine or 10 because the crowd was electrifying.
“When the final whistle went, it was a feeling of huge relief, but also immense pride.
“You watch the footage now and there are grown men on their knees kissing the turf it meant so much.”
That promotion capped a special season which also
JACK BUTLAND won’t need to do any homework on interim Brum chief Steve Spooner.
For Stoke’s shot-stopper was schooled by the stand-in Blues’ boss when he was a young hopeful at St Andrew’s.
Butland (right) will cross swords again with Spooner, brought in after Pep Clotet’s reign was brought to a premature end this week, for today’s crunch clash.
Spooner says that he knew the keeper was on the fast-track to
Grayson said: “Leeds have such a passionate following that if they are given 1,000 or 10,000 away tickets in the Premier League they would sell them all.
“The renewal of rivalries with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool is long overdue.
“We all see the impact of the coach, Marcelo Bielsa (inset). There’s a connection between club and fans again – I can’t see them being
stopped.”
Stoke City v Birmingham City Kick-off 1.30pm
success when he caught him doing his homework on the team bus.
He said: “Jack was a terrific kid – well-disciplined and respectful. That’s the way we like to bring up our lads – but he was a very motivated young man.
“Young footballers at 15 or 16 tend to push their schoolwork to one side and use the excuse that their football is so important to them.
“But Jack was different – he’d do his in the back if he was picked up, or if he came by train.
“He was very focused on everything he wanted to do and equally he was quite up front with any opinions.
“His career hasn’t gone the way he – and we – would have thought at one stage, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back from it.”
With both teams in desperate need of three points today, is Spooner fazed by the prospect of taking the first team?
He said: “No, I’m looking forward to it, there’s no better thrill or buzz than being on the touchline.”