Tributes to Eric, a gentleman and loyal Leeds United fan
Retired export manager Eric, who served as secretary of the supporters’ club for 50 years until 2008, died peacefully on Friday afternoon after a short illness.
The club’s current co-chairman and treasurer, Phil Beeton, said today: “He was a top man and we are all missing him like hell.
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Hide Ad“He helped so many people over the years with tickets, advice and so on. Nothing was too much trouble for him.”
Many United fans took to social media over the weekend to pay tribute to Eric, who lived in Holbeck.
Writing about him on Twitter, David Purvis said: “A gentleman who went out of his way to help supporters clubs and ordinary fans throughout the world. The man was also Leeds to the core.”
Rob Endley, meanwhile, tweeted: “RIP Eric Carlile the epitome of all that was great about our club & fans.”
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Hide AdThe first Leeds game that Eric attended was a fixture against York City in 1943.
He became assistant secretary of the supporters’ club in 1958 before taking on the secretary role later that year.
He was made vice president of the organisation after stepping down as secretary a decade ago.
Eric famously appeared on the front cover of the Radio Times ahead of the start of the 1970-71 season when the magazine asked supporters from various clubs for their thoughts on how the campaign would go.