Sporting Bygones: When Vinnie met Keith – an X-rated Elland Road thriller as football hard man makes an instant impression with the faithful

The stage was Elland Road. The year 1989. The scene a Second Division fixture between Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers.

New signing Jones had entered the action as a second-half substitute for Leeds and was looking to win over the home fans.

Hill, the Rovers captain, unwittingly played the role of ‘fall guy’.

With his leg in the air, Jones – who has since appeared in over 30 movies including X-Men :The Last Stand and Gone in 60 Seconds – caught Hill firmly on the upper leg.

Fortunately for Leeds and for Jones, referee Peter Tyldesley was in forgiving mood and issued no more than a stern lecture.

Whether such a challenge would escape a caution in today’s less robust game is highly unlikely.

Both Leeds and Blackburn had started the 1989-90 season among the favourites to win promotion to the First Division.

Over the previous six months, Leeds had invested an impressive sum, for the times, of £2m in the transfer market – signing players such as Gordon Strachan from Manchester United, Chris Fairclough from Tottenham Hotspur, Mel Sterland from Glasgow Rangers and Jones from Wimbledon.

Blackburn were also starting to move up in the world, reaping the benefits of wealthy Jack Walker’s arrival in the boardroom.

The multi-millionaire’s money had not only funded the construction of a new stand but tempted big names such as Ossie Ardiles, Steve Archibald and Frank Stapleton to Ewood Park.

When the two clubs met at Elland Road on Saturday, August 26, the 1989-90 season was still in its infancy.

Rovers had made a winning start, beating Oldham Athletic and Leicester City in their first two games, while Leeds had bounced back from a 5-2 opening day defeat at Newcastle United with victory over Middlesbrough at home four days later.

The game against the Teessiders was marred by ticketing issues and over 3,000 supporters had been locked outside the ground.

Most clubs, in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster and subsequent Taylor Report, were ordered to reduce ground capacities and the fences – once used to keep fans off the pitch – had now been ripped down.

Where Elland Road catered for 39,000 in the past, the capacity was now 30,000. The capacity of the Kop, still a standing area at this stage, had been reduced by 2,000 to 8,000.

Inevitably, there were not enough tickets to meet the demand fuelled by a renewed sense of optimism at Elland Road.

Against Rovers, the Kop turnstiles also had to be closed 90 minutes before kick-off.

Leeds made a disappointing start to this game and Mark Atkins put Rovers ahead after just 16 minutes.

Home supporters had to wait until the 60th minute for the equaliser when Fairclough headed home from a corner by Strachan.

Despite plenty of late pressure, Leeds had to settle for a point.

“It was a hard game and I wouldn’t like to think we will have another 43 like that,” said Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson afterwards.

Leeds eventually lifted the title and Blackburn finished 11 points further back in fifth spot.

It would be another two seasons before they joined Leeds in the top flight and, impressively, both clubs progressed to become champions of England (Leeds in 1992, Rovers 1995).

Jones stayed at Leeds only 15 months before moving to Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield United in a £700,000 deal. He still has a tatoo of the Leeds United club badge on his left leg.

After 11 months with the Blades, Jones returned to his native London with Chelsea. He enjoyed a six-year return to his former club Wimbledon before ending his playing days at Queens Park Rangers. He also won nine international caps for Wales.

Hill joined Plymouth Argyle in 1992 after making over 100 appearances for Rovers. He spent four years with the Pilgrims and the rest of his career in lower league football.

Now enjoying his life as a football manager, Hill took over at Barnsley this summer. It is not exactly Hollywood, but that’s life.