Leeds United stars to help former player celebrate his 90th birthday

Eddie Beanland's grandaughter Caroline Durand wrote to the club asking if they could send a card for his birthday on Friday January 22.

Caroline said Eddie and his wife Rita, 89, of Kippax, have been shielding since last March.

She was delighted when the Elland Road club said they would not only send a card, but would also film a video of the squad wishing him many happy returns to be played to Eddie on his birthday.

And the club has arranged for United captain Liam Cooper to have a Zoom call with Eddie on Friday to discuss his time at the club.

Caroline, 39, of Great Preston, said Eddie - who is set to get his first Covid-19 vaccination jab on his birthday - is a lifelong United fan.

She said: "We cant be there with him to celebrate his birthday so we wanted to do something special for the occasion

"I sent a message to Leeds United asking if they could send a birthday card to cheer him up.

"They have been back in touch and said they are going to record a short video of the Leeds squad wishing him a happy 90th birthday. I thought it was lovely."

Eddie, who was friends with United legend John Charles , is full of praise for Marcelo Bielsa.

He said: "I think this manager they have got now is a great manager. He gives these young lads the chance."

Eddie played for Osmondthorpe Boys Club as a 14 year old in 1945 and as a teenager also played for Leeds United junior club Outwood Stormcocks.

Eddie, a great grandfather of six, left school at 14 and started training to be a sewing machine mechanic at Montague Burton's clothing factory in Harehills.

He left Burton's when he was made a full time member of the Elland Road ground staff aged 15, before signing for leeds aged 16 in 1947.

Eddie played a number of games for Leeds United reserves in 1947-48 and was good friends with United legend John Charles, who played in the reserves as a teenager.

Eddie, who grew up in the York Road area of Leeds, did his two years of national service in the RAF from 18 to 20.

He then went back to Burton's to work as a sewing machine mechanic and played football for Scarborough Town for 12 months.

He went on to the play at Goole and Selby before becoming player manager at Swillington Miner's Welfare.