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Gary Sprake: Tributes paid for former Leeds and Wales goalkeeper who dies aged 71
FORMER Leeds and Wales goalkeeper Gary Sprake has died age 71.
Gary Sprake has died aged 71
Sprake won the old First Division with Leeds in 1969 and played over 500 games for the club during an 11-year spell.
He also won a Second Division winners' medal, a League Cup and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups during his 11-year stint at Elland Road and was also capped 37 times by Wales.
A Leeds statement read: “The thoughts of everyone at Leeds United today are with the family of Gary Sprake who has sadly passed away at the age of 71.
“It is with immense sadness, that today Leeds United Football Club learnt of the passing of former goalkeeper, Gary Sprake at the age of 71.”
Leeds will hold a minute's applause ahead of Tuesday's EFL game against Norwich.
The thoughts of everyone at @LUFC are with the family of Gary Sprake who has sadly passed away at the age of 71 https://t.co/BorjO73RLd pic.twitter.com/np91Y7BXGY
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 19, 2016
Gary played over 500 games for @LUFC, during which we won the Second Division, First Division, League Cup, and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups pic.twitter.com/IAXKqxy2g7
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 19, 2016
Spoke to Eddie Gray about Gary Sprake earlier today. He said Sprake was "as good as almost any goalkeeper I’ve seen." Sad news. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) October 19, 2016
Great pictures of Gary Sprake pic.twitter.com/FLz9jkYS6Z
— IsThatConfirmed (@IsThatConfirmed) October 19, 2016
Sad to hear of the passing of Gary Sprake. Thoughts are with his family at this time. RIP from all at Leeds United Supporters' Club #lufc pic.twitter.com/oXePGO9cGx
— LUSC (@LUSCExec) October 19, 2016
RIP Gary Sprake who has passed away age 71. A hero between the posts @LUFC & also former @BCFC & @FAWales international.
— Hayley McQueen (@HayleyMcQueen) October 19, 2016
He was nicknamed ‘Careless Hands’ by fans after two notorious errors during his career.
The first came against Liverpool at Anfield in 1967 when he threw the ball into his own net after changing his mind on who to pass to.
The second, in the 1970 FA Cup final against Chelsea, came as he let a soft goal in from Peter Houseman. He bent down to collect the ball but it bounced and slipped through his grasp.
He later named his autobiography Careless Hands in 2006.