HOTSHOT IN HEAVEN

Tributes have been paid to Leeds United’s record goalscorer Peter Lorimer, after his death at the age of 74. The club confirmed on Saturday that the former Scotland international, who scored 238 goals in 705 appearances for Leeds, had died after a long illness.

POWERFUL TRIBUTES have been paid to a “true legend” of football, Peter Lorimer, who has died at the age of 74 after a long illness.

The Scot, who retained a record as Leeds United’s top all-time goalscorer, had been written into club folklore during a trophy-laden career.

As attacking midfielder, he had become the youngest player to represent United at the age of 15, netting 238 goals in 705 appearances during two spells at Elland Road.

“Peter’s contribution to Leeds United will never be forgotten and his passing leaves another huge hole in the Leeds United family,” the club said in a statement, honouring his wife Sue and family. “He will always remain a club icon and his legacy at Elland Road will live on.”

Lorimer, who at his peak was renowned as possessing one of the most powerful shots in the game, had been spotted as a youngster in his home town of Dundee before signing to Leeds.

He would go on to play for the Toronto Blizzards, Vancouver Whitecaps, York and Whitby, but it was his time in a team assembled by Don Revie in the 1960s and 70s that saw Leeds United rise to prominence.

Lorimer died on Saturday and the club has lost a number of footballing greats from that era in the past year, including Norman Hunter, Trevor Cherry, and Jack Charlton. Amid a flurry of tributes the English Football League described Lorimer as a “true legend of the game”.

His fellow teammate and best friend Eddie Gray, speaking on Football Focus, said: “As well as being a great player, goal scorer, he was a great lad.

“The sad thing for Leeds United, there’ll be a lot of fans crying with the passing of Peter and they can’t go and watch their beloved club either, the club Peter loved so much.”

He will always remain a club icon... his legacy will live on. A tribute from Leeds United Football Club.

PICTURES: PA WIRE/SIMON HULME/ GETTY IMAGES Top, Peter Lorimer, third right, and the Leeds United team with the FA Cup after their 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the 1972 final; above, from left, tributes left at the club’s Elland Road ground; Lorimer as a Leeds United player in 1969.