Paul Hart pays glowing tribute to former Leeds United room mate Trevor Cherry who 'epitomised' revered Whites

Leeds legend Cherry passed away aged 72 on Wednesday with tributes flooding in for the former footballer who made 486 appearances for the Whites.

A 30-year-old Cherry had already experienced six years with Leeds when a 24-year-old Hart joined Don Revie's side from Blackpool in March 1978.

The duo soon became team-mates - and then room-mates - and also firm friends off the field.

As well as hailing the abilities of Cherry on the field of play, Hart says he will never forget how Cherry and his family helped him settle into the club and life in Yorkshire after five years at Blackpool.

And on the pitch, Hart knows Cherry's achievements spoke for themselves with Hart paying a glowing tribute to a footballer and a person whose influence on Hart personally extended far beyond just the football pitch.

Hart recalled: "When I signed for Leeds in 78 I signed to a club with a fantastic reputation of being tough and strong minded and exceptional footballers and Trevor fit that bill perfectly.

"I was very fortunate to go into a group of players that still shook fear amongst people in the country, the likes of Paul Reaney and Allan Clarke and Eddie Gray, Paul Madeley, Tony Currie.

"It was an absolutely fantastic place and they helped me - none more so than Trevor.

"After Paul Reaney I became his room mate and he also became captain later on so I spent an awful lot of time with him and he taught me so much.

"I was a bit of a football fanatic.

"I was a supporter not many years before and I wanted to know about Don Revie and how it works with these great players that were there and he'd tell me.

"He'd tell me it was a tough environment, it wasn't a place for shrinking violets and not only did we have a reputation, he warned me that you are not going to be very well liked and that proved to be true but you had to be tough to play for Leeds United and also have the ability.

"They were a great footballing side and he epitomised it as much as any of the others.

"He came from Huddersfield and I came from Blackpool and he was a tough man and a highly intelligent person."

Cherry, who began his career with hometown club Huddersfield Town and also later played for and managed Bradford City, earned 27 caps for England and captained the national side in his penultimate appearance.

Cherry also wore the captain's arm band for the Whites for whom he scored 32 goals and also won a First Division title along with a place in club folklore.

"You couldn't play for Leeds United if you couldn't play and he played in many positions while I was there," said Hart.

"He could play in midfield, centre-back, right back, left back, I have seen him either side of me at centre-back.

"He was a very versatile player and he brought with it a toughness and a professionalism and I picked up on it straight away.

"Leeds United produced an awful lot of legendary players and he is definitely amongst them and quite rightly so.

"He played for his country, he was very proud to play for his country and he was a hugely intelligent person.

"He was as strong in business as he was on the football field."

There was, though, says Hart, also quite a difference between Trevor Cherry on and off the football pitch.

"He was very quietly spoken but carried a razor in his pocket if you know what I mean," smiled Hart.

"He was a tough man. Quite often when you are quietly spoken and have outwardly got that demeanour it's a bit of a shock when you get out on that pitch and he turns out a little bit different. He wasn't quite as nice as he was off the pitch!

"He was a tough player, in a good way. Leeds United was a place that set out warnings before they delivered.

"I'd just like to send my condolences to Sue and Darren and Ian and Danielle.

"They were so helpful in and my wife and my family settling into Leeds United.

"We will never forget that."