David Batty did not like football, he liked the license to kick people around a pitch for 90 minutes.
That’s the view of his old Leeds United team-mate Gordon Strachan, who spoke to Talksport about his Elland Road days earlier this week.
Batty has gone on to become something of a cult figure for the United faithful after his two spells with the club before retirement in 2004.
The stories of his life at Elland Road continue to dribble out here and there from former comrades, each syllable soaked up by thirsty fans, starved of direct contact with Batty.
Strachan said Batty was unusual, but hilarious to play with, while Gary Speed, another of their team-mates, transformed himself from an average footballer into a top player.
“You get people like David Batty, who was very unusual. I don’t think he liked football, he just liked running about kicking people,” said Strachan.
“I don’t think he loved the game, but he was funny, he was hilarious to play with.
“Gary McAllister was class. Gary Speed made himself into a top, top player.
“I met him when he was a kid at 17, 18, and he was ordinary, but he decided then to prove to people he was going to be a top player.
“He played until he was about 37, 38 in the Premier League.”
