Leeds United v Sheffield United: Old friends ready for next phase of personal rivalry

WHEN both were budding young footballers just starting out in the game with Leeds United, Simon Grayson pipped Gary Speed to his first-team debut.

Now, more than two decades on and with the two good friends having moved into management, he intends to repeat the trick – though this time the prize at stake is a place in the Premier League.

The careers of Grayson and Speed have been inextricably linked ever since fate decreed they should both sign schoolboy forms at Elland Road on the same day as 14-year-olds.

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Two years later, the pair would again be sitting side-by-side when offered the chance to become apprentices at the club.

Later, they became regulars in the reserves' midfield before both graduated to the first team – Grayson being handed his bow 20 months ahead of Speed, who had to wail until the final day of the 1988-89 season to make the step up.

Both subsequently went on to enjoy long playing careers before Grayson made the move into management with Blackpool and then Leeds.

Two promotion successes later, the 40-year-old has carved out a reputation as one of the game's brighter young talents.

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Now, it is Speed who is once again looking to emulate his good friend by leading Sheffield United to success.

Tomorrow, the pair will be in opposite dugouts for the first time as Speed's Blades travel to Elland Road.

Grayson said: "Me and Gary have known each other a long time.

"We signed schoolboy forms at 14 and then became apprentices. We spent a lot of time together in the dressing room, cleaning the first team's boots.

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"The boots I used to clean were, funnily enough, my chief scout now at Leeds – Mervyn Day. Mervyn loves reminding me of it, though what I will say is he was a poor tipper.

"I also did the boots of Neil Aspin and Peter Haddock, who like Mervyn weren't very forthcoming with their money. I can't remember whose boots Speedo did but, knowing his luck, he probably had the best tippers.

"We also did our Pro-Licence together so we know all about each other. But there will be a big rivalry this weekend and, hopefully, he will go home disappointed without any points."

Asked whether Speed displayed sufficient ability back then to suggest he would go on to enjoy such a formidable career, Grayson cannot resist the temptation to have a light-hearted dig at his old friend.

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He said: "I was a far better player than him, I made my debut before him for a start.

"He turned out to be better in the end because he played more games for Leeds than I did. But I was definitely better back then!"

Speed's own step up into management came just two games into the season after Kevin Blackwell's dismissal at Bramall Lane.

Grayson said: "I was a bit surprised (by the timing). If they felt that strongly about it, they could have done it in the summer.

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"But I think they made a good decision to promote from within.

"Gary will have his own philosophy. He will be like me when I came to Leeds, he will want to get a winning mentality in the club. Whether that means free-flowing football or being dogged, the three points are what it is all about.

"I know from the courses that I spent with him and what he was like as a player that this will be a tough test for us (tomorrow). I am sure Gary will be successful as a manager.

"I definitely see them being among the challengers for promotion. You only have to look at their squad to see that. They have also just added Richard Wright.

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"They have some experienced players. They have a real threat upstairs, including Richard Cresswell coming back to Elland Road. Ched Evans is a Welsh international.

"There is also Jamie Ward, while in the squad there are good players like Nick Montgomery, Britton. It will be a tough match but, if we do the right things, we have a great chance to win it."

Meanwhile, Grayson has revealed that summer signing Billy Paynter has suffered a setback in his recovery from a foot injury sustained in pre-season and will undergo further tests this week.

Better news, however, is that Ramon Nunez is available tomorrow after clearance was finally received for the Honduran midfielder, while George McCartney is expected to go straight into the side at left-back after joining from Sunderland on a month-long loan deal.