THE former Leeds United and England defender Trevor Cherry is the first to admit he is something of a "home bird". In a distinguished playing career that spanned nearly two decades, he never moved away from his beloved Yorkshire, despite a number of offers to further his career elsewhere.
Cherry achieved virtually everything as a player before moving into management with Bradford City. These days he runs a highly successful sports promotion business - S.L.P. Consultancy Ltd - in his hometown of Huddersfield, but football is never far from his thoughts.
Cherry began his career at Huddersfield Town in the swinging sixties. He played in the magnificent Town side which won promotion to the First Division. When Huddersfield were relegated at the end of the 1972-73 season, Cherry knew it was time to make a move.
"I'd been at Leeds Road for five or six seasons and at that stage of my career I didn't want Second Division football," he admits. "I knew Birmingham and Tottenham were in for me, but that would have meant uprooting the family and leaving my home town. When Don Revie made an enquiry it came as a bolt from the blue. I knew all about Leeds, but I never dreamed I would end up playing for them."
Leeds were looking for a replacement for Terry Cooper. The £100,000 deal was sealed in June 1973 and Cherry became a Leeds United player.
"I made my debut at Chelsea, but it wasn't a very good start - we lost 4-1 !"
The Yorkshireman went on to make 476 first-team appearances - scoring 31 goals and picking up 27 England caps along the way.
"I was fortunate to play with some great players," says Trevor. "Johnny Giles was a tremendous influence on the team. His passing ability was extraordinary. Billy Bremner had terrific enthusiasm, but it's unfair to single individual players out. The whole team was outstanding."
He went on to play in the Leeds side which won the League Championship in 1974, but along the way there were disappointments. When Leeds won through to the European Cup Final in 1975, Cherry found himself left out of the side.
"It was the biggest blow of my career," he recalls. "I was suspended for a couple of league matches in the run-up to the final. Although I did a good job marking Johan Cruyff in the semi-final, I was left out of the starting line-up for the big one in Paris."
Cherry had to watch from the subs' bench as Leeds were beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich. As a man who had managed to get the better of the great Johan Cruyff, it's intriguing to know who Trevor rates as the best player of all time.
"I know Leeds United supporters will hate me for it, but George Best was the finest player I ever saw. He had two great feet. He was quick, brave and good in the air. He was the complete footballer. Cruyff and Pele were obviously great players as well, but best had everything."
It was clear from the start of Trevor Cherry's Elland Road career that he was a natural leader. When don Revie left to take the England manager's job the great side he'd built began to disintegrate. Cherry was the obvious choice to take over as skipper.
"After the demise of the great Leeds side, we went through a period of change. You probably remember, there was a string of different managers. For me Jimmy Adamson was probably the best. It was an exciting time as well. I was delighted to see players like Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen coming through."
Trevor was one of the rare breed of players who could play both right and left back. He even played the odd game in midfield. "to this day," he jokes, "I still don't know which is my best position."
After nearly 10 years at Elland Road, the former Huddersfield man was ready to move on. It was 1983 and player-management beckoned with Bradford City.
Cherry's four-year stay at Valley Parade was a time of mixed fortunes. There was the joy of winning the Third Division Championship in 1985, followed just a few days later by the tradedy of the Bradford City fire.
"Winning promotion was great, but it just wasn't appropriate to celebrate after the fire," says Trevor. The following season City played at Odsal Stadium, the home of Bradford Rugby League Club.
"It wasn't a happy time for me," Trevor remembers. "Odsal was never designed for football. I wouldn't walk my dog on that pitch," he says. The fact was Trevor never really took to football management.
"I loved being a player, but the managerial side just didn't suit me. Money was very tight and, to be honest, it's the financial side which interests me most. I would have preferred to be managing director at Bradford. I think managers have to put up with too much outside interference and it's all too public."
On the plus side, Cherry did help build one of the best sides City had seen in years. John Hendrie, Don Goodman and Stuart McCall have all gone on to very successful careers at bigger clubs.
Today, Trevor Cherry has got what he always wanted. He runs his own promotional company and has his hands very much on the purse strings.
"Things are going really well. I miss playing but I still see the old lads at Elland Road every other Saturday."
His company recently became part of the Conrad Group. Cherry is involved in selling corporate hospitality packages. His firm arranges golf days, theatre weekends and trips to major sporting events for corporate clients.
"I don't miss football management at all. It's all too short term for me. I would like to stay with a club and help build it up over a long period, but clubs want instant success. I did have the chance to go to Sunderland when I finished at Bradford, but it wasn't for me."
Trevor has been delighted to see the progress Leeds have made since Howard Wilkinson took over in 1988.
"Just think," he says, "seven years ago we were languishing near the bottom of the old Second Division, and now we are one of the top clubs in the country again. I like Howard's teams, they're always full of great fighters."
So, as a distinguished former Leeds United defender, how does he view the current United full backs?
"I think Tony Dorigo and Gary Kelly are terrific players. There's no better
pair of full backs in the Premiership," he says.
Trevor Cherry may have a single minded determination to succeed both in
football and now in business, but he remains essentially a family man. He
would have loved to see his two sons-25 year-old lan and 22 year-old Darren-
go into professional football.
"They were both interested, but it's a tough life for a player if he's not at the top level."
lan and Darren may not possess their father's football ability, but they both share dad's flair for finance. The pair of them are qualified accountants! So things are going well for the Cherry family. Trevor may no longer be actively involved in football, but he's still enjoying life. And he's done it all without having to leave home!
Born: February 23,1948
Leeds apps: 476 (plus 5 sub)
Leeds goals: 31
Other clubs: Huddersfield Town, Bradford City
International: England, 27 caps
Honours: League Championship (1973-74)