Death of photographer who captured highs and lows of Don Revie's Leeds United team

Lifelong Leeds United fan Billy Hirst was the YEP's main sports photographer for many years and travelled across Europe with the team he loved.

Billy worked for the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post for a total of 43 years and was the YEP's deputy chief photographer when he retired in 1993.

He died aged 86 on February 2 after suffering from Alzheimer's.

"He was a Leeds United fan and loved watching United to the end " said his son Stephen, 61.

"He would wear his United shirt while watching Leeds on TV with my brother Martyn."

"When Leeds United were told that dad was in a care home in January this year, they sent him a get well card and message that was signed by all of the first team players."

Billy - who was known at work as Bill - covered both legs of Leeds United's Fairs Cup final v Juventus in 1971 along with the 1972 FA cup final win v Arsenal and the 1973 FA cup final loss to Sunderland.

"My dad got to know the players from the Revie era really well," said Stephen. "He used to travel with them throughout Europe in the early to mid 1970s.

"Photography was his passion. He was one of those fortunate people who loved his work.

"The fact he was getting paid to take photographs of the team he loved to watch was just a bonus."

Stephen said Billy covered both legs of Leeds United's 1975 European Cup semi final against Barcelona when Jimmy Armfield was Leeds manager.

He also photographed the 1968 Rugby League Challenge Cup 'Watersplash' final between Leeds and Wakefield and won an award for his work on that day.

Billy ran the YEP's spot the ball competition for many years and was an active member of the NUJ.

Billy Hirst was born in Batley on January 6, 1935, and went to Batley Boys Grammar School.

He left school aged 15 in 1950 and started working as a trainee photographer at the Yorkshire Post.

Billy met his future wife Sheila Horsman in a cafe in Batley in 1952 and the couple were married on May 27 1958.

In 1954, Billy was called up for National Service and served for two years in the RAF in Hong Kong and Malaya.

He was a surveillance photographer in military intelligence and was awarded a medal for his service in a war zone in Malaya.

After being demobbed, Billy returned home and started work as a photographer for the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Billy leaves his wife of 62 years, Sheila, and three children - Stephen, Martyn, 59 and Amanda Billington, 52.

He also leaves grandchildren Daisy and Freddy Billington and Callum, James, and Abigail Hirst.

Former YEP photographer Graham Lindley, said: "Apart from covering news work, he was first choice for covering football and rugby league matches.

"He travelled to many important games in the county for photographs to be published in the YEP Green Saturday night sports edition, along with YEP editions on a Monday with a page of pictures."

Veteran YEP photographer Steve Riding, said: "Bill was the main sports photographer at the YEP and he loved covering Leeds United home and away and around Europe at the time of Don Revie being manager.

"He knew all the players during that great era - their most successful time ever in the sixties and seventies. What a time to be a sports photographer.

"And it was at a time of no internet, mobile phones and camera motor drives. But he always produced the goods for the Green Post and throughout the following week in the YEP.

"Bill was kind enough to take me to matches when I was a junior and was very helpful for me getting the position of photographer, so there will always be a 'thank you' to Bill from me."