Tributes to ‘doc’ from Leeds who kept Revie’s United lads ticking over

Ian Adams, who spent 15 years as team doctor at Elland Road, died last Thursday at the age of 82.

A private cremation will be followed by a service at Christchurch in Ilkley at 11.45am this Thursday, March 20.

News of the death of Dr Adams – once regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities on sports injuries and medicine – was greeted with sadness today by United legend Peter Lorimer.

He said: “He was a lovely man and very dedicated to his job. We didn’t have big squads in those days but he did his best to get us all on the football field.”

Another Revie era hero, Johnny Giles, told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It’s very sad. The Doc was great, he was very popular with the players and travelled with us to all the away games.

“Doctors have a very, very close relationship with players and he was no exception.”

Praise for his achievements also came from Dave Cocker, whose late father Les worked with Dr Adams in his capacity as Revie’s right-hand man.

Dave, from New Farnley, said: “It’s a very sad loss. Doc Adams was part of the Leeds United family, he was effectively part of the squad.”

Dr Adams hit the headlines in 1971 when he found that West Bromwich Albion star Asa Hartford had a heart defect, causing United to call off a big money transfer move for the midfielder.

He was also watched by millions on TV when he went to the aid of Mick Jones after the Leeds striker suffered an agonising arm injury in the closing stages of the 1972 FA Cup final against Arsenal.

Dr Adams joined the United set-up in the early 1960s, an association that continued until 1976.

Away from football, he worked as a GP in Beeston for 13 years and then in 1974 became the first consultant at the accident and emergency department at St James’s Hospital in Leeds.

A keen runner, he completed the London Marathon in just under three-and-a-quarter hours despite then being aged in his early 60s. Dr Adams leaves two children and three grandchildren. His wife, June, passed away last October.

• Keep abreast of news from your club, plus complete live match data and stats, with our new FREE apps. Versions for iPhone and Android.