Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

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Another Northern Soul
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Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

Post by Another Northern Soul »

Thought this had already been mentioned on here.

This message from the Supporters' Trust probably says it all ;)

Albert Johanneson's Blue Plaque


Dear Member,

Leeds United legend Albert Johanneson is to be honoured at Elland Road with an official Leeds heritage Blue Plaque awarded by the Leeds Civic Trust.

The plaque is set to be unveiled to fans tonight at the Derby County match by special guests and members of Leeds United, Leeds Council, Leeds Civic Trust and Leeds United Supporters’ Trust who have all played a part in making this happen.

There will be a presentation on the pitch at half time, too.

Thanks to your membership of the Supporters’ Trust, you have contributed to the funding of the plaque which will be placed outside the East Stand entrance on Tuesday 15th January.

Albert is famously recognised as the first black player to appear in an FA Cup Final and was the first signing by legendary Leeds manager Don Revie in 1961. He was a key member of the Leeds squad that gained promotion to the First Division in the 1963-‘64 season, being joint top scorer as well as supplying countless chances for team-mates from the left wing. His amazing pace, style and mesmerising skills made him a firm favourite at Elland Road and he made a huge impact for the team in that first full season.
Albert played for Leeds until 1970, and after making 200 appearances, and scoring 67 goals, he joined York City.

Sadly, Albert passed away in 1995 in Leeds aged just 55 years old, 30 years after his historic Wembley appearance.

At the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust AGM back in September, we announced that one of our key objectives for this year is ‘Legacy and Heritage’ – what a way to kick start this off by supporting the commemoration of Albert!

Steve White, Leeds United Supporters’ Trust Chairman said “In what is a special year for the club, the city and our supporters, what better way to start 2019 by commemorating Albert Johanneson’s contribution to Leeds United history? Albert is recognised as the first black player to play in a FA Cup final. He played 200 games for the club, winning many admirers and, as a trailblazer, becoming an inspiration to so many and helping the team march on to glory.
We’re very proud to have played a part in creating a Blue Plaque for Albert and to add this piece of heritage to Elland Road. We hope and trust that Members and Leeds fans alike will be delighted when they see this wonderful accolade in pride of place outside the East Stand reception area entrance”.

Angus Kinnear, Chief Executive of Leeds United Football Club, has spoken about the event and said: “It will be fantastic to have Samantha, Albert Johanneson’s granddaughter, with us on Friday to unveil this special plaque in honour of the first black footballer to play in an FA Cup final.
“Albert is a massive part of the history of Leeds United Football Club; he was a trailblazer and paved the way for other black players to make their mark on the sport, this is a fantastic occasion for the club as we enter our centenary year.”

We really want to thank you for your continued support and for being a member of the Trust because without you projects like this wouldn't be possible.

A proportion of your Membership money this year has gone to fund the plaque and we hope you too feel proud to be a part in bringing this wonderful accolade to life.
Marching on Together,

Leeds United Supporters' Trust Board
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Re: Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

Post by Deleted User 3289 »

Big up to all those that made it happen.
Albert is famously recognised as the first black player to appear in an FA Cup Final and was the first signing by legendary Leeds manager Don Revie in 1961. He was a key member of the Leeds squad that gained promotion to the First Division in the 1963-‘64 season, being joint top scorer as well as supplying countless chances for team-mates from the left wing. His amazing pace, style and mesmerising skills made him a firm favourite at Elland Road and he made a huge impact for the team in that first full season.
Albert played for Leeds until 1970, and after making 200 appearances, and scoring 67 goals, he joined York City.
Says it all that. :thumbup:
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Re: Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

Post by NottinghamWhite »

The Black Flash one of my all time favourites, well deserved. Lucky to be of an age where I saw him play many times.

R.I.P. Albert
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Re: Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

Post by SCOTTISH LEEDS »

Long overdue honour to Albert.
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Re: Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

Post by johnh »

Great news! Great memories, one of my favourite players.
I once played against Don Revie.
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Re: Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

Post by Another Northern Soul »

Anyone know if Sky showed anything about Albert? They said they would, before the match, if possible.

Superb night all round :clap: Here's to Albert 8-)
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Re: Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

Post by SCOTTISH LEEDS »

Brian Deane speaks to Leeds live:-

Albert Johanneson wasn’t just an important figure in Leeds United history but a key player in the sport’s history for black players, according to former Whites great Brian Deane.

The club, along with the Leeds Civic Trust, honoured the late South African footballer, who played for the club between 1961 and 1969, with a blue plaque ahead of Friday’s win over Derby County.

Johanneson was the first black African to play in a FA Cup final, turning out in United’s extra-time 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in 1965, and made 200 appearances in a Leeds shirt, scoring 67 times.

Deane, who enjoyed two separate spells at Elland Road, initially between 1993 and 1997 and later during the 2004-05 campaign, was present for the ceremony and spoke of the impact Johanneson had left in his wake in English football.

“What people don’t realise is what he would have had to have gone through to actually get to the point where he was actually in a club situation,” the former striker told LUTV . “It’s no mean feat, you know?

“If you ask me about Albert himself, you know, Albert was probably the generation before the generation that I looked up to, the likes of Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham, and perhaps he was the one who they looked up to.

“So from that point of view, he’s a very important figure in the game for black players, but also for this club.

You know, to say he was here so long, he must have been some player, with everything that would have been going on in those days, he would have had to have been some player to have the career that he did here.”
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Re: Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

Post by Barlow Boy »

I note a familiar face on that video :D
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Re: Blue Plaque for Albert Johanneson to be unveiled tonight

Post by Another Northern Soul »

SCOTTISH LEEDS wrote:Brian Deane speaks to Leeds live:-

Albert Johanneson wasn’t just an important figure in Leeds United history but a key player in the sport’s history for black players, according to former Whites great Brian Deane.

The club, along with the Leeds Civic Trust, honoured the late South African footballer, who played for the club between 1961 and 1969, with a blue plaque ahead of Friday’s win over Derby County.

Johanneson was the first black African to play in a FA Cup final, turning out in United’s extra-time 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in 1965, and made 200 appearances in a Leeds shirt, scoring 67 times.

Deane, who enjoyed two separate spells at Elland Road, initially between 1993 and 1997 and later during the 2004-05 campaign, was present for the ceremony and spoke of the impact Johanneson had left in his wake in English football.

“What people don’t realise is what he would have had to have gone through to actually get to the point where he was actually in a club situation,” the former striker told LUTV . “It’s no mean feat, you know?

“If you ask me about Albert himself, you know, Albert was probably the generation before the generation that I looked up to, the likes of Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham, and perhaps he was the one who they looked up to.

“So from that point of view, he’s a very important figure in the game for black players, but also for this club.

You know, to say he was here so long, he must have been some player, with everything that would have been going on in those days, he would have had to have been some player to have the career that he did here.”
Thanks for posting that, SL. Leeds Live omitted to mention the LU Supporters' Trust which is a shame - it's highly unlikely the plaque would have been made without their involvement - AND a wedge of the costs :D . It's been a brilliant team effort by the council, both Trusts and of course the Club 8-)
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