Gray: My mate Pete was more than just a Lori-load of goals

EDDIE GRAY has paid a touching tribute to his old Leeds pal and room-mate Peter Lorimer.

The duo spent 13 years playing together for the Whites between 1966 and 1979 before Gray brought back Lorimer to Elland Road when he became manager of the club in the 1980s.

Gray (below) said: “Peter was a truly great player and, also, he was a great man.

“I first saw Peter play at Ibrox in 1962 for the Scottish schoolboys against England. I was a year younger and couldn’t believe how good he was.

“I thought to myself that night at Ibrox, if I want to be a player, I’ve got to step up to the mark as he was truly sensational.

“In the same year, he made his debut for Leeds United at 15, playing alongside the great John Charles. Peter had a very long span of time at the club.

“In 1982, when I was manager at Leeds, I brought him back to play with players like

Dennis Irwin, John Sheridan, Terry Phelan and Scott Sellars, who were young lads and all looked up to

Peter. As well as being a great player and goalscorer, he was a great lad. He was my room-mate for 12 years, travelling across Europe and up and down the country. I heard Brendan Rodgers talking about being in the market for a £50million or £60m player. He’d have needed a bit more than that to get a player like Peter.”

Gray, 73, said Lorimer was much more than the fierce shot he became known for, adding: “People used to call him ‘Hot Shot Lorimer’, but he was also a great crosser of the ball.

“He was an inside-forward when he first started and I was a wing-half. Don Revie asked Peter to play right-wing. Peter could do anything.”