Sporting Bygones: Gray recalls when putting miles in the legs was deemed the best way to prepare Elland Road stars for rigours of a new season

But Eddie Gray still insists pre-season was one of his favourite times of the year, whether during his 18 years in the Leeds United first-team or the stints he enjoyed as manager of Leeds, Hull City and Rochdale.

The past week has seen all nine of Yorkshire’s senior clubs return to begin preparations for the 2011-12 campaign in earnest.

Some players will have found it hard, especially any who have spent the summer over-indulging on holiday. But Gray believes everyone, be it managers, coaches or even those whose futures lay elsewhere, will have enjoyed the return to work.

“I used to love coming back for pre-season,” says the 63-year-old, who still follows Leeds home and away as part of his work for Yorkshire Radio.

“As a player, I was back with my mates and the fixtures were already out, so the anticipation had started to build. It was the same when I moved into management.

“The weather was also almost always decent, too, meaning we could train in shorts and t-shirts rather than big heavy tracksuits like in the winter.”

Talk of lightweight attire turns us neatly towards this week’s bygones photograph, taken in the summer of 1984 when Eddie was building towards his third season as Leeds manager.

Despite the acute financial problems that within a year would see Elland Road sold to Leeds City Council for £2.5m to ease crippling debts, Eddie had assembled a hugely promising squad.

Peter Lorimer and Frank Gray, both pictured taking part in a running session at the Fullerton Park training ground that used to sit behind the West Stand, brought experience to a largely young group of players, many of whom went on to enjoy stellar careers in the game.

Eddie recalls: “There were some great lads such as John Sheridan, Scott Sellars, Terry Phelan and Tommy Wright at the club and I was really excited about their potential.

“Mind, that pre-season in 1984 was a strange one for me as I had just retired as a player. If I hadn’t been manager, I would have played on until I was 40 (he was 36 at the time of the photo) because I was fit enough.

“But doing the two roles was becoming harder and harder so something had to give.”

Leeds left Fullerton Park for their current training base at Thorp Arch in the mid-Nineties when the regulations governing Academies, and the need for indoor facilities and the like, came into force.

Eddie adds: “Leeds have a great facility at Thorp Arch but what I liked about training on Fullerton Park was that we knew everyone, from the window cleaner to the ladies who worked in the office.

“I think the club lost a little something when it all changed.”

The season that followed this photo being taken saw United’s fight for promotion go to the final day of the season only for those hopes to be dashed by defeat at Birmingham City on a black day for Leeds as hooligans rioted.

Eddie was sacked five months later but after spells at Boothferry Park and Spotland, he returned to Leeds in 1995 and went on to play a major role in the development of the club’s youngsters.

Later, he stepped up to become David O’Leary’s assistant – meaning he saw first-hand just how much pre-season had changed in just a few years.

Eddie said: “As a player and even when I came back as manager in the Eighties, the emphasis was very much on running in pre-season.

“The thinking was that putting miles in your legs was the best way. We didn’t see too much of the footballs, that’s for sure. They would only come out later.

“Now, the players play much more football and I am sure they prefer that. Plus, everything is much more scientific.

“When that photo was taken in 1984, we would train and have a glass of water to refresh. Now, they have all these drinks with vitamins and so on.

“By the time I worked with David, we had a conditioner called Steve McGregor who came in to work with the players.

“Now, he works with a lot of top golfers such as Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy. You couldn’t have imagined that 25 years ago, showing just how much things have changed.”