In the days when he had hair, Macca was a bit of a thorn in our side - particularly during the 1989/90 season.

I think it was towards the end of the 1986/87 season when I tagged along with a West Ham supporting pal to watch the Hammers take on Leicester City at Filbert Street in the old First Division.

Leicester won 2-0 and a certain Gary McAllister ran the show for the Foxes. In the West Ham ranks that day was to me, the epitomy of "a class midfielder" in the great Liam Brady, albeit a veteran - but that day Macca was on stirring form and as I left Filbert Street I mused it would not be long before a bigger club than Leicester picked him up and he would be going the same way as Alan Smith and the boy Loin-licker!

Leicester's relegation to the Second Division surprisingly did not see Macca move on to bigger and better things and in November 1989, we travelled to Filbert Street - but lost 4-3, surrending a hard fought 3-2 lead in the dying minutes. We had been 2-0 up. The Leeds fans that day were awesome, even the Leicester gits said so (after they had stopped taking the piss). I seem to recall Macca had a hand in the winner - not even sure if it was him or Paul Ramsey who grabbed the winner, seem to remember poor Mervyn Day was pole-axed and it was the beginning of a very long week at work for yours truely, where the Leicester halfwits in the factory were made up that they had put one over promotion-seeking Leeds.

They were crowing and cocky when they came to Leeds the following April. Although we were top of the Second Division, a choppy-run of form had left any cushion we had over Sheffield United and Newcastle reduced to a handful of points. It was our last home game of the season, with just Bournemouth away to finish with. Leicester I seem to remember had nothing to play for. 

Macca was wearing a red Leicester away shirt that day, but despite the inevitable tension, Leeds looked comfortable and took a well-deserved lead when big Mel Sterland drove home low from long-range. Alas Leeds could not find that second killer goal and Sgt Wilko's old trusted warhorse from his Sheff Wednesday days Martin Hodge was performing micracles in the Leicester goal.

Then on the hour at the Kop End, David Oldfield wriggled away down the flank and provided the perfect cross for Macca to volley home the equaliser. You could hear a pin drop inside the stadium as Macca, with a big grin on his face ran away from his delierious team-mates.  When I watched this again on the end of season video "Race for the Title", I consoled myself with the fact that he was smiling and running away from his colleagues because he knew this moment of brilliance had probably sealed a move to Super Leeds!

Then, about a minute later, an identical chance - but "Merv the Swerve" who had a nightmare just four-days earlier against Barnsley, pulled off a brilliant one-handed save.

We all know what came next? Eight minutes to go, STERLAND long throw towards Chapman- MCALLISTER half clears, STRACHAN.....half volley...YES!

Relive the glory on YOUTUBE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFAzctm6TYw

It did not quite seal promotion on the day as both Sheffield United and Newcastle won too, but at least we did it a week later and I did not have to endure any stick at work - other than listen to Leicester fans moaning that they wuz robbed! 

Photo: Action Images

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